Pellet smokers work best in moderate temperatures. The slower the cooking process, the higher your chances of success. You should not use a pellet smoker if you live in an area with freezing winters. If you have access to electricity and can keep it plugged in outside then that would be great! But many people do not have this luxury, so I would recommend getting a gas grill instead for those occasional colder months when using a pellet smoker will be difficult because they need electricity to function properly.