Frequently Asked Questions

Assembly & Assembly   

Q: How do I assemble my  Ceramic Grill Kamado?

A: You can refer to the setup guide included with your grill for assembly instructions

Q: What is the best way to transfer the grill to the cart?

A: Moving the grill onto the cart requires two people. Do not attempt to move it alone.

1.Assemble the cart completely, ensure casters are LOCKED, and position it next to the box.

2.Carefully remove contents of the vessel, including the interior fire bowl, to reduce the vessel weight. Be very careful not to allow the vessel to tip over, as it can be very top-heavy when empty and open.

3.Close the dome lid and open the sliding vent or remove the ash drawer (Professional).

4.Two people are required to lift the grill. Using the opening created by the sliding vent or ash drawer as one handle and the rear hinge as another handle, carefully lift the grill into the cart. Do not use the wooden handle to lift the grill, as it is connected only to the dome and not the vessel.

5.Open the dome, carefully reinstall the fire bowl, and continue assembly of the grill.

Q: There is a gap in the back of the interior ceramic fire bowl, is this supposed to be there? If so, what is it for?

A: Yes. The vertical gap (i.e., expansion joint) in the back of the interior fire bowl is an intentional design feature. This expansion joint allows the ceramic to expand and contract, reducing the risk of cracking the interior fire bowl during extreme temperature variation.

Q: How does the expansion joint in the ceramic fire bowl line up inside my grill?

A: The vertical expansion joint sits opposite to the opening in the vessel. It is important that the opening in the fire bowl lines up with the bottom draft vent(s). The expansion joint will then be centered in the rear of the grill, while the opening of the fire bowl lines up with the lower ventilation.

Q: Do I have to season the grill by running it at a low temperature on the first use?

A: No. Many online resources suggest seasoning Kamado grills for 3-5 hours at low temperatures before using at more extreme temperatures. Since the process for constructing ceramic involves kilning at 2,400+oF, seasoning prior to use is not necessary to improve long-term performance. Many Kamado manufacturers suggest seasoning your grill during the first use to strengthen the gasket adhesive and prevent separation from the ceramic. HJKM uses high-quality adhesive for its gaskets, so your Vision Grill is fully operational immediately after assembly.

Warranty 

Q:What is the warranty for HJKM kamado grill?

A:Five years for all metal parts,Three years for themoplastic handle and side shelves,one year for temperture gauge,gaskets and cover.

 Charcoal & Lighting Managing Temperature 

Q: How do I control the temperature of my Ceramic Kamado grill?

A: Our Grills Kamados are designed with calibrated top and bottom draft vents to allow for superior temperature control. Closing down vents restricts airflow, which reduces available oxygen for the burn. To sear, open all vents to maximize the oxygen feed and burn temperature. Conversely, if you want to smoke for many hours, very little oxygen is needed to achieve a low-temperature burn. Controlling temperature will become easier as you gain experience using the grill. 

Please note: It is MUCH easier to raise the temperature than it is to lower it. Be careful not to get the fire too hot too quickly, as the temperature will not fall easily and you will have to wait to begin cooking.

Q: How do I achieve indirect heat for smoking and roasting?

A: Our Grills Kamados are designed for a full range of cooking perfection, including smoking, roasting, grilling, baking, and searing. For food requiring indirect heat, you will need a heat deflector to create a convection environment. Do this by installing the Lava Stone/Heat Deflector. This dual-purpose stone comes with a bracket to suspend the stone above the charcoal in the fire bowl for indirect heat. It can also be used directly on the cooking grates for wood and coal-fired pizzas, tandoor cooking, baking, and other stone cooking recipes.

Q: My Ceramic Kamado is not shutting down and has been at 250+oF for more than four hours.

A: The ceramic construction retains heat, which allows for consistent temperature control and a convection cooking environment. While our HJMK Grills Kamados are designed to extinguish lump charcoal when all draft vents are shut, the grill will remain hot for different lengths of time depending on the temperature achieved and length of grill time. It is recommended that the grill be allowed to sit uncovered for at least 6 hours before covering.

Q: When I open the lid on my Ceramic Kamado the temperature drops.

A: While the temperature gauge will drop after opening the top dome, it should return to the previous temperature quickly after shutting the dome. Care should be taken when opening the top dome, however, as this will release heat contained in the grill.

It should be noted that opening the top dome introduces oxygen, which enters the bottom draft vent and exits through the top. This will cause the fire to spread if open for an extended period of time.  For this reason, it is important that you minimize opening the top dome to maintain your desired temperature.

Q: Why are there numbers on the top and bottom draft vents?

A: The top and bottom draft vents are calibrated to allow for precision temperature control. 

Care & Maintenance

Q: Should I remove the dome lid when replacing the gaskets?

A: No. The lid does not need to be removed to replace the gaskets.

Q: How do I apply my new gaskets?

A: Start by removing a small section of paper from back of the felt strip to expose the adhesive. Press the gasket firmly down onto the rim removing paper as needed. Bend the gasket around the rim as you press down, being careful not to let the gasket material hang over the inside edge of the rim. Do not stretch the gasket. Trim any excess material. If your gasket should detach, you can glue it back on with any common household adhesive.

Q: Should I take the fire bowl out when cleaning my grill?

A: No. We strongly recommend against removing the fire bowl to clean it. Due to the size and fragility of the fire bowl, it can be easily dropped and fractured . If you are looking for a more thorough clean, keep the fire bowl in the grill and use an ash rake or shop-vac to clean out the ash.