Pellet Grill keeps Shutting off (Troubleshooting for Flame Out)

Everybody who enjoys grilling ought to have a pellet grill at home. It is one of the grills that is most often used in the country. You’ve been using it to give your dish the greatest flavor possible.

The pellet grill may have been in use for a while, but now it keeps turning off without warning. You’ve come to the right spot if that’s a pellet grill issue.

You just need to know this to understand why the Traeger keeps turning off.

Pellet Grill Keeps Shutting Off

It may be really unpleasant if your pellet grill shuts off on its own mid-cook when you are trying to smoke a masterpiece. A flame out is what happens when this happens on a pellet grill, and it happens frequently.

Flame outs are a certain way to sabotage your dinner plans, but if you take the time to understand what triggers them, you may take precautions to avoid them in the first place.

Continue reading to find out more about pellet grill flameouts, how to avoid them, and troubleshooting advice for when they do happen.

What is a Flame-Out?

A flame-out is a specific circumstance that only occurs with pellet grills, and it is often distinguished by the pellet grill automatically turning off without human interaction. When your pellet grill shuts off on its own, and you notice a mound of unburned pellets in the fire pot, you have experienced a flame-out.

A lot of white smoke emerging from your grill and a quick reduction in temperature are two other signs of a fire.

A fire on your pellet grill might happen for a number of reasons. Prior to attempting to cure your flame, it is imperative that you identify the source. Different issues require various fixes, and choosing the incorrect one might spell disaster!

Author’s Note: When a pellet grill flames out, never simply switch it back on. Flameouts, which can result in a significant fire or explosion, are frequently brought on by too much fuel in the firepot. Prior to lighting the pellet grill again, always take the time to look into the flame’s cause.

What Causes a Pellet Grill Flameout?

We need to talk about why flameouts occur in the first place before we outline what you should do in one. Flameouts can have a number of distinct reasons.

1. Your Burn Pot Has Ash Buildup

When your burn pot has too much ash, flame-outs frequently occur. Ash accumulation in your burn pot makes it challenging for the augur to keep introducing pellets. Because the ash isn’t fuel, the fire will die out when there aren’t enough pellets in the burn pot (because it is filled with ash).

2. Poor Pellet Quality

Your burn pot might fill up for a variety of reasons, including utilizing pellets that are of low quality (have too much ash) or that have become moist. Your pellet grill caught fire because wet pellets turn into a mush that is challenging to ignite.

3. No Pellets in Hopper

Running out of pellets is another frequent reason for flameouts. Even if you realized your pellet grill was going to run out of pellets and added more, it could have been too late, and the augur would have been empty. When this occurs, the burn pot is unable to obtain the fuel it requires, and the flame goes out. 

It’s also conceivable that there’s a blockage in the hopper or augur, which keeps fresh pellets from getting to the fire pot.

4. High Winds

On rare occasions, if your pellet grill is exposed to really strong gusts, the flame may go out. This is particularly true if the burn pot is overflowing with ashes and the pellet grill is already having trouble maintaining a flame. Additionally, it could happen if you’re cooking at really low temperatures.

5. Fan Not Working

The fan in your pellet grill has ceased functioning, which is the most sinister reason for a fire. This frequently occurs with pellet grills that are older models or ones you have owned for a while.

Unfortunately, there is no simple cure if this is what caused your pellet grill to burn out; you will need to replace the fan before you can use your grill once again.

6. No Power

The final frequent cause of a pellet grill shutting off repeatedly is when the grill itself loses electricity. Power is necessary for your pellet grill to remain lit. A flameout will also occur if the electricity to your pellet grill is cut off due to a blackout or perhaps someone hitting the cable.

How to Fix a Pellet Grill Flame-Out

What do you do now that your pellet grill has simply turned off by itself? A method for troubleshooting your pellet grill flameout is provided below.

1. Save the Food

Unfortunately, it may take some time to put out a pellet grill flame. If you were actively cooking something, remove it off the grill before the pellet grill cools entirely and place it inside your oven.

2. Allow the Grill to Cool

Once your food has been saved, you should wait until the grill has cooled down enough for you to change pieces and inspect the firepot. If you are using heat-resistant gloves, you might not need to wait for the grill to totally cool down, only long enough for you to transfer pieces without getting burned.

3. Check the Firepot

The firepot is the first component of the grill you should inspect. This is due to the fact that it frequently causes a fire, especially if it hasn’t been cleaned. Additionally, igniting a grill with a full fire pot after a flame goes out might result in an unpleasant situation with a high flame or extra smoke.

Before proceeding to the following step, if your firepot appears to be filled with ash, take the time to wipe it out.

4. Check the Hopper

Check the hopper and auger if the firepot isn’t filled. Are pellets present? Is something stuck somewhere? Make sure the pellets can get to the firepot by doing a thorough investigation.

Additionally, you want to verify the pellets for a minute. Ascertain that they are dry and not damp or holding moisture. You’ll need to clean the fire pot, augur, and hopper, then try again if your pellets are mushy.

5. Check the Power Supply

Once the firepot has been cleared, make sure the pellet grill is connected and that there are no problems with the outlet. In the event of a power surge, a breaker may need to be reset. 

6. Check the Weather

You’ve probably had your pellet grill outside for long enough by this point to determine whether it’s very windy. If so, you might need to move your pellet grill out of the wind in order to keep the flame burning. Never use your pellet barbecue inside or in the garage, just to be sure.

Before trying to grill again, you might need to move your pellet barbecue to the shade if you live somewhere hot. This is because the grill has flamed out since it has reached a temperature that is hotter than the fire pot and has to cool down in order to resume regular operation.

After making sure that everything is in order, restart your pellet grill and give it another go.

Advice for Preventing Flame Out on a Pellet Grill

You can see that managing a flame is no easy task. However, there are several routine actions you can take to help avoid flameouts.

1. Clean Your Fire Pot Regularly

The main cause of a flameout is a filthy or overfilled firepot. Decide to regularly clean yours, or at least every few weeks!

2. Don’t Leave Pellets in the Hopper

Another frequent reason for flameouts is the use of wet or subpar pellets. Make a commitment to cleaning out your hopper after each grilling session to prevent moisture from ruining your pellets.

3. Load Enough Pellets

While you might be tempted to load your pellet grill with as few pellets as possible, doing so could cause a flame to go out just as your meat is about to finish cooking. 

To avoid this, we advise adding additional pellets to your hopper (over and above what you anticipate using). Just remember to throw the extra away once you’re done cooking!

FAQs

Q: Do all brands of pellet smokers have flame out problems?

Any brand of pellet smoker may have a flame-out or a mid-smoke shutdown. Only routine maintenance can stop a flame from going out. Too much ash in the firepot or the grill running out of pellets are the two main reasons for flameouts.

Q: What do you do when your pellet grill flames out?

The pellet grill has to be restarted appropriately if it shuts off or loses its flame. To get the pellet grill to ignite once more, make sure to vacuum the firepot well and then follow the ignition procedure. Restarting the pellet grill before checking the firepot might result in explosions, scorching flames, and heavy white smoke.

Q: Why does my pellet grill smoke so much?

When used properly, pellet grills will emit a mild, white smoke. When a pellet grill is not started properly or has too many pellets in the firepot, however, it may produce thick, white smoke. Usually, the pellet grill will revert to its typical light white smoke after burning off the extra pellets.

Q: Where does the ash go in a pellet grill?

The ash builds up at the bottom of the firepot as the wood pellets burn in the pellet grill. The firepot will get ash-filled if it is not routinely swept out. The pellet grill won’t operate after the firepot is full of ash, since the fire won’t start. Therefore, be careful to regularly hoover the pellet grill.