We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For details please review the terms of the  Privacy Policy.

Skip to Main Content
Start Traegering With 0%* APR Financing  |Shop Now

Running too Cool

Is your grill running too cool or just not getting up to your set temperature? Does the flame go out during a cook? Let's walk through some common causes so you can grill confidently again.

Not Igniting

If the grill is not igniting at all, please use the Grill Not Igniting articles below.

Flame Goes out within 20 Minutes

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:

Are You Cooking on HIGH?

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).

Note that the HIGH setting's temperature ranges between 425 - 450°F (218 - 232°C). If your grill is in this range, it is functioning as expected. However, if your grill is set to HIGH and is below this designated range, please continue reading.

Cold Weather

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. Ensure you 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.

Check the Firmware Version

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.

Using Large Pans

Ensure there is at least 1 inch of clearance on all sides of large pans. Cooking with a large pan can prevent proper airflow causing the grill to run cooler or have drastic temperature swings.

Drip Tray Liners

When using a Traeger drip tray liner, make sure you use 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.

Pellets

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 pellet level 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 the 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 fed to the fire. In this case, clean out the firepot and begin the start-up process.

Grill Maintenance

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 at the correct temperature. Upon turning on a cool grill, the grill temperature should be within +/- 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.

Startup

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

Previous Shutdown

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.

Check the Lid

Due to manufacturing or use, the lid might shift and allow too much air into the grill. Therefore, 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 the Lid Gap article for further direction.

Induction Fan

The induction fan brings air into the grill, giving the fire oxygen to burn. If the fan is not working, 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 working, 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 visibly spinning.
    • Fans on WiFIRE enabled grills may turn off and on during the startup process; this is normal.
  7. If the fan is not spinning, turn off the grill and manually spin the fan with your hand. This will help break up any dirt or grime that has possibly built up.
  8. The fan should either work/spin or not work at this point. If the fan still does not work, please contact Customer Service.

​​​​​Thermocouple Cover Not Removed

Check if the thermocouple's orange protective cover was removed before use. If the cover was not removed and is now melted to the thermocouple, contact Customer Service.

Incorrect Ambient Temperature Reading

Check for Damage

  • Verify that your RTD temperature sensor is not damaged.

  • Check to see if it is bent or touching anything inside the grill.

    • f your RTD or thermocouple is bent, chipped, or seemingly broken, test it to see if it accurately reads the ambient grill temperature.

  • If it is reading the ambient grill temperature correctly, there is no problem, and you can continue grilling.

Testing RTD/Thermocouple

The best way to test your thermocouple is by comparing the ambient temperature of the grill to the external temperature. With the grill cooled down, complete the following:

  1. Turn on your grill and take note of what temperature shows up on the controller.
  2. Compare this to the outside temperature, either using a third-party thermometer or the current daily temperature.
  3. Acceptable temperature variation is within 20°F/10°C.
    • The temperature variation may be larger when the grill is sitting in the sun.
  4. If the readings are more than 20°F/10°C off, contact Customer Service.

Ignition Issues

If the grill’s temperature is at a steady decline and not consistently below the set temperature, it is most likely an ignition issue and will require different troubleshooting. For assistance with this, please contact Customer Service.