Getting Lump Up To Cooking Heat

Grill Man

Having trouble lately getting lump up to heat in a decent of time. Am using 4 of the BGE starters and placing all around the lump. Been taking 30 minutes or more to get heat going. Am perplexed. Have cleaned out well under grate, got lots of air around the vents at bottom of fire box. Still taking way to long to get heated. Any suggestions?

Bash

What size egg? What lump? How open is the door at the bottom and the DFMT (daisy wheel)?

Frank from Houma

I'm lighting with a weed burner and I always plan on 30 minutes.

TampaQ

i get up to 800 degrees in about 15 minutes if I leave all vents wide open.

to get up to 250 degrees takes easily the same time as I need to control it. Then much longer until the fire is ready to place the meat.

need to know what temps you are trying to reach.

Jai-Bo

Get an electric starter....less then 5 minutes to flame. I use Dragon's Breath lump coal that is purty good....

Lei'd-n-Egg

Hey Grill Man, there are quite a few things that could be impacting your fire.

Bash had a few good questions, and here's a couple more.

How long do you let the BGE fire starters burn before closing the lid?

Are you just dumping lump into the Egg or "building" your fire by placing the largest chunks on the bottom and then medium and then small?

When do you put the DFMT back on top? I like to leave mine off til the temp is a little past my target b/c it tends to cool a little after putting it on.

Hope you're able to figure out what's messing with your fire, but I agree with Frank, if you always plan for 30 minutes you should be fine.

DodgerMi

As mentioned above, it could be several things. From your post you said you put the starters "around" the lump. I make a hole in the center of my lump pile and place my starter there, then place more lump on top to get THAT started.
I just keep a jar with 91% isopropal alcohol in it. I keep long thin lump pieces soaking in it and use one of them for my starter. It's odor and smoke free and has an instant flame.

Hungry Celeste

As your problem occurred only "lately", I'd suspect a bum bag of lump. Has it been sitting, torn open, in the garage or shed all winter? Moisture can slow things down a bit. Try a different brand, and get a fresh bag.

Capt Frank

Hungry Celeste has the most likley answer to your problem, either a bum bag of lump or a lot of moisture in it.

Capt Frank
Homosassa, FL

ranger ray

i've found that sometimes the charcoal gets damp if it's been in the egg for awhile... top off with some fresh dry lump....rr

Misippi Egger

Other suggestions are good.

Also need to occasionally remove and clean out behind the firebox, as ash and small pieces can accumulate between the firebox and outside wall restricting the airflow through the side holes in the firebox. My shop vac hose will 'just' fit in that space and I can snake it around between the firebox and wall on my large.