Cooking food with a new Traeger grill is indeed an amazing experience in itself.
But do you notice that your Traeger grill is not getting hot enough to make that cooking experience all so good?
Is your Traeger grill losing heat or not reaching the desired temperature while cooking?
Let’s find out more about it in this section.
Various factors contribute to low heat on your Traeger while cooking.
These factors include ignition problems, auger failure, cold weather, poor airflow circulation, opening the lid frequently, frequently changing the temperature settings, etc.,
We will look into mainly 8 of these problems in detail further down below.
Also, I will also provide you 8 best solutions to fix them those issues quickly.
One of the most common solutions to the low-temperature error on your Traeger is to restart it properly.
If you own a WiFIRE enabled Traeger grill, then it is important to preheat the grill with a closed lid.
This means you have to start your Traeger grill with a closed-lid, otherwise, it will result in temperature fluctuations throughout your cooking.
Let us first take a look at 8 main reasons that causes your Traeger grill to lose heat gradually during cooking process.
Table of Contents
- 8 Main Reasons That Cause Traeger Grill to Lose Heat
- 8 Easy Solutions to Fix a Low Temperature Problem with a Traeger Grill
- How Do I Make My Traeger Grill Hotter Again?
- What are the Best Traeger Temperature Settings?
- Final Thoughts
8 Main Reasons That Cause Traeger Grill to Lose Heat
Let us walk you through some of the main reasons that cause your Traeger to lose heat.
1. Poor Quality Wood Pellets
Always ensure that you are using the best quality and fresh hardwood pellets for your Traeger.
If pellets are too old or are usually left open in the bag after the last cooking session in the backyard, then they tend to get moist.
They also lose their shine and crumble.
Poor quality wood pellets do not ignite properly as they should.
Thus, enough heat does not be produce in your Traeger grill if you have been using low quality wood pellets.
Therefore, you should always opt for the best quality and fresh Traeger wood pellets.
Click Here to Get High Quality and Long Lasting Traeger Wood Pellets.
2. Traeger Auger Failure or a Jammed Auger
If your Traeger grill auger is not functioning as required, then it can lead to low heat or no heat at all.
The problematic auger is turning too slow and taking more than 35 to 40 seconds to make one rotation.
This means not enough pellets are propelled to the hot rod to produce desired heat level.
In this condition, you need to fix your Traeger auger to solve the heating problem.
3. Problem in RTD Probe Sensor
RTD probe sensor plays a pivotal role in measuring the overall temperature readings of your grilled meat.
A defective RTD probe will give you an incorrect ambient temperature reading.
These incorrect readings often mislead you on the actual temperature within your Traeger.
4. Cold Weather
Traeger grills are generally built to resist cold weather problems.
And you should ideally be not facing any issues while using them on a cold day.
However, you have to make sure that you have enough wood pellets in your Traeger grill to finish your cooking.
As on a cold-weather day, your Traeger will need double the amount of pellets to run as opposed to a normal day.
At the same time, it is important to check the hopper frequently to make sure the grill is heated properly.
5. Poor Airflow Circulation
If there is not proper airflow inside the grill auger, then wood pellets will not ignite properly or there will lesser heat production.
If the induction fan has an issue then there wouldn’t be proper airflow circulation inside your Traeger.
This leads to heat loss during the cooking process.
6. Higher Ash Build up inside the Fire pot
Regular cleaning and maintenance of your Traeger grill is always a very important thing to remember.
Without regular cleaning, there is usually more ash buildup that happens inside the grill fire pot, auger and the other parts.
If there is an excess ash build up in your grill by any chance, then this could also lead to lower heat production and more temperature fluctuations.
7. Large Pans and Drip Tray Liners
Insufficient heat or incorrect temperature level in your Traeger grill is also the result of using incorrect sized pans and drip tray liners.
Using the right size of pans and the right kind of drip tray liners for your Traeger is also important to ensure there are no heat problems.
8. Frequent Opening of the Lid and Changing Temperature Settings
Ensure that you don’t open the lid too frequently which will lower the temperature inside your grill.
This temperature fluctuation often happens because your Traeger grill works similar to that of an oven.
The heat gradually rises and reaches approximately the desired level of temperature.
Hot air is produced and then circulated in the grill by the induction fan.
When we open the lid constantly, this hot air escapes and cool air gets inside the grill which again affects the heat level.
Therefore, frequently opening the lid and also changing the set temperature multiple times during cooking will affect the temperature level inside the grill.
So, it is important to avoid opening the lid and changing temperature settings in your Traeger grill.
Recommended Articles for You:
Learn How to Adjust Smoke Setting in Your Traeger Grill
A Complete Guide to Learn How to Use Traeger Thermometer
Here is the Best Method to Charge Your Traeger Auger
8 Easy Solutions to Fix a Low Temperature Problem with a Traeger Grill
By now you know what are the main the reasons for not getting enough heat or temperature in your Traeger grill.
Now I will provide 8 easy solutions to fix these problems one by one.
1. Use Premium Quality Wood Pellets
Always check the quality of your wood pellets.
They should be fresh, not crumbly and shiny.
You also need to store your fresh wood pellets in an airtight container after opening the bag.
This is to ensure that the moisture and humidity in the atmosphere do not degrade the quality of your pellets.
It is recommended to use only Traeger brand wood pellets as they are made of the best quality hardwood in their in-house production unit.
Traeger company also recommends storing the hardwood pellets in a bucket with the lid.
2. Check If the Augur is Functioning Properly
Empty the hopper and check whether the Traeger auger is functioning correctly.
Mark a line on the auger and power on the Traeger.
Take note of the time taken for a single auger rotation.
It should take around 35-40 seconds.
If it is taking more time or too little, or say is not moving at all, then contact Traeger care for further assistance to troubleshoot the Traeger auger problem.
If there is some problem with functioning of the auger motor, then you can replace it with a new one also.
Click Here to Replace the Old Traeger Auger Motor with a New Working Motor.
3. Replace Broken RTD Probe Thermometer
Check for any signs of damage to the RTD probe thermometer on the inside left of your Traeger grill.
It should not be bent, chipped or broken.
It should be clean and not touching the side of the grill.
If you find any of signs of the damage then your RTD probe should be replaced for proper temperature monitoring.
The replacement RTD temperature probe for Traeger grill is made from 304 stainless steel material which is very durable and offers accurate temperature readings.
Click Here to Get New Replacement RTD Temperature Probe for a Traeger Grill.
4. Use More Wood Pellets on Cold Days
Traeger pellet grills are built to even let you cook on a cold-weather day.
On this cold weather day, you will need more pellets than what is required on a normal day.
So, make sure that you have enough supply of Traeger wood pellets and you don’t run out of those pellets in the middle of cooking.
Check the hopper frequently and refill it whenever required.
You will approximately need around 2-3 pounds of pellets per hour of consumption.
Click Here to Get More Traeger Wood Pellets for Extra Supply in the Winter Season.
5. Check Whether Induction Fan is Working
The induction fan is the larger one of the two that is present in your Traeger grill.
Check if that fan is running constantly and ensure it is not easily stopped when tried to stop by a stick or pencil.
This way you will know if enough air is pushed into the grill for adequate air-flow circulation inside the grill.
6. Remove Extra Ash Buildup from the Fire pot
When your Traeger is switched off and completely cooled down, that’s the time you remove the grill grates and clean the fire pot.
The fire pot is often filled up with excessive ashes created by the constant burning of wood pellets.
You need to clean the fire pot and remove this excessive ash regularly to allow proper air circulation inside the grill.
It is also important to check for any rust holes or other damages inside the grill.
A dirty grill can lead to temperature fluctuations.
Particularly when there is ash build-up in the fire pot, it reduces the ability of the hot rod to ignite pellets as required.
Therefore, you need to regularly clean your Traeger grill from inside as well as from outside.
The following cleaning accessories will help you clean your pellet grill completely.
A. Traeger Grill All Natural Cleaner Solution
B. Traeger Grill Cleaning Brush
C. Traeger Grill Replaceable Scraper Cleaning Brush
7. Use Right Sized Brisket and Drip Tray Liners
When using large pans or brisket, it is important to get the right size.
There must be at least one-inch space on all sides because too large pans or brisket can restrict the airflow and lead to uneven temperature inside the grill.
Similarly, while using drip tray liners, make sure to use the correct one that is suitable for your grill.
You can find the right sized drip tray liners on Amazon store or on the Traeger.com website.
Click Here to Get Proper Sized Traeger Grill Brisket.
Click Here to Get The Right Sized Drip Tray for Your Traeger Grill.
8. Do not Open the Hopper Lid Frequently During Cooking
Yes, it is necessary to keep the hopper lid closed during the cooking process.
Unnecessary opening of the lid can disrupt the hot air-flow circulation within the grill.
Also, check for any gaps after you close the lid.
A gap less than a quarter of an inch (0.25 inch) is normal.
If there is a larger gap then try adjusting the hinges on the lid to correct it.
You will also need to check for any damages or anything in the grill gates, lid, barrel or hinges that are not letting the lid to close properly.
Even after trying out all these methods the gap still persists then contact Traeger care for more assistance on this issue.
How Do I Make My Traeger Grill Hotter Again?
I have discussed the 8 primary reasons why your Traeger grill loses heat and 8 easy solutions to fix them in the above sections.
Now, when you want to make your Traeger grill hotter again, then the first thing you need to do is to take care of the reason that causes the grill to lose heat in the first place.
The best thing that I like about newer Traeger grill models is they are infused with the error display technology.
When your grill’s temperature falls below 120°F for more than 10 straight minutes, then Traeger grill automatically displays an error message.
Once you find the real cause then you can fix that problem with the help of the above solutions.
And after that just restart your Traeger grill to solve the heating problem.
Now, preheat the Traeger grill with the lid closed.
This process is also called as seasoning the grill.
When you learn to season your Traeger grill properly, then you can get it hotter again without any hassles.
What are the Best Traeger Temperature Settings?
In a Traeger grill, the temperatures are usually pre-set or already pre-defined in the system.
Actually, you don’t have to worry about manually controlling the heat temperature settings.
The owner’s manual of each Traeger model will give you a rough idea as to how to use each of these settings for your varying cooking needs.
There is a certain “Smoke” setting in every Traeger grill which is usually around 150°F to 180°F.
You will also see medium to high temperature settings.
On some Traeger models, you can actually set specific temperature settings on your own.
Therefore, the best temperature setting in my opinion is the one that comes by default or preset with the Traeger grill.
Use those settings only to get the best grilling results.
Final Thoughts
Traeger is one of the first ones to obtain a patent in the wood pellet grill technology.
They compete and stand out against other brands in the industry with their exceptional inclusions of advanced barbecue technology.
They provide one of the best wood pellet grills for that fun-time grilling party with your family and friends in the backyard.
Despite its excellent built quality and technology, Traeger does need some regular maintenance and troubleshooting at certain times.
The grill temperature fluctuations can be fixed and handled easily by simply knowing the right way to use and maintain your Traeger.
Apart from that, Traeger company also provides active customer support to solve your grill related problems from the comfort of your home.
Have a good time Traegering!
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