The charcoal in my kamado won't go out: causes and fixes

You have finished cooking, shut everything down properly and a few hours later there is still glow in the charcoal. Or your kamado is still warm the next morning. We hear the complaint kamado won't go out regularly, and the cause is almost always a leak in the air supply. A kamado goes out through lack of oxygen: no air, no fire.

In this article you will see how to put it out correctly, how long that should take and how to track down the leak if it keeps going wrong.

How to put out a kamado: both vents closed

You do not put out a kamado with water, but with air. Close the bottom vent completely and turn the top vent (the daisy wheel or chimney cap) fully shut as well. Keep the lid closed. Without oxygen the fire dies by itself.

How long that takes depends on the amount of charcoal and the temperature. After a short session the glow often fades within half an hour. After a long session at high temperature it can take an hour or longer. The kamado itself stays warm much longer, because the ceramic holds the heat for hours. That is not a sign that the fire is still burning.

So do not open the lid "just to look". Every time air gets in, the coals glow up again.

Kamado won't go out: false air through the gasket and lid

If the fire keeps burning, unwanted air is getting in somewhere. The most common causes:

• A worn or dirty gasket. The gasket between the dome and the base seals the lid airtight. If it is flattened, dirty, torn or has come loose, air seeps past.
• A lid that does not close properly. If the lid sits crooked or sags, it does not seal tightly everywhere. Also read what to do if the lid does not close properly or sits crooked.
• A bottom vent that does not shut fully. If grease or ash is stuck in it, or the slide sits crooked, a gap remains. Clean it and check that it really closes completely.
• Hairline cracks in the ceramic. A fine crack in the dome or firebox can let air through, especially around the rim.

How to track down a leak

Finding a leak is usually easier than you think. Try these methods:

1. Watch the smoke. As long as smoke or warmth is escaping, you can see where. Smoke coming out along the gasket points to a leak at the edge of the lid.
2. The paper strip. Place a strip of paper between the dome and the base, close the lid and pull. If it slides out with no resistance, the lid does not seal there. Do this in several places all the way round, when the kamado is cold.
3. Look for light. In a dark room you can use a lamp inside to see whether light shines through a gap.
4. Check the bottom vent. Take it out, clean it and see whether it closes fully and squarely.

Found a broken gasket, a crack or a crooked lid that you cannot fix yourself? Then please contact us.

Reusing leftover coals

Once the fire is out and the kamado has cooled, you do not need to throw away the charcoal that is left. Shake the ash out by moving the coals gently in the firebox, leave the unused pieces in place and top up with fresh charcoal. That saves fuel.

Have you done several sessions in a row? Then remove the small, burnt-through pieces and the ash. They block the air holes in the base and will cause poor airflow next time. A well started fire will use the leftover coals along the way. It can help to put them on top and the fresh charcoal underneath.

Not sure how to start again? The article on lighting a kamado explains it step by step: how do you light a kamado.

Stop the fire from smouldering on

A few habits make putting the fire out reliable. Clean the gasket now and then with a dry cloth and remove grease and ash around the rim. Check regularly that the bottom vent moves smoothly and really closes completely. See whether the lid drops squarely onto the base and does not scrape.

Do not use water afterwards and only cover the kamado once everything has cooled. If you want the fire out while there is still plenty of charcoal in it, plan a smaller fill for short sessions. That saves fuel and leaves fewer glowing coals to put out. If you find damage during a check, for example a broken gasket, please get in touch via contact.