We are sorry to hear that your smoker is not working as it should. We are happy to work together to figure out what is causing the issue. Typically, when we hear of this issue, it is either caused by restricted airflow, pellets, or the internal thermometer.
Please note, the hot rod is programmed to run only during startup to ignite the pellets and is not an element that keeps the grill at a certain temperature. Once the hot rod ignites the pellets, the hot rod turns off and the thermometer communicates with the controller to manage the temperature. With that said, the grill is designed to run off airflow. It also has to have good and fresh pellets. It is normal for the temperature to fluctuate within 20 degrees above or below the set temperature.
This being said, here are a few things we would recommend checking:
- Check the Thermometer, which is located on the inside of the cooking grill area, to the left. Make sure it is not touching the left side of the grill. If the thermometer is too close to the wall, it can read the outside temperature. If it is leaning, then slightly pull the thermometer away from the body of the grill. There should be two screws holding this down and preventing it from leaning. Please ensure these are fastened down.
- Please ensure the top two inches of your thermometer are clean.
- We would recommend cleaning the internal thermometer with vinegar and a non-abrasive scrubber to get all the buildup off and get it back to the silver finish.
- When was the last time you cleaned your vents and chimney? (inside and out)
- We recommend cleaning every 50-60 hours of use. You can use a wire brush to get all the grease and build up off. Then, take off the chimney and soak it in hot water and dish soap for 20-30 minutes to get all the buildup and creosote out of the chimney as well.
- Have you adjusted your chimney? Your chimney cap should be open about an inch and a half. Sometimes, due to the outside ambient temperature, you may need to play around with this to find a good spot for your cook.
- We would also recommend checking your pellets. Some pellets burn hotter than other, and they need to be 100% all natural hardwood pellets with no fillers, oils, glues, corn, etc.
- If the pellets have absorbed moisture from the air they will not burn correctly. You may see hot spots, trouble lighting, issues with the amount of smoke you are seeing, along with inconsistent and low temperatures. This can happen with up to 4% moisture in them.
If you have gone through those steps and are still having the issues, then you would need a new internal thermometer. To see if this can be covered under warranty, please provide the following information:
Comments
0 comments
Please sign in to leave a comment.