How Long To Soak Wood Chips For Smoking. Once smoking, they smolder for slightly longer than a dry chip, but not noticeably so. Chips soaked for one hour take about twice as long or more to heat up and begin producing smoke.
Another option is to add some water directly to the container where the chips are. Soak your wood chips for at least one hour. Chips soaked for one hour take about twice as long or more to heat up and begin producing smoke.