Traeger Stuck on Igniting: Causes and How To Fix (2024 Guide)

Traeger grills can’t ignite for some reason, but when I first faced the problem, my warranty was there, but I didn’t have the time to wait for professionals. I thought it’s a faulty Traeger unit because the pellet grill was almost brand new. Then I came to know that several reasons why Traeger won’t ignite.

So, no reason to blame on the hot rod or any electrical issues at first. Traeger grill not igniting can have reasons like dirty fire pot, damaged or rusty hot rod, wiring issues and bad hot rod, etc. There are more, but these are the most common.

Here I am to discuss about the ignite problem and give some solutions. Just don’t get fed up immediately if the Traeger doesn’t ignite because this grilling pellet needs frequent cleaning and frequent use. So be patient enough to read all the way through end and understand the Traeger grill like your own hand palm.

Table of Contents

Traeger Stuck on Igniting Symptoms

So the symptoms are important for many newbies who just started smoking; they just panic and think their Traeger unit has any internal problems. It happens in mid-smoke during the 3rd or 4th time of cooking—either the ignition fails, or the fire quits in mid-smoke.

The Traeger’s fire pot generates heat and smoke. So, it gets totally covered by ash and just needs simple cleaning maintenance. But those who have a Traeger with a digital display can see the error code that stands for lower temperature error. So if you see this code, you already know what you are dealing with.

Before Traeger stops igniting, you will see a few symptoms, like the ignite button is not always responding, the grill isn’t getting hot, and it takes too much time to get hot.

Possible Causes

Here, it’s time to discuss the other possible causes that hamper Traeger’s ignition. Let’s go through the reasons why the grill is not igniting.

Dirty Fire Pot

A dusty fire pot is one of the most common issues that cause the failure of ignition. The newbies want to use the grill but never think about keeping it clean. So it happens to them.

Malfunction of a Hot Rod

If the fire pot is not the issue, then I look for the hot rod issue because the hot rod ignites the wood pallets at the bottom of the fire pot. So if the hot rod stops heating up, the ignition won’t start.

How Do I Understand the Malfunction of a Hot Rod?

To begin, raise the Traeger grill lid.
Remove the grill grate, drip tray, and heat baffle.
Now turn on the setting and keep the smoke going. Keep your hand over the fire pot, maintaining a safe distance.
If the hot rod has malfunctioned, you won’t feel any heat.

GFCI Outlet Causes Accidental Electrocution

If your grill unit experiences a power surge, the GFCI shuts off the power to mitigate the effect. For this reason, the grill doesn’t ignite.

Low-quality pallets

Pallet is the thing that triggers the heat and helps with ignition for the grill. So the pallets must maintain some sort of quality; otherwise, Traeger won’t turn on. Pellets can be moist or damp. Before cooking in the traeger, make sure you have an adequate number of pallets.

Defective Induction Fan

It’s either an induction fan or a draft induction fan. There is always an induction fan under the hopper that blows air into the firepot. So if the airflow is not adequate, the unit won’t have ignition.

Troubleshooting Steps

Traeger’s troubleshooting procedures are not easy all the time. Here I’ll share my ideas about how you can find a solution by following my troubleshooting steps.

1.Cleaning the Fire Pot

Firstly, remove the upper grill grate and drip tray and heat baffle, you’ll see the fire pot there. Use a vacuum cleaner to clean the fire pot, and then keep the things in place just like you found them. If the vacuum cleaner is incapable of sucking up the clumps of sawdust, you can use other methods to clean it.

2. Setting up a New Hot Rod

If the previous hot rod is damaged or not working, then get a new one. Use the help guide to follow the installation process on your Traeger grill. After that, connect the controller’s purple and white wires. Then insert the other end into the fire pot.

3. GFCI Outlet Setting

You will see a button on the Traeger’s center and push it. This will reset the GFCI setting again.

4. Ensure the Pallet’s Quality

Pallets trigger the fire in the fire pot. As a result, make certain that your pallets are not damp or damaged.

When to Call for Professional Help

Calling a professional to resolve your ignition problem is not necessary. Because it will happen again and again, so, you must learn the process to find out the problems. I’ve already talked about troubleshooting, but not this one.

Yeah, the defective induction fan, if you are not an expert or professional, will be tough for you. So if your induction fan doesn’t circulate, check the connections again, and if it still doesn’t work, call the professionals.

FAQ

1. Why is my Traeger is not igniting?

– Traeger doesn’t ignite for a few reasons. But if you are a newbie, then first check your fire pot. Too much ash and dust in the fire pot cause the Traeger grill to start igniting.

2. Why is my pellet grill not igniting?

Pellet grills don’t ignite for many reasons, like the dirty fire pot, a lack of quality pallets, a problematic induction fan, a malfunctioning hot rod, etc.

3. How do I get my Traeger to ignite?

If you are a newbie and your brand new Traeger doesn’t ignite after several BBQ cooks, most of the time it’s a case of a dirty fire pot due to ash. If you vacuum clean the fire pot, your Traeger will be hot like a brand new one again.

4. How to turn on Traeger manually?

Manual ignition of a pellet is necessary due to the bad ignition of your pellet. For your Traeger, take off the grill grate, drip tray, and heat plate first.

The ash and dust should then be vacuumed up.
After cleaning, put a handful of pellets in the burn pot.
Now plug in the pellet grill. But don’t turn it on. Use a fire torch to light up the pellets.
You will see the pellets start to glow because when you start the Traeger or pellet grill, it kicks the fan on.
Now turn on the grill, and you will see smoke immediately.
Finally, put the heat plate, drip plate, and grill grate back in place.

Verdict

If the Traeger stuck on igniting, it makes us hopeless about our grilling or BBQ. But it’s really a common scenario for us, so don’t panic or get frustrated. Don’t forget to clean your grill after every cook, not immediately but when everything cools down. It takes 4 minutes to turn the hot rod red and ignite the wood pellets on fire in the hot pot. So don’t think your grill will ignite immediately.

Have a fantastic cooking experience with Traeger.