I used a little Chief for 12 years and now have used a Big Chief about 10 years. Had the same problem with lack of heat and have used the cardboard box they come in or constructed another one myself. If it's really cold out I pull the box all the way down over the smoker and if it's not so cold out will pull it down part way. If you don't get your smoker quite hot enough it will cause cracking on the surface and the insides will be underdone. I'm on my third element on my Big Chief and get about 3-4 years per element. Needless to say you can't see any silver on the inside!!