Pit Boss Temperature Problems Troubleshooting Guide [15+ Solutions]

To fix the Pit Boss temperature problems, clean the grill thoroughly including the feeding system, burn pot, and temperature probe. Besides, ensure enough air circulation and the right P-Setting. Also, cooking in a cooler place and using high-quality pellets will minimize the temperature issues with your Pit Boss.

However, the most common Pit Boss temperature issues that users often struggle with are:

  • Pit Boss getting too hot while cooking.
  • Temperature blinking.
  • Suddenly temperature drops.
  • And the grill is not heating up.

Besides Pit Boss temperature swinging, faulty heating elements & temp probe, incorrect temperature setting, flaming up, and too much smoke can frequently bother you while cooking foods.

pit boss temperature problems

Stay tuned till the end if you want to know the easy solutions to all these Pit Boss grill temperature issues.

Quick Solutions

Overheating: Cleaning the grill thoroughly, right P-setting, and cooking in a cooler place should fix your Pit Boss overheating issue. 

Temperature Fluctuations: Keeping the grill always clean, ensuring enough air circulation, using quality pellets, and cooking in shadow places will solve the temperature swings problem. 

Grill Not Heating Up: Ensure that you have plugged in the power cord correctly. Also, a cleaned grill and using high-quality pellets will ensure that your grill is heating nicely. 

Temperature Blinking: Cleaning the feeding system and temperature probe and then restarting your grill should bring the solution to the grill temp blinking trouble.  

Flaring Up: Cleaning the grill grease will fix your grill flaring up problem instantly. 

Most Common Pit Boss Temperature Problems + Solutions

Pit Boss is one of the top-quality Bar B Q smokers. Yet sometimes, it can give you trouble.

But knowing the proper solution will lessen your struggles and help you to cook foods with better smoke flavor.

Here are all the culprits behind your Pit Boss temperature troubles and their simple solutions in detail.  

1. Grill Overheating & ErH Code

Sometimes you may notice your pit boss keeps getting too hot and showing ErH code on the display. This grill overheating happens due to:

  • Grease fire
  • Filthy or corroded grease tray
  • A dirty or rusty fire pot and grill grates

Besides if you place the grill under direct sunlight or in the hot weather, you will discover your pit boss is overheating. 

pit boss getting too hot

Plus, you may find  ErH overheating error code showing because the heat baffle gets damaged or it’s wrongly placed. 

 pit boss ErH error code

Excessive pellets in the firepot, dirty or rusty RTD temperature probe, improper start-up, faulty P-Setting, and damaged control board can also be culprits behind your Pit Boss temp higher than setting.

How To Fix:

Dealing with pit boss grill overheating will seem easy if you are following the below methods:

i) Clean The Grill Thoroughly After Grease Fire

In the first step, you need to check whether your grill is clean. It might have faced a grease fire in the cooking chamber.

grease fire while cooking with pit boss grill

So, clean the grease tray, fire pot, and RTD temperature probe. 

But before cleaning, make sure you have unplugged the grill and it is cool enough. 

Here you can read our comprehensive guide on how to clean a smoker after a grease fire perfectly and safely.

ii) Place The Heat Baffle Correctly

As for the overheating, it may be occurring from the heat baffle.

So, check the heat baffle and confirm that the heat baffle is placed correctly. Then, if you are finding the heat baffle is dead, replace it.  

iii) Cook In Cooler Place

If you are cooking in any excessive hot or cold spots, it will make the grill harder to work and also greatly affect the temperature. 

cook in a cooler place with your pit boss

So, it’ll be best to place the grill under any shade and cook in a cool place, but not under direct sunlight. 

iv) Ensure Enough Pellets While Cooking

The pellets’ condition used for grilling can also lead to overheating. So, it is a must to inspect the hopper and check the pellets. 

ensure enough pellets before starting grilling with your pit boss

Plus, ensure that there are sufficient wood pellets in the firepot before starting your cooking. Don’t forget to clean the firepot after every 3-4 cookings.

v) Don’t Open Grill Lid Too Much

It might be your first grilling session. So, from your excitement, you may be opening the grill lid frequently and inspecting how far the foods are cooked.  

opening grill lid often causes the grill to become too hot

Here remember, opening the grill lid often can cause the grill to become too hot.

So, avoid opening the grill lid repeatedly. Instead, you can use the meat probe to monitor the cooking. 

use the pit boss meat probe to monitor the cooking

vi) Replace The Dead Control Panel

Every pellet grill features a control panel that let users set the temperature.

But, after a few years of use, it may get defective and fail to control the set temperature.

Thus, it may lead to an overheating issue. In such a case, you won’t have any alternative than replacing the dead control board. 

vii) Make Sure The Right P-Setting

P-setting or temperature setting on Pit Boss is an essential/great feature of the unit. It controls the temperature and smoke production. 

adjust the right p-setting on your pit boss

If you fail to set the P-Setting correctly, you will face temperature issues with your Pit Boss.

Find whether the P-settings are okay or not and ensure the right P-setting. 

Here you may need to learn the correct method of adjusting P-settings on Pit Boss.

How To Adjust P-Settings On Pit Boss

Follow the below instructions to use and adjust the P-settings:

  • On the pit boas grill unit, you will find the “P” set button that stands for P settings. To access the button, use a toothpick or screwdriver. Just lightly press the button.
  • Then, the function will start to flash, where you will find up to 7 levels.
  • Adjust the desired level by pressing the same button. For example, if you set P5 as default, you can turn it to P6 by pressing the button once.
  • But when the level reaches p7, it will again turn down to P0 after completing the cycle.
  • You should keep in mind that you have to give the unit at least 30 minutes before making the next adjustment. Otherwise, the flame dialer may be burnt out.

2. Temperature Blinking

The temperature on the Pit Boss smoker blinks when the grill doesn’t heat up to a certain heat.

That means either your grill temperature has gone below 150°F when it’s on “Cook Mode” or below 110°F when your grill is on “Smoke Mode”. 

pit boss flashing temperature on display

However, the reasons why your grill is not hot enough and boss flashing temperature can be the insufficiency of fuel, dirty probes, and obstructed pellet-feeding system.

How To Fix:

While facing trouble with the temperature flashing issue with your Pit Boss, then you can easily solve that issue with the following methods:

i) Adjust The Temperature

First up, you have to check the temperature settings of your pellet grill.

The temperature ranges for smoking and cooking modes should be like the following: 

Cooking MethodTemperature Range
Smoke200℉ – 250ºF
Cook200℉ – 500℉

ii) Check The Fuel Amount

It is quite necessary to ensure the right amount of fuel in your grill hopper.

With so many or so fewer pellets in the hopper, the temperature won’t set properly, causing blinking.  

check the fuel amount of your pit boss

So, check if there is enough fuel or pellets in the hopper. Also, ensure that the smoker is feeding high-quality pellets to keep the grill hotter for longer periods.  

iii) Clean The Grill Interior

When the Pit Boss temperature is blinking, it is a higher possibility that there is an obstruction in the feed system. 

If there is an auger jam, the pellet will fail to pass through the tube and firepot. So, deep cleaning of your grill interior is a must. 

clean pit boss grill interior

Start by clearing the obstruction from the auger motor and auger tube. After cleaning, don’t forget to oil it. 

Also, look for obstructions in the feed system. Remove whatever is stuck there.

iv) Clean The Temperature Probe & Burn Pot

You know the RTD probe helps to maintain a consistent temperature inside of your grill. But when the probe gets dirty or faulty, it fails to detect the correct temperature. 

clean the pit boss temp meat probe

So, you will notice the temperature flashing in your Pit Boss Display. Here you should go for the following fixes:

  • Clean if there has black soot on the probe. 
  • Also, check the wire connections and ensure the probe is connected to the control panel. Replace the defective one. 
  • Don’t miss to check out the burn pot. It might not be getting enough oxygen to heat up properly. 
  • Clean the obstructions from the burn pot as well. 

v) Restart The Grill

After cleaning the grill, connect the grill to the power outlets and restart the grill. 

restart your pit boss grill

Now, check whether still you are facing the same temperature issue. If yes, contact a professional to deal with it.

Note: Sometimes, the obstructed pellet-feeding auger may shut off your smoker.

Then you can fix the issue by reading our why Pit Boss smoker shuts off and easy solution guide.

3. Temperature Fluctuations

When your Pit Boss begins to fluctuate the temperature, then be sure either your grill is dirty or your grill is struggling with poor airflow.

Also if you frequently open your grill lid or use low-quality pellets, then your Pit Boss will fail to hold a stable temperature.

pit boss temperature fluctuation

In addition, outside temperature and changing cooking temperature often contribute to your Pit Boss temperature swings issue.

Besides, using heavy-duty foil, the faulty heat baffle, damaged dip tray, and cooking a lot of foods at a time can also be culprits behind your smoker’s temperature fluctuations.

Also, your Pit Boss temperature will shift from the set temperature, if the flame broiler is wrongly positioned or angled (if your Model owns it).

How To Fix:

Whatever the reason is behind your grill temperature fluctuation, you can fix it just by following the instructions below: 

i) Ensure A Clean Grill Unit

As you know when a grill, even a new one gets dirty after 2-3 grilling sessions, it will struggle from temperature swings.

It’s because a dirty grill causes auger jam, flaming out, and grease fire. 

cook in a clean grill unit

 So, here the best recommendation is to clean your grill thoroughly after two or three grilling sessions. 

And after every cooking, it’s wise to clean the ashes from the firepot and the dust from augur to avoid temperature fluctuation in the next grilling session. 

Also, don’t forget to clean your grill after a grease fire. Here you can follow the burnout process to clean the grease and residues from your grill chamber and grates. 

However, besides cleaning your grill, also make sure you have cleaned the dirty internal temperature probe.

It’s because a dirty RTD temperature probe can’t read the temperature and sends the wrong temp reading to the control panel.  

ii) Fix The Foil Issue

Most of us use foil on a drip tray liner to keep it safe from grease. But while using the foils, you have to ensure the correct placement of the foil.  

tightly wrap foil around drip tray edge

Check if it’s wrapped tightly all around the drip tray edge to ensure air circulation.

The poorly wrapped foil will hamper the airflow and cause temperature ups and downs.

iii) Use Quality Pellets

Good quality pellets will maintain a balancing temperature throughout the entire grilling session. Inferior-quality pellets create huge ashes which cover the sensor interface.

use quality pellets while cooking food

The sensor covered with ash and dirt can’t regulate the grill temperature properly. As a result, the temperature begins to fluctuate.

So, never use old or poor-quality pellets. Always use high-quality pellets. Plus, don’t allow the hopper to get empty.  

iv) Cook In Sunny Day But Not Under Direct Sun

While cooking, the grill area plays a big role in controlling the grill temperature.

For example, if you cook on a cold and frosty day or a windy and rainy day, your grill will face a temperature fluctuation.   

Here the simple solution is to ensure a cooking place and surrounding is not very windy or cold. 

Plus, don’t keep the grill under direct sunlight because it will make your grill hotter. 

v) Avoid Using Larger Pans

Using a large pan while grilling will block the airflow and lead the temperature to fluctuate. So, don’t use large pans while cooking food.

Besides, place the foods keeping a reasonable gap from your grill edge. It can be 1 inch. 

vi) Replace The Damaged Heat Baffle & Dip Tray

As you know, a damaged heat baffle can cause grill temperature fluctuation. In this step, check the heat baffle and dip tray.

If they are defective, replace them to erase the temperature issue.

vii) Position The Flame Broiler Correctly

The flame broiler in the Pit Boss allows the user to cook either INDIRECT or DIRECT heat. During normal cooking on a grill, the correct positioning of the broiler is necessary. For instance:

  • Verify if the flame broiler is positioned properly with the grease drain and bracket.
  • Also, check how the flame broiler is angled.  It should be tilted on the right side, and angle it a bit higher from the left side.  Besides, make sure the broiler is completely closed.

viii) Adjust The Chimney

Checked the chimney and lift up it as much as possible. After some time, don’t forget to lower the chimney. Lowering it by an inch is perfect.

adjust pit boss chimney

Finally, to ensure the above factors, avoid opening the lid frequently and make sure it’s closed perfectly to avoid temperature swings.

And never cook a lot of food at a time. It suffocates the airflow and causes temperature issues. 

Also, it’s advisable that don’t change the temperature setting frequently. It hampers the way of stable temperature. 

Tips: You know that Pit Boss offers 5 years of warranty. So if you face the problem of temperature swings within 5 years of purchase, you can consult Pit Boss customer care and get the fix for free.

4. Grill Not Heating Up

Sometimes, the temperature setting on your pit boss smoker fails to generate the heat you want.

And you may notice your Pit Boss Temperature is dropping gradually.  

pit boss grill not getting hot

The reason behind your Pit Boss not heating up is the problematic P-setting, defective outlets, bad hot rod, or tripped GFI circuit. 

In addition, the following culprits also are also responsible for your Pit Boss not producing heat:

  • Bad weather
  • Corroded burn pot
  • The build-up of dirt and ash
  • Stuck debris in the grill interior
  • Malfunctioning of the combustion fan 

In some cases, if the LCD screen on your Pit Boss fails to light up or due to ignition failure, there will be a lack of heat in the grill. However, it’s easily fixable. Just follow our below suggestions:

How To Fix:

i) Ensure The Power Supply

The first step to fixing your Pit Boss grill not heating up issue is to ensure your grill is properly plugged into an outlet that is working fine. Then make sure your grill is getting power from the outlet. 

ensure pit boss power supply

If it’s not getting power, unplug the unit and replug it. Or you can try another outlet and be sure if the outlet is faulty or not. If the outlet is faulty, replace it. 

Then, check the circuit breaker to see if the GFI circuit has tripped. If the GFI circuit is tripped, fix it. 

Plus don’t forget to check whether the extension cord is damaged or not. If it’s damaged, replace it immediately.

Besides going through these fixes, you should also explore the following corrective methods:

We have explored all the corrective methods that you need to do to fix the heating issue from your grill:

ii) Protect From Unfavorable Weather

Check if the problem is happening due to bad weather or not. If yes, try to cover your grill to protect it from direct sunlight, wind, or rain.

iii) Adjust The “P” Setting”

While fixing the heating issue, you can’t avoid the P setting. Adjust the “P” setting properly. 

  • First, turn the dial to “Off.”
  • Then “Smoke” mode to start up the grill. 
adjust the pit boss p setting

iv) Verify The Pellet Quality

In the grilling session, only 100% all-natural hardwood pellets will give you better cooking results. 

check the pellet quality

Take a look at the hopper and check the pellet quality. Always use high-quality pellets to minimize temperature issues. 

v) Check The Combustion Fan

The pellet grill features a combustion fan located in the hopper. It mainly helps to distribute heat around the cooking chamber. In the case of a damaged fan, it will fail to do so. 

So, check and replace the damaged fan. Also, inspect the hot rod to see if it is in well working condition. Replace the faulty one. 

vi) Clean RTD, Grill Grates, Burn Pot & Auger

The clogged RTD probe and blockage in the grill grates are the notable reason behind this major temperature issue. Hence, ensure a tip-top & clean grill unit.

So, clean the dirt, ash, and debris from the grill grates. Especially clean the black residue from the RTD probe. 

Also, check the burn pot and find out whether it’s corded or not. If it’s corded, then clean or replace it. And finally, clean the jammed auger. 

However, when the situation remains the same, call the manufacturer and let them fix your unit. Or you can watch the tutorial.

5. Heating Element/Ignitor Not Working

The heating element of the grill is the ignitor. If this part of the device doesn’t work, there won’t be any fire to burn the pellets with. Simply put, a faulty heating element will ruin the functionality of the unit.

grill ignitor not working

How To Fix:

There are two ways of fixing the heating elements of the Pit Boss wood pellet grill. Firstly, you can try cleaning the ignitor. Here’s how to do it:

  • Remove the racks, frames, and other elements from the inside of the grill
  • Reach the ignitor with a Phillips screwdriver
  • Unscrew the ignitor and pull it out only a little so that its wires don’t get affected
  • Lightly rub the gunks off and move the obstructions away
  • Install the ignitor back into its place

However, if this doesn’t solve your issue, you have to replace the ignitor.

How To Replace Pit Boss Igniter

You can replace the ignitor in the following way:

Step 1: Unscrew the ignitor in the above-mentioned way. After unscrewing the ignitor, put it through the burn tube. This will get your ignitor out into the hopper.

Step 2: Remove the bottom of the pellet hopper to reach the ignitor. Cut the zip-ties holding the wires and disconnect their purple and white wires.

Step 3: Take the new ignitor and attach the white and purple wire to it. Reverse the whole process to install the ignitor in its place tightly.

And now that you have replaced the ignitor, there won’t be any heating element issue. You can also watch the video to make the heating element replacement process more simple.

6. Temp Probe Not Working

Sometimes, you may find your Pit Boss temp probe reading high or not working at all.

When your pit boss temperature probe begins to behave wrongly, most probably, your probe might get faulty or bad. Also, an incorrectly inserted probe won’t work fine.

Pit Boss temp probe not working

Plus, you will see your grill temp probe comes with a 3.5mm jack which you need to insert into the control board directly.

Sometimes, the jack may get broken or stuck inside the controller. 

As a result, the temperature probe will provide you with incorrect temperature results or won’t show any readings.

How To Fix:

First of all, check and find if you have correctly inserted the probe or not, and make sure the insert is okay. If the temp probe gets bad or faulty, you need to go for replace it. Here, you can contact the pit boss support center and have a new one.

When you find the temperature probe jack is broken or stuck in the controller, first remove the broken tip from the controller. And in that case, also you have to replace your temp probe.

7. Too Much Smoke

You need smoke in your grill to give your meat a flavor. But too much smoke will not only ruin your food, but it will also damage your smoking grill as well.

why pit boss smoking excessively

Bad pellet quality can be the reason behind this issue. However, if you are using good-quality pellets and still getting too much smoke, the P-setting is the culprit.

How To Fix:

P-setting in the Pit Boss grill is a feature that helps to determine the duration of pellet supply in the system.

If the P-setting is too high, there will be too many pellets in the burner. 

As a result, more and more smoke will generate in the whole unit. So, you need to adjust the P-setting correctly in that way as we showed you earlier. 

After adjusting P-Setting, allow the unit a bit of time to settle down in its new adjustment. After 5 to 10 minutes, there will not be excessive smoke anymore.

Also, you can use the smoke setting on your pit boss for the best smoking result. 

Moreover, our ultimate solution guide with Pit smoking too much will help you to fix this smoke issue perfectly. 

Plus, you can watch the video to get an extensive idea about Pit Boss P-settings.

8. Flaming Up

You may find sometimes your Pit Boss is flaming up or catching fire and getting too hot to touch.

Remember, this flaming up is happening due to excessive grease or oil in the grease tray or grill grates.

pit boss flaming up

Besides, if the lid is fully or partially opened, your grill will catch fire. Further, cooking at high heat for a long time can cause flaming up.

How To Fix:

You have to maintain your grill before and after the cooking to get rid of flaming-up problems.

Especially, clean the oils, dirt, and grease from the grease tray and grill cooking grates before starting your cooking.

Tips To Prevent Flare-Ups

Follow the below tips & tricks to erase the temperature flaring up from your grill:

  • Keep the lid closed perfectly so that oxygen can’t enter the smoker. 
  • While cooking for a long period of time with high heat, don’t forget to monitor the internal temperature of the smoker and flames.

9. Flashing Dots

Flashing dots is the most frequent problem with Pit Boss grill. The flashing dots mainly indicate that the grill igniter is ON

That means the grill is working fine. So, you don’t need to do any significant in this case. 

10. Error Code ErP

This ErP error code will pop up in your Pit Boss display if you connect your grill to the power outlet keeping the grill’s temperature dial in the ON position. 

Plus, ErP error code will also show when your grill shuts down incorrectly because of an electrical failure or interruption.

pit boss error code erp

Or you didn’t shut off your grill correctly when it was connected to the power outlet and you used it for the last time. 

Basically, it’s a safety measure from Pit Boss to keep your grill safe from an unwanted or accidental start. 

How To Fix

Fixing the ErP error code is super simple. You need to restart your Pit Boss. Very first, rotate the temperature dial to the OFF position for restarting your grill.

Then you need to shut off your grill just by pressing the grill’s power button. After shutting off the grill, allow your Pit Boss 2 minutes to take a rest and get cool.

After 2 minutes, again turn on your grill by pressing the power button.

Now, set the temperature dial to your expected temperature level for cooking or smoke level.

And you are done. Hopefully, this ErP error code won’t appear again on your grill display. 

Tips To Avoid ErP Error Code

Follow the below tips so that you won’t face this error code issue:

  • Always shut down your grill correctly after cooking. Make sure the temperature dial to the OFF position before unplugging the grill power cord from the outlet. 
  • Allow the grill fan to get stopped moving before disconnecting your grill from power. 
  • If there is a possibility of power discontinuity or interruption due to bad weather or storm, don’t go for using your grill. It will lead your grill to a faulty shutdown. 

6 More Pit Boss Grill Troubleshooting

Besides the above temperature issues, there are some more major Pit Boss Grill problems that you may encounter while using your grill. The most common Pit Boss troubles are:

major Pit Boss Grill problems solution

1. Grill Won’t Turn On

If your Pit boss grill won’t turn, understand it’s not firmly plugged into the outlet or the unit is not receiving power. Other major reasons include:

  • Defective electrical source
  • Damaged extension cord
  • Tripping GFI & circuit breaker
  • Burnt fuse
  • Faulty igniter
  • Non-functioning auger, etc.

How To Fix:

First up, you need to check the electrical outlet to which you’ve plugged in your grill. Make sure the power outlet is working properly. Also, if your pit boss is plugged in via an extension cable, try to skip it and connect the cord directly to the GFCI outlet.

Besides, visually inspect the grill’s extension cord for any defection. It’s better to test the continuity of the cord with a multimeter which is shown below.

test the grill's extension cord with a multimeter

Then, inspect the GFI of your household. If you find the tripped GFI, simply reset the circuit on your fuse box. 

Besides, you will find up to a 6 ½ foot long power chord securely attached to the back of the grill. Make sure it is in well working condition. 

Once you’ve confirmed sufficient power going to your Pit Boss, check for damaged hot rod igniter, fan, fuse, and auger. If any parts become defective, replace them immediately, and your grill will start again.

2. Pit Boss Grill Won’t Ignite

After turning on your grill and it starts functioning, but the Pit Boss Grill isn’t igniting- it is the common experience for the users. Your pit boss grill not igniting mainly due to:

  • Malfunctioning of the igniter
  • Faulty induction fan
  • Low airflow
  • Non-functioning extension cord
  • Loose wiring connection, etc.

How To Fix:

When your pit boss grill won’t light, start troubleshooting with the basics. Inspect the extension cord and look for any cracked or open wires. Replace the damaged wiring. Make sure, the extension cord is 3-prong grounded and the correct gauge. 

Check the electrical outlet as well. Try to plug your smoker directly into an outlet without the extension cord. If needed, test the outlet electrically to confirm its continuity. 

Inspect the grill’s igniter and replace the faulty one. 

replace the faulty igniter

But if the igniter is functioning correctly, head to check the induction fan and the related wiring connections. 

Find out the culprit and replace them. In most cases, due to low-quality pellets or wet pellets, the ash builds up on the burn pot, interrupting igniting. If so, replace the pellet with high-quality ones. Also, don’t miss vacuuming out the hopper.

3. Pit Boss Grill Not Smoking

If your grill doesn’t produce smoke, first don’t assume that the entire unit becomes defective. It is simply an issue with the temperature setting. Rather check your grill’s temp setting. 

The ideal temperature for a smoker is between 60°F– 90°F (15.5°C – 32°C) on the P4 setting.

If the temperature is already in this range,  be sure that your grill is going through any of the below malfunctions:

  • Inappropriate P setting
  • Moisture in the grill, ignition failure
  • Jammed auger
  • Dirty firepot
  • Cheap pellet use, etc.

How To Fix:

First off, set your grill’s temperature lower and adjust the P setting properly. Then make sure your grill is absolutely dry, and it is igniting perfectly. Look for the ash build-up in the burn pot. Just vacuum the ash out.

Check the wood pellet that you are using for smoking. It shouldn’t be wet or soft enough. Keep note that, wet and soft pellet results in low heat output which lead to less smoke. So, it’s better to use high-quality pellets in your grill.

use high-quality pellets in your grill

Besides, check the hopper and auger for any obstructions. Clear the blockages from these parts and add dry & fresh pellets. 

After assuming all the above troubleshooting steps, read out our comprehensive guide to learn how to get more smoke on your pit boss

4. Pit Boss Showing Smoke Signals

When your Pit Boss grill produces too much smoke or too low smoke, the unit shows a smoke signal. When your grill is too hot, it creates too much smoke which results in overcooking food. 

On the contrary, low heat leads to less smoke, and it causes food to be undercooked. A thin blue stream is the smoke’s ideal amount, and quickly this amount of smoke dissipates.

Also, your smoker will show smoke signals due to the unadjusted vents, low airflow, low-quality wood use, etc. 

How To Fix:

When you are struggling to get smoke in the right amount, you should open and adjust your grill’s vent. Also, ensure sufficient air flow circulation through the fire and use high-quality wood or pellets.

5. Pit Boss Display Not Working

Another problem is that your grill is running, but suddenly your Pit boss display is not working, or the screen becomes blank. The main causes behind this issue are: 

  • Insecure connection to the outlet
  • Malfunctioning electrical source
  • Blown fuse
  • Tripping circuit board & GFI
  • Bad extension cord
  • Overheating grill, etc.

How To Fix:

First up, check your grill’s power supply source and make sure it is supplying power perfectly. Now check to see if the tripped GFI has turned off your pellet grill. If so, simply resetting it will get your smoker display back into operation. 

If still, your grill unit isn’t working on a particular GFI, signing you that the GFI is faulty. Connect your grill to a  new GFI outlet. Besides, inspect the extension cord for any defection. Replace the damaged one. 

Still, if you need detailed solutions, you can check out our dedicated guide on this pellet grill display problem

6. Pit Boss Keeps Shutting Off

After running for a few minutes, your Pit Boss keeps turning off mainly due to: 

  • Low pellet quality
  • Aged or dirty grill
  • Improper P-setting
  • Faulty electrical components
  • Faulty meat probes. 

Also, the other culprits are long cooking times, low temp-setting, loss of electricity, damaged electrical cords, hopper design, etc.

How To Fix:

When your Pit Boss grill starts turning off frequently, as for the step, you need to check your pellet quality. Cheap pellets are the root culprit for the frequent flameouts. So, we recommend changing your current pellet to a high-quality one. Also, avoid using too many pellets in the hopper. 

Next, check whether the power outage causes your grill to shut down. If so, simply turn the grill off and then turn it back on. Test the electrical outlet, other cords, and wiring connection. Replace the damaged electrical cord.  

In most cases, only the wrong adjustment of the P-setting leads to this your smoker shutting off. Head to our detailed guide to learn how you will adjust the P-setting properly to break down your Pit Boss keeps shutting off issues

How Often To Clean Pit Boss To Avoid Temperature Issues

It is a must to clean the whole pellet grill every three to five grill sessions to ensure good maintenance of the grill unit.

But, you have to clean the grill’s smokestack every few weeks if you cook regularly.  

Plus, each time you grill, before and after grilling, you must scrub the grates even if it seems clear to you. Then, wipe out the above dirt.  

Keep in mind regular cleaning of your grill won’t allow the grease and grime in your pellet grill.

That will keep your grill healthy. Also, you will find it struggles less with temperature problems.

How To Clean Your Pit Boss Pellet Smoker Grill

As you already know, most of the time, temperature issues happen due to clogging in many vital heating elements. 

cleaning pit boss pellet grill

In that case, you need to clean your smoking grills to fix the grill temperature problem. Follow the below instructions to clean your grill.

Step 1: First of all, turn off your pellet smoker grill and disconnect the power cord from the man socket. Leave it until it reaches completely cool.

Step 2: Remove all the pellets from the hopper and keep them in a bucket safely. Suck all the ashes using a vacuum cleaner.

Now, take a brush and wipe out all the residue from the bottom and surface of the hopper.

Step 3: Then, move to the exterior parts. You will see stuck grease oil there. Take a stainless steel wire brush and start scrubbing. It will help to remove the grease thoroughly. 

Step 4: Take a mild BBQ cleaner or gentle dish cleanser and mix it with adequate water.

Now, start sponging all remaining residue by using a sponge dip with soapy water. After that, rinse with water thoroughly.

Note: Must keep in mind that you are not using any harsh chemicals or bleach while cleaning the components. 

Step 5: Remove the tampers and scrape off all the residue from the tampers.

Take a non-metallic bristle brush to scrub the grates. Then wipe the grates using a paper towel. 

Step 6: After cleaning, reassemble the grill and put pellets in the hopper.

Always bear in mind that a neat and clean grill will be able to provide you with the best BBG result that you ever desired.

FAQ:

How do I make my Pit Boss hotter?

You can lift the chimney cup to increase the airflow in the system. This will raise the temperature.

What is the highest smoke setting on Pit Boss?

The smoke setting of the Pit Boss smoker is basically the P setting. And it gets as high as P-7.

What does ErL mean on Pit Boss?

The ErL or Er1 code on the Pit Boss smoker means that the temp probe has lost connection.

Do Pit Boss pellet smokers make enough smoke?

Yes, you can get a sufficient amount of smoke from your Pit Boss pellet smoker.

Where is the fuse on a Pit Boss pellet grill?

The Pit Boss pellet grill fuse is located behind the control board.

Is pit boss a good pellet grill?

Yes, Pit Boss is one of the best wood pellet grills in the market by which you can start your pellet grilling journey like a pro.

Final Verdict:

Dealing with the temperature issues with your Pit Boss doesn’t seem like much of an issue now, does it?

There is no need for complicated modifications or expensive replacements if such problems occur.

Just follow what this article tells you, and you are good to go with your Pit Boss temperature troubleshooting.

However, if you have any questions, then leave a comment below. We will back to you with a possible solution as soon as possible.

About William

William is the founder of Fireplacehubs.com. He has real life practical skills in fixing smoker & heating appliance issues. He loves to share his knowledge & helps others in fixing their appliances & saving their money. William firmly believes that anyone can repair his or her unit with the correct guidance & knowledge. See more at about us.

13 thoughts on “Pit Boss Temperature Problems Troubleshooting Guide [15+ Solutions]”

  1. My grill keeps cutting off while I am cooking and I have to unplug it from the wall and plug back in to get it running again. Use to be if I set temp over 400 it would do this but now it does it if it’s only on 350. What is causing this ?

    Reply
  2. I purchased a Pit Boss Sportsman 1100 2 months ago and have had nothing but problems. Wild temperature fluctuations…. It has done it since day one. they have sent me a new temperature probe and now are sending me a new controller. Probably the most frustrating experience ever for me…. Their customer service is horrible and I will never purchase a Pit Boss product again.

    Reply
  3. Great info in the blog, thanks for pulling together William!
    I have a relevant note to add around ErH. I recently purchased a Sportsman 1100 and it kicked an ErH code on the initial burn off and then the next cook as well. The auger was filling the fire pot with pellets completely and creating really big fires fast. As it was my first pellet grill, I didn’t know what “right” looked like, but I knew this probably wasn’t it. My frustration was high and I definitely wasn’t happy or feeling like I made a good purchase. I did some initial google searches and found some great content (like this page) around Pit Boss issue solving in general, but I couldn’t find anything about a new pellet smoker having an ErH issue immediately.
    I then called customer service and walked them through what I was seeing, he seemed to know right away what the problem was. It was a simple, yet ridiculous issue/solution for me to be having with a brand new grill. They walked me through opening the control area underneath the hopper and checking the wires. The wiring harnesses should color match yellow/whitex2 to yellow/yellow and red/whitex2 to red/red from the control board to the components as those are the fan and auger control/power wires. The issue was that the harnesses were connected opposite between these 2 at the factory and the auger was just going ham on pushing out pellets as it got the constant full power the fan should get and the fan would run intermittently which led to my quick but huge blazes. It was an easy unplug and plug solution to the problem.
    Works like it is supposed to since I corrected the wiring harnesses being connected to what they were supposed to be connected to. I have to assume this isn’t a common issue people will have, so my message is that while it can be annoying, I’d recommend calling service on the front end for them to help troubleshoot as they definitely figured it out faster than I would have.

    Reply
  4. When I go above 130f my vertical pit Boss pro series smoker quits smoking. So my food gets no smoke flavor. Help please. Just got it 2 weeks ago

    Reply
  5. I have a problem with my Pit boss Spotsman 820, had the grill for a year and a half love it until recently. My problem started a month ago I was doing a brisket 225 15 hours, started 10pm, 2:30am fine 6am no smoke and temperature down to 80. took everything off the smoker, unplugged it and the fire pot was overflowing with pellets. Cleaned everything up with shop vac restarted worked fine. Did another brisket the other day same thing happened worked great for 5-6 hours then firepot overfills with pellets, cleaned it up and restarted the cook. Also temp swings way to much set at 225 goes from 180 to 310

    Reply
    • Hi Jay
      Generally, the firepot overfills with pellets due to flame-out. The flame-out happens when you cook at a low temperature, below 225° F or so. A dirty hopper, dirty burn pot, poor fuel quality, or insufficient BTUs (measure the fuel efficiency of your grill) are responsible for the flame-out issues.
      To solve the flame-out issue, clean the dirty hopper & the burn pot, use quality fuel & make sure enough BTUs for your grill.
      Well, to solve the temperature swing problem, follow our solution guide on the Pit Boss temperature swings section in the article.

      Hopefully, you will get the solution.

      Wish you all the best.

      Reply
  6. I have had my Pit Boss pro 1100 for about 3years now. For the last year, I have had nothing but problem! I keep it clean, have changed the igniter, and both fan motors. Have replaced the cotton board also. The grill still smokes out of the pellet box and will eventually start losing heat. It has been an ongoing issue for the last year or so. I have checked and cleaned everything! It’s out of direct sun and on level ground. Have adjusted the P level several times.
    I’m not sure what else to do! Does anyone have any ideas?

    Reply
    • Hi Doug
      The temperature drops in the Pit Boss grill for many reasons such as humidity, inconsistent oxygen supply, bad wood pellet quality, and clogged dirt in the system.
      Well, as you have checked & cleaned everything, just make sure that the lid is not too much open or too much close & a persistent supply of fuel. Plus, use dry hardwood pellets.
      Hopefully, your problem will be solved.

      But if it doesn’t work, take help from the Pit Boss customer support center.

      Wish you all the best.

      Reply
  7. I clean and maintain my pit boss proseries smoker after every use I had for about a year and half now the question is why is my internal temperature differ from what is on my lcd screen

    Reply
    • Hi Leonard

      Generally, the Pit Boss begins to fluctuate the temperature due to dirt, lack of airflow, use of poor-quality pellets, or if we frequently open the grill’s lid.

      Also, using heavy-duty foil, the faulty heat baffle, a damaged dip tray, and cooking a lot of foods at a time can also be culprits behind your smoker’s temperature fluctuations.

      Well, to know more in detail & get a solution, you should read our instructions on temperature fluctuations section in the article.

      Hope, your problem will be solved.

      Best of luck!

      Reply

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