Many users complain that their Traeger lid won’t close all the way. As a result, smoke leaks away and their Traeger won’t smoke foods perfectly. Yes, it’s one of the most common issues with Traeger grills. But don’t get infuriated just yet. We’ve got your back.
You can try loosening the hinges, inspecting the grill for damaged parts, asking Traeger for a replacement lid, and purchasing a gasket for your lid as a fix for this issue.
Hopefully, if you follow our step-by-step solution guide, you’ll be able to close that lid with a satisfying thump.
Table of Contents
- Traeger Lid Won’t Close All The Way [4 Easy Solutions]
- 1. Loosen The Hinges
- 2. Inspect The Grill
- 3. Ask For A Replacement Lid
- 4. Use A Gasket
- FAQ:
- Do you preheat Traeger with the lid open or closed?
- Do I need to prime Auger every time for Traeger?
- Should my Traeger smoke all the time?
- What is the life expectancy of a Traeger grill?
- What temp is the smoke setting on a Traeger?
- Conclusion
Traeger Lid Won’t Close All The Way [4 Easy Solutions]
In this section, we’ll take an in-depth look at the simple solutions for when the Trager grill lid won’t close all the way.
1. Loosen The Hinges
Some of you have as well, but I have an issue with my lid on my Traeger grill’s lid not wanting to shut all the way. And what I’d like to demonstrate today is show you how you can fix this issue with no cost and very simply.
Go over to the top where the screws that are attached to this lid are. You will need to loosen them. Try loosening them by a hair first.
Then you want to go over here to the other side of your grill and loosen the screws on that side to match. Check if the lid is shutting all the way now.
In case, it’s not down enough, repeat the process. Remember not to loosen all the way or the lid will come off completely. Hopefully, you can get your lid to fit snugly onto the grill in this way.
2. Inspect The Grill
Inspect the hinges, lid, barrel, and grill grates for any damage that might prevent the lid from closing entirely. A lot of people experience the metal interior of the grill bending in and preventing the lid to close all the way.
You can raise the lid all the way up, and place a large screwdriver between the lid and the grill on the exterior of the lid. Slowly close the lid until the dent is gone! Hopefully, your grill will now close with a satisfying thud.
3. Ask For A Replacement Lid
Trager is notorious for bad designs and low-quality control. It may just be that the lid just doesn’t fit the shape of the barrel well enough.
In that case, no amount of tinkering with the screws or sticking a screwdriver in between the lid and the grill will help.
Contact Traeger customer service through their support page. You should be able to get a replacement lid if there is a fault in your grill’s design.
4. Use A Gasket
In case you’ve tried it all and you’re still left with a gap greater than a quarter-inch, you can use a gasket to workaround this situation.
Sealing your smoking chamber with a gasket definitely works. It will keep the smoker from getting out and you can enjoy nicely smoked flavorful meat. You can try this Traeger Grill gasket. It’s the best one we’ve tried.
FAQ:
Do you preheat Traeger with the lid open or closed?
You need to keep the lid on your Traeger grill closed when you preheat. The manufacturer recommends setting your Traeger grill directly to the desired temperature and preheating with the lid closed for approximately 15 minutes.
Do I need to prime Auger every time for Traeger?
It’s good to go every time after you prime it once. But you’ll have to prime the auger again when you purge and clean the auger tube.
Should my Traeger smoke all the time?
What you’re cooking will determine how long you want your food to smoke. A fillet of salmon, for example, may just require a few minutes of smoking, whereas a huge brisket may require many hours.
What is the life expectancy of a Traeger grill?
A Traeger barbecue should last at least five years with proper care, cleaning, and maintenance. When broken components are replaced with readily available replacement parts, a Traeger can easily last 10-15 years.
What temp is the smoke setting on a Traeger?
With the “Smoke” setting, there is no temperature control. Traeger Pellet Grills recommends using this timed cycle setting for “Smoke” to achieve a “Smoking” temperature of 150 to 180 degrees F.
Conclusion
It can be very disappointing to buy a fancy grill with your hard-earned money and get a defective lid that doesn’t allow you to smoke the food you’re making.
Hopefully, we’ve been able to help you to get a handle on this situation. In case you have any questions, leave us a comment below. We love to hear from our readers and will respond soon with our best suggestions.
