Why Is Your Electric Smoker Shocking You: Causes And Solutions

Are you wondering why your electric smoker is shocking you? Let’s find out.

You may be anxious or scared if your electric smoker has given you an electric shock. If you’re reading this, don’t panic; you can remedy the problem without hurting yourself if you follow our short guide on the causes of electric shock from a smoker and what to do about it.

So, here are the reasons why your electric smoker is shocking you: there is an exposed wire on the smoker, you have a build-up of static electricity on you, your smoker is very moist, or your smoker is part of an accidental short circuit, in order of most to least likely.

Fortunately, none of these issues are insurmountable, and most are also inexpensive and simple to resolve. So, let’s take a closer look at how to deal with them.

Why Is Your Electric Smoker Shocking You

There are four possible causes of an electric shock from your electric smoker: exposed wiring, which is by far the most common problem, static shock, water in the smoker (which would be unusual, as we’ll see), and an accidental short circuit created somewhere on the smoker’s body, which is almost always related to exposed wiring somewhere.

Exposed Wiring

An exposed wire is, without question, the most likely cause of an electric shock from any electrical item. When the insulating material on the wire is removed, and the wire is exposed to the outside world, it is known as exposed wiring.

To determine if this is the root of your problem, inspect the entire smoker as well as the electric wire that connects the smoker to the wall socket for any issues. There will very certainly be complications where the cords connect to the device (as the insulation is often worn over time by the device being moved).

However, the problem could occur anywhere, so you should inspect each wire thoroughly until you’re satisfied that it is properly insulated.

Then, using a non-contact voltmeter, determine if there is current flowing through the wire (this will prevent you from insulating an exposed grounding wire that won’t have any current flowing through it until there is an electrical overload).

What To Do About Exposed Wiring

Before you do anything about exposed wire on any gadget, make sure it’s turned off, and the plug is removed from the wall. The safety of you and your family is our first priority. You’re at risk if there’s a potential you’ll get an electrical shock, so turn off the power first.

Then:

Isolate: You’ll want to keep the wire as apart from the rest of the gadget as possible so you can figure out what caused the exposure. It could be due to a variety of factors, including natural wear or a rodent tearing the plastic off. Before tackling the exposed wire, you want to eliminate or minimize the source of the problem.

Electrical tape: The simplest solution to remedy insulation concerns is to cover exposed portions with electrical tape. It’s usually black in color, and it’s made specifically for this function. It can be found in almost any hardware store. It is not, however, intended to fill particularly big gaps in the wire. If the insulating material between the neutral and positive wires is compromised, never use electrical tape.

Cut and join the wire together: If the damage is severe, the wire may need to be cut and rejoined with wire nuts.

Double-check that all connections and supports are secure: Before turning the power back on, double-check that any wire connections are secure and that any cable ties, holders, or other accessories are completely functional.

Finally, if you have any doubts about your abilities to repair an exposed wire, don’t attempt it. Make a phone call to an electrician. Electricity is a real threat to your health and the health of everyone who uses the smoker. When it comes to electrical work at home, it is never worth taking a chance.

Static Shocks from Your Smoker 

A static shock is a quick and uncomfortable electric shock that poses no threat to you while you use your smoker, but which you may like to avoid because it is painful.

The “build-up of electric charge on the surface of objects” generates static electricity, and in this case, the electricity is building upon you, not your smoker.

It happens when you build a charge that you can’t get rid of (due to your rubber-soled shoes, most likely). So you walk on a carpet, which helps create a charge, but you’re not grounded (thanks to the insulation on your shoes), and then you touch anything (like your smoker), which completes the circuit and discharges the static. Ouch.

What To Do If Your Smoker Causes Static Shocks

What action you should take depends on where you’re collecting the charge. If you have carpets in your home, switching to leather-soled shoes or taking off your shoes entirely and wandering around in socks will assist (though we should note out that wearing shoes when using a smoker is far better and safer).

However, it’s possible that this effect is triggered by a sweater or a chair. Then you can wear a different sweater or spray the chair with an anti-static spray.

Your final option is to keep your keys on you. Then, before touching the smoker, take your keys out of your pocket and place them on the smoker. They’ll finish the circuit for you, so you won’t experience any discomfort when the static dissipates.

Water In The Smoker

We’d admit that we’d be blown away if you managed to suffer an electrical shock because your smoker was wet.

That’s because, in the vast majority of situations, your smoker’s plug will include a fuse, and the current drawn through water will simply burn out the fuse, preventing the smoker from turning on.

We can’t locate any records of anyone crisping themselves on a smoker because it was damp, but we have to accept that it’s a possibility and that somewhere out there, a particularly capricious deity may be messing with your fate and your smoker.

What to Do About Water In the Smoker

Turning on any electrical item that is visibly wet is a terrible idea. If you notice that your smoker has gotten wet (which isn’t an absurd thought because many people use their smoker outside as part of a barbecue setup), the first thing you should do is dry it off.

You may want to drain or bail out any large amounts of extra water before drying the rest of what’s left with a towel. If any obstinate moist areas remain at the end, use a hairdryer to dry them.

Then, as you turn it on, take a step back. If there’s still moisture in the circuits, the fuse will most likely blow, and you’ll be back at square one; but, it’s always better to be safe than sorry, right?

Related: Are Electric Smokers Waterproof? Let’s Find Out

Accidental Short Circuit 

Another unusual but still possible cause of an electric shock from your smoker is that it became a part of a short circuit created by an electrical problem with another item.

An exposed cable from another device hitting the metal bodywork of your smoker is also a possible reason.

What To Do About An Accidental Short Circuit

If you’re not sure where the problem is coming from, the first step is to turn off the circuit breaker or circuit breakers in the part of your house where the smoker is located.

If you don’t know how to isolate the area, don’t touch the smoker; instead, consult an electrician.

If you can isolate the region, do a visual inspection to determine if there is an exposed wire in contact with the smoker and if so, fix it in the same way you did when the exposed wire was on the smoker.

If you are unable to locate the cause of the problem, an electrician should be contacted. Again, it’s not worth jeopardizing your or anybody else’s health.

Conclusion

Here are the reasons why your electric smoker is shocking you: there is an exposed wire on the smoker, you have a build-up of static electricity on you, your smoker is very moist, or your smoker is part of an accidental short circuit, in order of most to least likely.

As you can see, none of these issues are insurmountable, and while you may need to hire an electrician if you can’t fix the problem yourself, your smoker will be as good as new in no time, and you’ll be able to use it again.