Running too Cool or Flame out

Is your grill consistently running too cool? Does the flame keep going out? Let's walk through some common causes so you can grill confidently again.

If the grill’s temperature fell within 20 minutes of ignition, the grill might be having an ignition issue. Check out these articles for further troubleshooting:

• WiFIRE Enabled Grill Ignition
• Non-WiFIRE Enabled Grill Ignition

Non-WiFIRE-enabled grills have a temperature setting called, HIGH. You may notice that when you set your grill to HIGH, the controller blinks 450°F (232°C); however, this does not guarantee the grill will reach 450°F. The HIGH setting's temperature can range between 425 - 450°F (218 - 232°C). If your grill is in this range, it is functioning as expected. If your grill is on HIGH and is below this designated range, please continue reading.

Traeger grills are designed to maintain cooking temperatures even through freezing temperatures. Although cold weather won't affect your grilling ability, it will increase your grill's pellet consumption. Make sure to check on the pellet level throughout your cook to ensure you never run out of pellets. Running low on pellets, even for a few minutes, can cause temperature dips or swings. For even easier pellet monitoring, check out our pellet sensor article.

If you are often grilling in cold weather and would like to save on pellets, an insulation blanket might be a great fit for you and your grill.

If you have a connected grill, make sure your grill is on the latest firmware.

1. Navigate to Menu > About Grill > note the firmware version.
2. Compare your version to the latest version.
3. If your grill is on an older firmware version, update the firmware.

If using a Traeger drip tray liner, make sure you are using the correct one for your grill.

• Unsure of which drip tray liner you are using? Check here to find yours.

If you are using foil, make sure it is flush with the drip tray and not sticking over the edge, as this can disrupt airflow.

If using a Traeger drip tray liner, make sure you are using the correct one for your grill.

• Unsure of which drip tray liner you are using? Check here to find yours.

If you are using foil, make sure it is flush with the drip tray and not sticking over the edge, as this can disrupt airflow.

Not having enough pellets in the hopper, or even having old/poor quality pellets, can cause temperature issues or the flame to go out.

1. Check the level of pellets in the hopper.
   • If you’ve run out of pellets or notice some tunneling, learn more here.
2. Check the pellet quality.
   • Ideally, check the pellets being fed into the firepot. If grill is still hot, check pellets in the hopper.
   • Compromised pellets are light in color, dull, dusty, easy to break, or broken down into sawdust.
   • Store pellets in a dry, airtight container to prevent moisture and humidity from compromising pellet quality.
     • Traeger recommends using a bucket and lid for pellet storage.
3. If pellets are compromised, remove and replace the pellets.

If the hopper has previously run out of pellets during a cook, there may have been air pockets instead of pellets being fed to the fire. In this case, clean out the firepot and begin the start-up process.

Having a dirty grill can affect the temperature of the grill and the grill's overall abilities.

1. While the grill is cool and unplugged, clean the firepot and check for damage like rust or holes.
2. Check RTD/Thermocouple.
   1. Check if the orange protective cover was removed from the thermocouple before use. The thermocouple is a small nob pocking out of the interior grill wall, on the side of the hopper. If it was not removed before use, please contact Customer Service.
   2. Ensure the grill is reading a correct temperature. Upon turning on a cool grill, the grill temperature should be with +/- 10°F outside temperature. If the grill has been sitting in the sun, the grill's temperature might be higher. If the grill's ambient temperature is not within the designated temperature range, please contact Customer Service.

An incorrect startup can cause the flame to go out even hours into a cook.

• Visit our grill start-up guide to find your proper start-up

The grill needs to be allowed to run its whole shutdown cycle before it can be powered off. An excess amount of ash from an improper shutdown can block the hot rod from igniting the pellets or block correct airflow.

• If the grill was previously shut down incorrectly, turn off the grill, wait for it to cool, and clean out the firepot.

Due to manufacturing or use, the lid might shift and allow too much air into the grill. The lid should sit flush against the barrel. A small gap--anything less than a quarter of an inch (0.65 cm)--is acceptable.

• If the lid has a gap, see Lid Gap

The induction fan brings air into the grill, giving the fire oxygen to burn. If the fan is not working correctly, it could cause temperature issues or an inability to keep the fire going.

Check the fan

1. Before starting your grill, take out all the internal components, the grill grate, drip tray, and heat baffle.
2. Start up your grill and carefully hover your hand above the firepot. Do not touch the firepot or the surrounding metal!
3. As your grill starts up, you should feel a gentle breeze within the grill. This lets us know your fan is work, but let's get a visual on it to make sure it is working correctly.
4. Turn off the grill before further work.
5. Access the fan through the bottom of the hopper. Some grills have a hopper protection grate that needs to be unscrewed for fan access. Once you can look into the hopper, you will see two fans. The larger fan that is connected with orange wires is the induction fan.
6. Turn on the grill and begin a cook. The fan should be spinning quickly.
   1. If the fan is not spinning, contact Customer Service.
   2. Fans on WiFIRE enabled grills may turn off and on during the startup process; this is normal.
7. If the fan is spinning slowly, turn off the grill and manually spin the fan. This helps break up any dirt or grime build-up. If the fan continues to run weak, please contact Customer Service.