Camp Chef Smoker Troubleshooting [7 Easy Solutions]

The most common Camp Chef pellet grill problems are:

• The smoker keeps shutting off.
• The grill won’t ignite.
• The fan stops working.
• The smoker stops smoking.
• And the smoker getting too hot, and other temperature problems.

If your Camp Chef smoker suddenly stops working, maybe one or more above problems are the culprits. Then you need to go on reading our comprehensive Camp Chef smoker troubleshooting guide to fix that issue.

Camp Chef Smoker Troubleshooting [7 Easy Solutions]

Camp Chef pellet smoker’s problems and their solutions are the following:

1. Smoker Keeps Shutting Off

Camp Chef smoker keeps shutting off is the most common problem for which the users suffer the most.

The main culprits behind this issue are the following:

• Blown fuse 
• Power loss
• Firepot’s too much ash
• Wet or low-quality pellets
• Pellets running out
• Dirty RTD Sensor Probe

Solution:

If your Camp Chef smoker abruptly shuts off, you should correctly restart it. The solutions to fix this issue are the following: 

• Inspect and replace the blown fuse
• Plugged the Camp Chef smoker into a reliable power source
• After 2-3 cooking sessions, clean the firepot’s ash
• Keep the wood pellets and hopper away from the water and moisture
• Check the hopper and ensure that it has pellets
• Clean the RTD sensor

2. Smoker Won’t Light/Ignite

After turning on the smoker, it starts to blow, but you may face that your Camp Chef smoker won’t light.

Even if your smoker’s auger and the firebox are also running correctly, the smoker fails to ignite. The factors that cause this issue are the following: 

• Smoker fails to burn all the fuel
• Low airflow adjustment 
• Dirty nozzle from where the oil comes out
• Dirty firepot
• The hot rod fails to produce heat

Solution:

Remove the smoker’s deflector shield and drip pan and see whether its auger is running or not. Also, try to feel whether it’s producing warmth or not. The other solutions are the following: 

• Ensure that the smoker is burning all the fuel
• Follow the manual and adjust the airflow
• Properly clean the dirty firepit and nozzle
• Make sure the hot rod is producing warmth

3. Fan Not Working

The fan is a crucial smoker’s part. And it’s mainly used in heating and burning.

The Camp Chef smoker fan is not working for the following reasons: 

• Smoker’s overuse
• Fail to maintain the smoker properly
• Grease builds up in the fan because of continuous usage
• Broken fan 

Solution:

Any of the above issues can hinder the smoker fan’s proper functioning. However, you should follow the solutions below for fixing this issue.

• Avoid the smoker’s overuse or frequent use
• Properly maintain and clean the smoker
• Wipe the fan’s blades for cleaning the accumulated grease and debris
• Take out the smoker’s fan and wash it properly
• Replace the broken fan

4. Smoker Not Smoking

If you see that your Camp Chef smoker is producing hardly or no smoke at all, you should look for the exact causes of it.

The following factors are responsible for this cause. 

• Too high temperature
• Cheap and old pellets or pellets absorbed moisture
• Jammed auger
• Dirty firepot or full of ash on it
• Poor ventilation
• Fan stops working

Solution:

At lower temperature, the Camp Chef smoker produce more smoke. Thus, make sure that your smoke setting is in perfect condition. The other solutions are the following: 

• Use relatively fresh, dry, and high-quality pellets
• Once completing the cooking take out the unused pellets from the hopper
• Use the pellets correct size
• Clean the firepot’s ashes 
• Ensure pellets are getting enough oxygen to ignite
• Check the broken fan and replace it if required

5. Flame Issues

The Camp Chef smoker’s flame issues include the flame error code, smoker probe error, and flame keep going out.

When the fire falls below a specific temperature level or the flame frequently goes out, the smoker shows the flame error code. The causes of flame issues are the following: 

• Defective controller
• Jammed auger
• The smoker fails to recognize the temperature drop
• Cheap and low-quality pellets
• Leak between the fan and firepot

Solution:

The Camp Chef smoker’s flame error means extinguished fire. You can fix the issue in the following ways:

• Inspect the controller issue and replace the defective one if required
• Use the right size pellet to avoid the auger jam
• Contact a technician to solve the temperature probe issue
• Use high-quality and dry pellets
• Check and fix the firepot and fan leak

6. Smoker Getting Too Hot

Cooking at an average temperature is okay for the Camp Chef smoker. The smoker’s inbuilt function can automatically deal with the temperature fluctuations issue.

But still, continuous smoking at 25 – 50 degrees Fahrenheit affects the smoker, and it gets hot. The other causes are the following: 

• Dirty firepot
• Smoker’s incorrect startup
• Grill’s internal parts malfunctioned
• Too moist or low-quality wood pellets

Solution:

If you see that your smoker is getting too hot frequently, you should immediately contact the smoker’s customer service provider. The other fixing ways are the following: 

• Properly clean the firepot
• Correctly start up the grill
• Contact a technician and replace the defective internal parts 
• Use high-quality and dry wood pellets

7. Other Temperature Issues

The Camp Chef smoker’s common temperature problems include the smoker not heating up or losing heat and low or high smoke temperature.

For the reasons below, you may encounter this issue from time to time. 

• Jammed auger
• Ash build-up
• Dirty temperature sensor
• Faulty hot rod igniter
• Improperly stored pellets

Solution:

When the smoker’s temperature fluctuates or fails to heat up, you should do the following: 

• Clean the firepot’s debris and ash build-up
• Properly clean the temperature sensor
• Replace the faulty hot rod igniter
• Store pellets correctly

FAQ:

Why is my Camp Chef smoker not holding the temperature?

The bad controller is the prime reason why the Camp Chef smoker fails to hold the temperature. Dirty ash pot is also responsible for this issue. If the firepot has too much ash on it, it will stop the grill’s heating up.  

How long does it take for Camp Chef to heat up?

The Camp Chef’s pellet ignition startup process takes 8 minutes. And hopefully, you will get the desired temperature within 10-20 minutes from the start time. Usually, the longer time depends on how hot the temperature is. 

Can you grill burgers on a Camp Chef pellet grill?

Yes, you can grill burgers with the Camp chef. A significant way of adding flavor to the burger is by smoking it. Set the desired temperature, and then smoke the burger. Continuously smoke it until it’s 10-15 degrees more than the set temperature. 

Will Traeger pellets work in a Camp Chef Smoker?

Yes! Traeger pellets will work in the Camp Chef smoker. The Traeger pellet is a hardwood grilling pellet, and it would work in any pellet grill type. The major grilling brands are Traeger, Rec Tec, Camp Chef, Pit Boss, Masterbuilt, etc. 

Can you use any brand of pellets in a Camp Chef pellet grill?

Irrespective of the pellets brand type, the Camp Chef smoker efficiently works. However, some grill companies intend to use their produced pellets only in their grill. But you can use any pellet brand in Camp Chef. 

Conclusion

Now, you know all the reasons why you require the Camp Chef smoker troubleshooting guide.

Hopefully, you will be able to fix all your smoker’s issues by yourself in no time. Still, if you have any queries, leave a comment below. We will come back to you with a solution very soon.