Pellet grill know-how
Tech Tips
A pellet grill is a simple machine: an auger feeds pellets into a firepot, a hot rod lights them, a fan feeds the fire air, and a controller reads a temperature probe and decides how fast to feed. When something goes wrong, one of those parts is almost always the cause. These tips apply to Chain Smoker, Com200, Traeger™ and most other pellet grills.
1. Grill won’t ignite
Remove the grates, drip tray and diverter, then start the grill. Within a few minutes the hot rod should glow and you should hear the fan and see pellets dropping into the firepot. If pellets fall but never light, the hot rod has likely failed. If the firepot is packed with ash, clean it out first: ash insulates the hot rod and smothers the fire.
2. Can’t hold temperature
Big temperature swings usually come from a dirty or failing probe, poor pellets, or a controller with old-style on/off logic. Wipe the RTD probe clean and check that it isn’t touching the grill wall. Use fresh, dry pellets. If it still swings more than 25°F, a modern PID controller makes a dramatic difference.
3. Auger jams
Pellets that get wet swell and turn to sawdust “concrete” in the auger tube. Unplug the grill, empty the hopper, and pull the auger motor to clear the tube. If the motor hums but won’t turn, or doesn’t run at all, replace it. A premium auger motor has extra torque to push through tough pellets.
4. RTD vs. thermocouple
RTD probes read the cooking chamber temperature and are what most controllers use to regulate heat. Thermocouples respond fast to very high temperatures and are used in some commercial and multi-pot setups. Most RTDs measure about 1,000 ohms at 32°F and about 1,080 ohms at room temperature. If yours reads open or far off, replace it.
5. Fan problems
The combustion fan feeds the fire and keeps smoke flowing the right way. With the grill on, you should feel air at the firepot. A noisy, slow or stopped fan causes smoky starts, flameouts and burnback into the auger tube. Fans are inexpensive. Replace yours at the first sign of trouble.
6. Clean the firepot every few cooks
Vacuum out the firepot and the bottom of the barrel every 2 to 3 cooks, or after any long smoke. A clean firepot lights faster, burns hotter and cleaner, and makes your hot rod last much longer.
7. Store pellets dry
Keep pellets in a sealed bucket, not the bag they came in, and don’t leave them in the hopper through a wet Pacific Northwest winter. Moisture is the number one cause of jams and poor ignition.
8. Pre-season checklist
- Vacuum the firepot and barrel
- Inspect the drip tray and heat diverter for rust-through
- Check grates and replace badly warped or rusted ones
- Run the grill to 450°F and watch for steady temperature
- Check the hot rod, fan and auger all run on startup
- Check wires and the interface cable for heat or rodent damage
Still stuck? Tell us what your grill is doing.