For those that are addicted to using our Traeger, our worst nightmare is the grill not igniting at all!
Especially when we’ve gone to great efforts to prepare our meat and plan our cook accordingly!
But, before you launch into full panic mode and assume there’s something broken, there are a few simple things you should check.
Here we take you through exactly what you should check on if your Traeger Grill isn’t igniting, how to troubleshoot the problem, and what you can do about it.
Traeger Grill Not Igniting?
Firstly, there’s a difference between a Traeger grill not heating up to higher temperatures, and a Traeger which won’t ignite at all.
If your Traeger ignites but has trouble heating up, check out this guide instead.
However, if your Traeger grill won’t ignite at all, then you’re in the right place.
There are a few common reasons that can cause problems with the ignition in a Traeger, some being more simple than others.
Here’s the ultimate troubleshooting guide if your Traeger grill isn’t igniting:
- Start by checking your Traegers plugged in and the power outlet is working.
- Check to see if you’ve got sufficient wood pellets in the hopper.
- Turn on your Traeger and monitor the display, watching for any error codes.
- Check the induction fan is working
- Take a close look at The hot rod
- Check to see if the auger is working
Let’s take a closer look at each step.
Check Your Electrical Connection
I know it sounds simple. But, the truth is you’d be kicking yourself if you went through the trouble of pulling apart your Traeger only to find out that it simply wasn’t plugged in correctly!
Since Traeger Grills require electricity to operate, the first step is to always plug your Traeger into an appropriate power outlet.
If your digital display doesn’t immediately start up, you should investigate further. First, try plugging something else into the same power outlet to see if it will turn on. If that appliance turns on fine, then there is no problem with the outlet.
Try plugging your Traeger into a different plug-point and testing it too. If you’re using an extension cord for your Traeger, try a different one or try plugging in the grill directly.
If the digital display still doesn’t start up, you know the problem lies within the power cable, plug, power box, or digital display of your Traeger.
Load Sufficient Wood Pellets
The next quickest and easiest step to rule out any problems with your Traeger igniting is to simply check that sufficient wood pellets have been loaded in.
Make sure you never use heating pellets in your grill, they are simply unsafe and can easily cause issues.
You should be aware that it takes the auger a good 5 – 10 minutes to move any new wood pellets from the hopper through to the fire pot.
If you take the internal heat deflectors out of the Traeger and look at the opening of the auger in the fire pot you should start to see pellets being loaded.
If things still aren’t igniting and you can see pellets are moving into the fire pot, it’s time to move on to some further troubleshooting.
Check For Error Messages
If you’ve been waiting patiently with your Traeger turned on but there doesn’t seem to be a flame, smoke, or any temperature rise, take a good look at the digital display.
Traeger has cleverly added several error codes for each model which can give you an indication of exactly what’s going wrong.
One common error code is LE, which is a low-temperature warning. This can be caused by the external environment like the wind or can signal a problem with the hot rod igniting the wood pellets, or even a problem with the RTD (Resistance Temperature Detector) which can explain why your Traeger keeps shutting off!
Induction Fan Not Working
Now that we’ve ruled out some simple, easy-to-fix solutions for when a Traeger won’t ignite, it’s time to dig a little deeper.
Unfortunately from here on in, it’s likely one of the internal parts of the Traeger is malfunctioning.
One such ignition issue that can arise, particularly in well-used Traegers, is the failure of the induction fan.
An easy way to test your induction fan is to simply turn your Traeger grill on and have a close listen.
If you’ve owned your Traeger for some time you will be accustomed to the normal sound of the fan, it’s not exactly quiet!
If you can’t hear the fan or it sounds abnormal, chances are there’s something wrong here.
Before you go trying to source a replacement and spiral into the void of annoyance, unplug your Traeger and have a closer look at the fan from the bottom, just in case there is any debris or obstruction.
Hot Rod Not Functioning
The hot rod is another essential part of the Traeger, responsible for actually igniting the wood pellets.
Therefore, it’s fair to say, if there’s a problem with igniting your Traeger, then there may be an issue with the hot rod.
You can test the hot rod pretty easily. Simply take out the internal parts including the heat dampers so you can visually see the hot rod.
If the auger is successfully moving the wood pellets into the fire pot but no smoke or fire is being produced, then you could have a faulty hot rod.
There are many reasons why the hot rod could break. Among these reasons is incorrect storage of your Traeger, exposing it to the raw elements of rain, cold, or direct sunlight, or it could even be from constant use.
Luckily it’s not too expensive for a replacement hot rod, nor is it too difficult to install!
Auger Is Broken
Probably one of the most annoying things to break down on a Traeger grill is the Auger.
It’s easy to diagnose whether your auger is causing any ignition issues. If your grill Traeger is turned on then the auger should be rotating, moving wood pellets through to the fire pot.
Take a look at the opening in the fire pot, and you should be able to see the auger turning. No turning indicates a problem with the auger.
If that’s the case you may need to source a replacement and even get a professional to help you install the new auger properly.
Avoid using any low-quality wood pellets as they can more easily cause blockages or jamming in the auger and cause backfires, all of which can cause malfunctions in your Traeger auger.
What To Do If Traeger Grill Isn’t Igniting?
If your Traeger Grill isn’t igniting at ALL, then the first step is to check the basics.
Test the power outlet, ensure your Traeger is plugged in correctly and all power switches are turned ON.
Next, check the wood pellets levels are sufficient, and the wood pellets are being fed into the fire pot.
If your Traeger still isn’t igniting, closely examine each critical part of the grill, from the induction fan to the hot rod, to the auger.
If you can identify which part isn’t working, you can always source replacements from Traeger directly, who can guarantee the replacement parts will work perfectly fine.
Plus, you may even be under warranty!
If you’ve followed the troubleshooting guide and you still aren’t certain of what the problem is, the best course of action is to contact Traeger Support for assistance.
Conclusion
Traeger Grills holds and maintains a reputation for being top-of-the-line pellet grills.
But, from your Traeger’s paint flaking to temperatures getting too hot, Traeger’s are not indestructible.
If you’re Traeger won’t ignite at all and you’ve done all the basic checks on the electricity and wood pellet supply, then the most common issues are in the induction fan, hot rod, or auger.
Luckily, Traeger themselves do supply replacement parts, and you may even be covered under warranty.
If you don’t know where to turn for answers, you can always contact Traeger support directly for assistance!
