Why is my pellet grill not smoking? In this article, we will show you why your pellet grill is not smoking and what can be done to fix it. Hopefully this will help you diagnose the problem and resolve it before it becomes a bigger issue. Read this article until the end to know the reasons why my pellet grill not smoking. In this blog, we also have an article about best small pellet grills for the money that you might want to read about it.
Pellet grills, sometimes referred to as pellet smokers, are outdoor cookers that combine elements of charcoal smokers, gas grills, and kitchen ovens.”
Wikipedia.org
What is pellet grill
Pellet grill is a pellet stove that uses a hot air source to heat up the pellets. A pellet grill is an efficient, clean and convenient cooking method. There are many advantages of using pellet grill such as you can cook food faster and it saves fuel. It is also good for health because it has no smoke and it is healthier than cooking with other fuels.
The most popular type of pellet grills are designed in a box shape and they have 4 wheels under them which makes them easy to move. They come with different sized burners so everyone can find one that suits their needs best. The most basic models do not have much functionality and they are used mainly for backyard use or camping trips.
On the other hand, there are more advanced models which have several features like LED lights, auto-ignition function, adjustable temperature range and so on. Most of these models are very expensive but if you want something special then this is what you should be looking at.
Pellet grills utilize ignited wood pellets and a system of fans to heat food to a specific temperature, quite like an outdoor convection oven. Pellet grills can be used to smoke, grill, bake and even braise food.”
Laura Denby, author foodnetwork.com
Benefits of pellet grill
Pellet grill is an appliance that is used to cook food using a smokeless and an odorless fuel. The main advantage of pellet grill is that it can be used for cooking a variety of food items. Pellet grill can be used to cook fish, meat, vegetables, eggs and many more. Here are the benefits using pellet grill:
- Cleanliness – When we talk about cleaning, pellet grill is considered to be the easiest way to clean your kitchen. Unlike gas and charcoal, your pellet stove does not produce any ash and so you don’t need to worry about cleaning up after cooking. You just need to empty the ashes into the trash bin once they cool down completely.
- Healthy – Using pellet grill is better than using gas or charcoal since you won’t get any harmful gases while using gas or burning wood. This means that you won’t get sick from inhaling poisonous fumes. Instead, you will get rid of all those nasty chemicals by simply using a pellet cooker.
- Save money – If you live in an area where electricity rates are high, you will definitely save money when you are using pellet cooker instead of other types of stoves. In addition to saving electricity, you will also reduce your bill when you are using the pellet grill.
- Cook quickly – Another benefit of pellet grill is its ability to cook food fast. Since the pellet burner heats up much quicker than the gas or charcoal, you will see that the food cooks relatively fast compared to other methods. You will notice that it takes less time to cook food using pellet grill compared to other cooking methods.
- Efficiency – When talking about efficiency, pellet grill is the highest rated cooking method. With pellet cooker, you will not have to wait too long before having your food ready. Since the pellet cooker burns pellets rather than gas or charcoal, you won’t have to wait for the fire to reach full flame before you start cooking. This feature allows you to enjoy food sooner.
- Convenience – Cooking with pellet grill is easier than cooking with other appliances. The reason why pellet grill is considered as the easiest mode of cooking is that it doesn’t require gas line or electricity. All you have to do is connect the pellets to the stove and you are done!
Why Is My Pellet Grill Not Smoking?
So, why is my pellet grill not smoking? Now that we know how a pellet grill works, how it produces smoke, and what sort of smoke we want, let’s look at some of the reasons you may not be getting enough smoke.
Your Griller Temperature is abnormally high
- Pellet grills emit more smoke while cooking at lower “low and slow” temperatures than when cooking at greater “hot and rapid” temperatures.
- This is just a result of thermodynamics and the way wood burns. Consider how, when you start a campfire, it smolders and smokes profusely until the fire is hot enough to burn the wood neatly.
- This is not to argue that you SHOULD lower the temperature to obtain more smoke; it all depends on what you’re cooking. A huge leg of lamb will be smoked low and slow at about 225°F, but a ribeye steak will be seared hot and quick at temperatures of at least 450°F or higher. Expect the grill to emit less smoke while cooking the steak. The pellets are burnt cleanly and quickly, creating little smoke rather than smoldering as they do at lower temperatures.
Your pellets are either old, inexpensive, or have absorbed moisture
- Pellets for pellet grills perform best when dry and reasonably fresh. Pellets don’t stay long if they’re left outside, particularly in the hopper of your barbecue.
- They absorb moisture and do not burn as effectively, and if enough moisture is absorbed, they may rot and mildew. To keep your pellets fresh and dry, always store them inside in a sealed 5 gallon bucket.
Your Auger has been clogged
- If there are moist pellets, the improper size pellets, or just too many pellets shoved in there, the auger might get blocked.
- If the pellets cannot reach the firerod, they will not burn and produce smoke. On some models, this is followed by an error that may occur throughout the cooking process.
- Remove the heat shield and check to see whether the pellets have stacked up and jammed the auger or firerod.
Your firepit is filthy
- If your fire pot is unclean and full of ash, the pellets will not ignite as effectively. This may also cause pellets to accumulate within the fire pot surrounding the firerod and fail to ignite correctly.
- If this occurs, you will almost certainly get an error.
- Before filling your hopper and firing up your pellet grill, be sure to wipe off the ash from the last cook.
Inadequate ventilation
Pellets need oxygen to ignite, burn, smolder, and emit smoke. If you don’t get adequate airflow to the firepot for whatever reason, you’ll either get no smoke or simply thick nasty white smoke.
A fan is not functioning properly
- Check that your fans are working correctly, since they are responsible for delivering oxygen to the pellets and igniting them.
- A faulty fan may reduce the volume and quality of airflow as well as the amount and quality of smoke produced.
Vents That Are Clogged
- Check that any vents on your pellet grill are open and not blocked, since this will impede airflow and smoke output.
- Now that we know how a pellet grill works, how it produces smoke, and what sort of smoke we want, let’s look at some of the reasons you may not be getting enough smoke.
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