Can someone explain why this keeps happening?

by lukeman291

16 Comments

  1. 1965BenlyTouring150

    When mine did it, it was an airflow issue. It has louvers on the back of the cook chamber that let the smoke out and they were clogged with gunk. Cleaning them took care of the problem. I’ve also heard of people with smokestacks having the same issue when the screen in the stack was clogged.

  2. jebidiaGA

    I’ve only seen it happen when I left the main lid open during cool down. It should be closed. Also during startup the main lid should be open until the smoke clears, then close. And id never recommend leaving three lid on the pellet side open

  3. IBeJewFro

    Have you cleaned out your burn pot?

    If too much ash accumulates it can start burning pellets while they’re in the auger, which can cause a fire to in the tube and up into your hopper.

  4. Particular_Dark_3572

    The pellets inside the auger have started to burn. This usually happens if I don’t clean out my burn pot and let the ash build up

  5. rsopnco1

    Too much ash in pot. Running low temps for a long time then sudden raise cook temp to high temp. Used to happen to me too. I’ve started staggering up temp and have not had the issue since. Read about it from another member in a subreddit.

  6. Ziggler25

    Clean your burn pot. Mine was doing this and had a bunch of ash and pellet chunks even though I do proper shutdown every time

  7. stuntdomino10

    Also wind direction can affect this to. Make sure it isn’t pushing airflow towards your hopper.

  8. dejected_muggle

    Only time mine has done that has been due to going straight to shutdown mode from high temps (400+).

  9. MurseInAire

    The small vents where the chimney connect to the cook chamber are clogged with ash and soot. Smoke is going out through the pellet box because it has better air flow.

  10. Bearspoole

    Every pellet grill I’ve had has done this to some degree. My traeger did it much more than my camp chef does now. But it still happens

  11. bass2mowth

    The one time it happened to me I was using up an old bag of pellets and when I dumped it in the hopper there was a shit ton of fine particles, causing the fire to flare up into the auger tube.

  12. DependentEmu7686

    Try new pellets. I had this same, issue, after taking it apart multiple times , to clean and check everything I figured out my issue was the pellets. Either I got a bad batch or I had left them in the hopper too long. After completely emptying my hopper and putting in a new bag the issue went away

  13. Disassociated_Assoc

    Fan failure, duct channel blocked or obstructing airflow, smokestack blocked or obstructed, auger fire, hopper fire.

  14. If memory serves me correct you are supposed to keep the lid closed on the hopper at all times.