On Thu, 24 Jun 2004 20:37:41 GMT, "Tyler Hopper" >
wrote:

>
>"Dave" > wrote in message
link.net...
>> Greetings,
>> The local Kamado dealer tells me that the fire box if guaranteed for life
>> against cracking due to cold. I live at 8,500 ft above sea level and it gets
>> cold here. Had a little snow just a week ago! Anyway, the Kamando supposible
>> can be used year round without having to worry about it being too cold. Is
>> this true?
>>
>>
>
>Mine cracked but it had nothing to do with the cold. I'm in San Antonio and it
>rarely gets much below freezing.
>
>They replaced it without a quibble. I had been warned by other users that I'd be
>lucky if it arrived intact but I guess I was because it was okay.
>
>Maybe Harry D. will share further problems with condensation/freezing. I believe
>they had to replace his entire unit.
>
>_________
>ht_redneck
>
I have posted extensively about shut down procedures at below freezing
temps because condensation forming ice just under the Chinese hat
thingie destroyed the dome. K couldn't match the teal mosaics, so the
sent a whole unit.
Care needs to be taken and the timing is critical at shut down. The
coals must be out but the K still needs to be hot with the dome temp
at 150 - definitely below 170 - when you open both dampers again.
This allow the hot air to vent without shedding moisture inside the
dome. I keep my K's under cover. Those warm Weather orchids at the K
factory don't know from cold snowy Weather.

However, Richard did post min/max temp changes that the K can stand
without sustaining damage. It is a decent range. In short my K may
be fired up at 0 F for lo/slo or up as high as 350, but I won't go to
600 for a steak.

All that info is in the K Forum archives. HTH.

Harry