Traeger Grill Not Getting Hot? Problems and Solutions

The Traeger grill is a great way to cook food while camping but if it does not reach high temperatures, your barbecue won’t be very enjoyable and you won’t be able to cook your food properly.

In this article explains the most common reasons your Traeger grill is not getting hot.

Blown Fuse

A fuse is a safety device that prevents an overload on the circuit. When the voltage exceeds a certain level, the fuse “blows” and no longer does its job. At which point you need to replace it and restore power.

I recommend checking the fuses in your Traeger Grill every month to make sure they are all functioning as they should be.

Inspect the fuse box that is in the control panel. You will find a fuse for each burner of your grill in the box. Any of the fuses of your Traeger grill should not be blown if it is functioning normally. If you find a blown fuse, replace it with a new one.

Solution:

You can watch this short video to learn how to replace a blown fuse on your Traeger Grill:

Defective Hot Rod

The Hot Rod at the bottom of the Fire Pot ignites the hardwood, making it even easier for you to start your grill with a flick of a switch. The Hot Rod precisely controls heat throughout the cooking process, keeping food from overcooking, so your grill turns out perfectly every time.

If your hot rod is defective or broken, then it will not provide heat for your grill. Any defect or broken parts should be replaced in order to get the grill working perfectly and efficiently.

If your hot rod has not been used for a very long time, then the metal parts are going to rust. Grills that are not regularly used have a lot of creosote build up inside them. This is going to cover all the exposed metal with rust. Creosote build up when food like meat drippings or the oils from the food get stuck on the grill and begin to burn slowly. The slow burning, then turns into charcoal and builds up.

Solution

If your hot rod is defective, then you can watch the video on how to replace your hot rod below:

Moist Wood Pellets

The moist wood pellet might cause your Traeger grill not heating as expected. Moisture can be caused by exposure to wet environment. Moisture and heat is not a good combination for your pellet grill. What happens then? The wood pellets smolder while the grill temperature remains cool. The result? A smokey smell that is almost like a burnt odor, and a smoky flavor to your food.

Keep your wood pellets dry at all times. Humidity can cause them to rot and a wet wood pellet is slow to cook, giving it a gritty texture and unhealthy flavor.

Solution

If you use wood pellets, it is important that the pellets are dry and stored properly. Your wood pellets are sourced from sustainable wood, but if they are not dry, they will quickly become stale. Ensuring that your wood pellets are dry is one way to make sure that after they have been burnt you can use them again.

Wood pellets must be stored in an environment that does not get too wet. You need to make sure wood pellets stay dry so they can be used as fuel.

Stuck Pellets

The Traeger grill goes beyond grilling great food. It’s also the ultimate grilling tool that takes wood pellets and automatically feeds them into the grill. You don’t have to stand by the grill and keep adding more pellets every time your food cooks. The grill does it for you, which means no need to turn on a smoker, stand beside it, and labor over a hot grill.

But, users may experience problems with feeding pellets into the fire pot. Many owners face this dilemma — pellets get stuck in the hopper.

Solution:

Grab your toolbox and let’s get this grill back to life. We’ll start by repairing or replacing the motor , then we can clear out any jams if there are any. Once we have it fixed up, we’ll put it back together and you can use your grill as usual.

Defective RTD Temperature Sensor

The RTD Temperature Sensor reads the internal temperature of the grill, monitoring fuel consumption and making adjustments as necessary for optimal grilling. If it’s defective or not working properly, then it might cause heating issues on your Traeger grill.

Solution:

• First, ensure that the Temperature Sensor is installed correctly. The RTD Temperature Sensor is screwed on the side of the intake tube. It helps to use a long flexible neck screwdriver for this purpose. Be careful not to over tighten the screw as it might damage the neck of the sensor.
• The wiring is plugged into the Thermostat Control Board and if there is any problem with this connection, then also heating issues might be observed.
• Ensure all connections on the RTD Temperature Sensor are secure and free from resistance.
• If this doesn’t solve your problem, you may need to replace the RTD Temperature Sensor. The RTD Temperature Sensor is on the lower left-hand side of your Traeger grill. Be careful to not touch the motherboard, as it might be very hot!
• To remove it, unplug the wiring harness from the connector at the Thermostat Control Board. Unscrew and remove the old RTD Temperature Sensor. Clean off any grease and/or dirt using a paper towel or rag. Re-insert the wiring harness into the Thermostat Control Board connector. Screw in the new RTD Temperature Sensor and tighten it down until it is secure. Put grill cover back on once you’re finished.

Defective Induction Fan

The working induction fan is essential to keep the combustion alive. If it stops working, it may prevent the fire and the whole Traeger grill from working. The induction fan is located under the hopper, and it circulates smoke throughout the cooking chamber of the grill to cook the food evenly. 

If your fan is not producing an appropriate amount of airflow, something might be obstructing it. This could include a buildup of dust or dander caught in the blades of the fan, as well as other things.

Solution:

One of the most important parts of the grill is the induction fan. This part of the grill makes it possible to actually cook food. If your induction fan becomes damaged and is not working properly, then you will need to repair or replace your induction fan, to get it working again.

Excessive Ash In The Firepot

If you notice ashes are constantly collecting around the Traeger grill, it needs to be cleaned. Excessive ash will block the airflow and impede the efficiency of the grill. Ash builds up in a grill which can cause it to get clogged and stop working altogether.

Solution:

Your Traeger grills has a slide out ash collection tray in the bottom left-hand corner of the grill. When there is build up on the bottom of your Traeger grill, it can interfere with getting a proper temperature. Here is a quick and easy way to quickly remove the buildup and restore your grill to functionality.

All you need to do is to remove the ash bucket. It’s located in the lower left-hand corner of your Traeger when looking at it from the front side. Just press on its handle and slide it out.

Here is an awesome video on how to completely clean your Traeger grill from ash build up:

Rusted Holes In The Firepot

Traeger grill is constructed with an internal grain that allows it to retain heat even when exposed to air. The holes in the firepot allow heat to escape when the pellets are heated resulting in improper heating and loss in the proper cooking capability of the Trager grill.

Solution:

It’s important to keep your fire pit clean and maintained regularly in order to prevent rust. Rust could eventually form on the fire pit, causing pain to you and possibly others apart from yourself. If you neglect your fire pit, you can look forward to the pain that it will cause you tomorrow. 

Conclusion

All you barbecue lovers out there know that the Traeger Grills are one of the top choices for grilling. It’s affordable, convenient, versatile and an all-time favorite for tailgates, cookout parties, family reunions and even small gatherings with friends. Yet, there are some problems that could arise from using a Traeger grill. There might be instances when users have encountered certain issues like your Traeger grill not getting hot. However, these problems can be remedied easily.