Pit Boss Keeps Shutting Off: Why and How To Fix It?
For dinner, you throw some ribeyes onto the pellet grill. You return 15 minutes later, and your grill has shut down by itself. You may be asking yourself, “Why Does My Pit Boss Keep Shutting Off?” This is a common problem that has affected many people, including myself.
Why is my Pit Boss constantly shutting down? This could be due to your pellet type, age, cleanliness, or hopper design.
It can be frustrating when your grill stops working or goes out of control. But there are ways to fix it.
Let’s first take a closer look at it.
What is a Flame Out?
The grill will shut down automatically after a prolonged period without warning. This can mean that the fire may go out entirely or the burner will stop working, but the temperature has dropped to 100.
A flameout can cause a drop in temperature and a lot of smoke to come from the grill. This is entirely different from going through the Pit Boss shut down procedure and turning off your grill in the correct way.
People often feel a flickering flame when they leave the grill unattended for a prolonged cook.
Let’s now look at the causes and what you can do about it next time you cook.
Why Does My Pit Boss Keep Shutting Off?
Each grill is unique, but these are some reasons why your smoker might not be turned on before you cook your meat.
See Also:
- Pit Boss P Setting
- Using The Smoke Setting on a Pit Boss
- Pit Boss Pellet Grill Troubleshooting
- Louisiana Grills Vertical Pellet Smoker Review
- Pit Boss Pro Series 1100 Wood Pellet Grill Reviews
Here are the top reasons for a flameout:
Types of Pellets
You can indeed use any pellets in your Pit Boss. To ensure that the grill functions correctly, they recommend using all-natural wood pellets.
Low-quality pellets could be the reason you are experiencing excessive flameouts. Pit Boss’ auger system works on a timing mechanism.
The grill automatically turns off after a long period without warning. This may mean the fire may go out completely or the burner will stop working, but the temperature has dropped to 100.
Cheap pellets are more efficient and will burn quicker. They may also not keep the flame lit during cooking. Although cheaper pellets may save you money in the short term, they can cause damage to your auger over the long time.
It is a good idea to check your pellets before you use them.
Condition of Pellets
You could also have moisture from the humidity because your pellets were stored too long.
Wood pellets can be stored in an environment that is less than 10% humid for up to six months if they are correctly stored. If you live in high humidity areas, expect a shelf life between 1-3 months and 3-4 months.
P Setting
Many users have stated that the newer Pit Boss models without a ‘P” setting might experience more flameouts.
The “P” setting regulates the time between auger operations. This article will explain what the Pit Boss’ P setting does.
Low Temperatures and Long Cooks
The outside temperature is a significant reason many people have trouble with flameouts. Although it is possible to use your Pit Boss even in cold temperatures, it is essential to know that heat, humidity, wind, rain, and cold weather can all impact how your grill functions.
See Also: Pit Boss Lockhart Platinum Series Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker
Loss of Electricity
Your Pit Boss Grill can also shut down due to a power outage. Your grill will shut down if you don’t use a power surge while you cook.
The electricity that powers pellet grills is electric. Any disturbances to the power source can affect the grill. You might notice that the temperature drops to below 100 degrees or that the grill turns off. This could indicate that your power has been cut for a moment.
Check your clocks inside the house to see if they are flashing. If they’re flashing, the power was cut. Turn the grill off, then turn it on again.
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Bad Outlet or Electric Cord
Although this isn’t a common problem, it is easy to overlook. This could be something as simple as a need to replace your outdoor or indoor electrical cord.
If your smoker is not turning on when you use the same outlet, it may be time to replace it. You may need to check the outlet to determine if it is time to replace it. Here are some tips to prevent your electrical outlets.
To ensure that your electrical cord is in good condition, make sure you inspect it. An electrical cable that is damaged will have missing ground prongs or insulation damage.
If the cord appears to be damaged, I recommend that it is replaced. These aren’t expensive, and you’ll feel much better if you don’t worry about your outdoor cord.
See Also: Pit Boss Smokers
Hopper Design
The Pit Boss hopper’s design is one of its most significant flaws. You’ll notice avoid if you leave it alone for too long.
The hopper will have plenty of pellets, but the void will stop the pellets from entering the auger.
To prevent voids from forming, ensure you are consistently spreading the pellets on the grill.
Meat Probes
Do the meat probes not work when the grill is turned on? The grill may be experiencing an electrical discharge. This is how to determine if your meat probes work correctly.
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How to prevent your Pit Boss Grill from turning off?
You will eventually have to deal with the “flame out” problem, particularly if you like slow cooking.
High-quality pellets are the best option. Clean your grill and empty the fire pit before each use. The grill doesn’t have to be cleaned after each use.
However, it would help to allow your grill to go through the natural burning process after each cook.
Please do not leave it unattended too long. It doesn’t mean you have to be there every second. You don’t want an overnight cook if you aren’t watching the pellets. [1]
Get in touch with us.
If your Pit Boss has stopped responding to you after following the above steps, Next, reach out via their website to get their support.
You can tell them about the problem, and they will be able to give you suggestions on how to fix it.
Conclusion
Pit Boss grills work ideally 98% of all the time. You should expect to have a fire at some point if you cook a lot.
It doesn’t necessarily mean it’s time to get a new grill. It does suggest that you should take a close look at what you are doing and not doing to stop it from shutting down on its own.
Pit Boss FAQs:
How do I get my Pit Boss Grill started?
For 10 minutes, open the lid and place the grill on the smoke setting. The smoke setting temperature range is 180 to 210deg F/ 80 to 100deg C. Close the lid and adjust the temperature to your desired set point.
- Start the grill on the smoke setting to ensure that the firepot does not get overloaded with pellets
- The lid should be left open to prevent smoke from entering the barrel and prevent backdrafts.
- Once the temperature of your grill is reached, you can add food to the grill.
- A lot of Pit Boss Grills come with a Prime Button. To get pellets to your fire pit while the igniter remains hot, the grill must be primed if it has not been used before or is completely empty of pellets.
- The igniter heats up for five minutes, then turns itself off.
- It takes a lot longer for pellets to travel from the hopper into the firepot after their first use.
- The Prime button is used to prevent the auger from stalling, so pellets arrive faster. The auger will not turn faster if you hold the Prime button.
- After the pellets have reached the firepot, the grill must be turned off, then on again to ignite the flames for five minutes.
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Why is my Pit Boss Grill not turning on?
There are many reasons your grill might not be turning on. When you work on your grill, make sure it isn’t plugged into power. You will need to remove the hopper access panels from the bottom of your hopper to access the areas you need to troubleshoot power. This panel is held in place by eight screws.
To ensure that the grill works appropriately, check the Outlet it is plugged into. You should also make sure that the Breaker or GFCI are not being tripped.
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- To ensure the problem is not there, you can try the grill at another outlet or in another outlet.
- GFCI: The igniter must be replaced if the GFCI trips. These are the steps to test it.
- Remove the hopper access panel and disconnect the igniter wires. (Purple/White).
- Plug the unit in and let it run for approximately 10 minutes.
- GFCI will not trip if the igniter is not working.
- Contact our Customer Care team for a new incendiary ordered and shipped to you.
- It would help if you inspected the power cord for any visible damage. If the cord is damaged, you can contact our Customer Care team to have a replacement power cord sent to you.
- Make sure you check the power connection at the back of your control board. Follow these steps to do this:
- Disconnect and reconnect the wires (black/white) after removing the access panel to the hopper.
- To resolve the problem, plug the unit in and turn it on.
- Inspect the fuse box to make sure you have not blown it. You will find the fuse on the control board in a small green box. These are the steps to verify that the fuse is working.
- If your control board has two screws at the front, take them out. Then, either feed the board back into the hopper or remove the screws from the show.
- If your control board doesn’t have screws in the front, there will be tiny plastic tabs at the back that must be compressed to allow the control board to pop the front of the hopper.
- There are three tabs at the top and three at the bottom of the control board (on the back). These tabs can be reached up to the bottom of your hopper. Once you have done that, push the control board from the front.
- You may need to remove the top of your fuse box by removing the control board from the hopper.
- If the fuse wire is still intact, please contact our Customer Care Team for a replacement control board. We will ship it to you.
- You can buy a 250-volt, 5-amp fuse from your local retailer if the fuse blows.
Why is my Pit Boss Grill not lit?
Many factors can make your Pit Boss Grill stop working. Before you contact Pit Boss Customer Service, here are some things to look out for:
- Ensure that the pellets are still in good condition. They should be a little shiny and snap easily, not crumbling.
- Ensure proper grill startup
- When you turn on the unit, your fan should be turned on, and it should continue to run. It could be one of these things if it isn’t running.
- Smoking grills that are not lighting up but still smoking could indicate a problem with the induction fan. An induction fan that isn’t running may be caused by the fan catching on over time, no power to the fan, or a non-functioning fan.
- You can loosen the fan with a small object by spinning it while the grill remains in the off position.
- Ensure that the igniter gets hot, glowing orange, and that heat is coming from the firepot after a few minutes.
- Ensure that pellets are being fed into the firepot and that the auger turns.
My Pit Boss Grill is so hot in smoke!
Many factors can cause the grill to heat up on the smoke setting. This is usually caused by closing the grill lid too soon after it has been started.
The Pit Boss Grill should be lit with the lid off for 10 minutes to help reduce any fuel buildup during startup.
It would be helpful if you didn’t lift the lid to adjust the temperature for any other setting than smoke. This will cause your controller’s temperature to change and could lead to further problems.
Pit Boss Customer Service can be reached for assistance if the lid is left open during startup.
Why isn’t my Pit Boss Grill heating up enough?
Many factors can cause a grill not to heat up. Wind and outside temperature are two common reasons a grill may not reach its maximum temperature. Make sure your Pit Boss Grill is protected from the elements wherever possible.
A grill should not be heated above its maximum temperature due to fuel and airflow. To prevent moisture from affecting pellets, they should be kept in an airtight container.
You must ensure that your Pit Boss Grill is not within 36 inches of any combustible structures, that all back vents are clear, that the chimney cap is at least 1 inch from obstructions and that the fan is clean.
Why can’t I see smoke from my Pit Boss Grille?
Lower temperatures will result in more smoke. Wood pellet grills burn extremely clean. They produce a thin, bluish smoke that is nearly invisible.
White smoke may appear at startup due to pellets that are still moldering before they ignite. As the flame broiler gets more seasoned, white smoke will develop over time. The smoke will taste and look better if it is seasoned with drippings.
Why does the temperature of my Pit Boss Grill fluctuate from its set temp?
The Pit Boss Grill regulates temperature by turning on and off the auger at specific intervals. This will cause temperatures to swing between +/- 25 and +/- 25, which is perfectly normal. You can also check these things to regulate your temperature.
- Lift the chimney cap as high as possible. The chimney cap can be lowered if the outside temperature drops and the grill have difficulty staying on temperature. In this instance, the chimney cap can be reduced by about 1/8 inch.
- Ensure that the flame broiler has been installed correctly
- It should rest on the bracket on either side of the grill or top of the grease drain channel on its right.
- Properly placed flame broilers should be able to be seen at an angle.
- This can lead to temperature fluctuations and damage to the barrel’s finish.
- Also, make sure the flame boiler slide cover is completely closed. It should not be open as it can allow heat to escape and cause the grill to overheat.
- The pellets will perform better if they are fresh. Pellets that have been exposed to moisture will not burn as well as pellets in good conditions. Take one of them and test to see if they snap in half and don’t crumble. Replace pellets that are in poor condition.
Why won’t my auger move properly?
Your auger may not be moving due to an auger jam or insecure connections to your control board.
Check for auger jams. If the pellets in the tube of the auger absorb enough humidity, an auger jam can occur. This will create a solid mass made up of broken-down pellets around the auger, which will keep it in place. The auger motor won’t be able to spin the auger if it is jammed.
Check the bottom of your hopper to see if the pellets are solidified. You may have to first remove the top layer pellets from the hopper. An auger jam is a mass of sawdust at the bottom of your hopper. You will need to remove the auger from the grill and clean it out:
- Remove the hopper shell.
- Remove the set screw from nylon bushing.
- Use vice grips to pull the auger free.
Depending on the severity of the jam, it may take some effort to get the auger out. To clean the auger, use a tool such as a screwdriver to cut away any pellets. Sandpaper can be used to remove any remaining debris. After cleaning the auger, you can re-insert the motor and the auger. This may resolve the problem.
If the auger jam is not a problem, it may be the connection. Verify that the connection between the auger motor and the control board (red wiring) is tight. Reconnect the red wires and disconnect them. To access the wires, remove the hopper access panel at the bottom of your hopper.
If the auger is not jammed and all wires are securely connected to the control board, and the auger motor is securely connected to the auger motor. However, the auger is still not turning, then Pit Boss Customer Support can be contacted for assistance.
Why doesn’t my fan turn?
Check the connections between the fan and the control board. These wires are yellow. These wires can be accessed on a barrel grill by removing the hopper access panel at the bottom of the container.
On a vertical smoker, take out the wire guard beneath the unit. To test if the fan is running, disconnect and reconnect them.
Manually turn the fan. If the fan motor has not been turned on in a while or the grill is new, the fan may need to be “kicked” to get started. After ensuring that the grill is unplugged from the outlet, remove the hopper access panel (from the barrel grill) from below the hopper.
On a vertical smoker, you will need to remove the fan housing. The fan blades can be manually turned. This could cause the fan blades to spin on their own. To prevent this from happening again, machine oil or WD-40 can be sprayed lightly at the point where the motor turns.
If the fan blade cannot spin, it could be caught on wires, or the bracket around it is bent even with assistance. To check if this is the case, Move wires that are blocking your path. Pit Boss Customer Service can help if fan brackets become bent.
Pit Boss Customer Service can help you if the housing of a metal fan (on a vertical smoker) is bent.
How can I use the flame broiler?
- The flame broiler can be used for both a greased pan or an open flame cook.
- Normal cooks should keep the flame broiler closed to prevent any fires or grease dripping.
- The flame broiler’s top slider can be opened to allow cooking with an open flame. The flame broiler should always be in the open position.
Is it normal for flame broilers to rust or warp?
Your flame broiler will rust and warp from the heat and oxidization. Water will accelerate rusting, so you should not use it to clean your flame broiler. The flame broiler will get seasoned with smoke and grease over time, which helps protect it from rust. It doesn’t need to be very clean.
You can clean your flame broiler by scraping it with putty or a knife. The slide cover allows you to slide over the broiler to remove any debris.
Pit Boss Customer Care will assist you if the flame broiler of your Pit Boss Grill doesn’t drain grease to its grease bucket or has holes that aren’t from manufacturing.
Flashing temperatures/flashing lights on the control board
The igniter is ON if you see flashing dots on your control board screen. Five minutes after startup, the igniter will shut down. The unit will adjust to the selected temperature once the flashing dots cease to appear.
This is for starters on units that use the barrel-style grill smoke setting. The igniter can be turned back on in some units if the temperature drops below 130°F/55°C. In this case, the flashing dots will return.
The temperature will flash on the control board screen below 150deg F/65deg C. This means that the unit’s temperature is below 150deg F/65deg C.
If the temperature drops dramatically, it may flash like this. This indicates that the fire is in danger of going out.
Is it OK to use my Pit Boss Grill when it rains?
All Pit Boss Pellet Grills in North America must be connected to a 110v outlet. Although your grill can be used in light rain, it must be protected from rain as an electronic appliance.
What pellets should be used in my Pit Boss Grill?
We recommend that you use Pit Boss pellets, or Louisiana Grills pellets, to ensure the best performance. However, other brands can be used in your grill.
How often should my Pit Boss Grill be cleaned?
After running 40-60 lbs of pellets through the Pit Boss Grill, we recommend that you clean your grill. You can clean your grill by using a vacuum to remove any ash from the bottom and fire pot, scrape off any grease from the flame broiler and then wipe it down with a light degreaser.