Why is my Pit Boss not smoking?

It is common knowledge that the more smoke you get, the more flavorful your meat would be. Most of us have experienced a situation where we want to use your Pit Boss pellet grill smoker, but it produces little smoke or none at all.

It has happened to me severally, and so I know that this post will be useful to our readers. You can’t smoke meat without smoke.

The most common reasons why your Pit Boss pellet grill smoker isn’t smoking are issues with the temperature control, or the pellets or firepot you use. I have outlined six reasons why your Pit Boss may not be smoking, and for each reason, I have offered solutions to get your Pit Boss to smoke.

In this section, I’ll list the common reasons why your Pit Boss is not smoking and provide solutions you should apply to get more smoke out of your Pit Boss grill.

Why is my Pit Boss not smoking?

You want to see smoke from your Pit Boss pellet grill smoker in order to achieve that wonderful BBQ flavor in your food. If your Pit Boss isn’t smoking, follow the tips below to get more smoke from your Pit Boss.

DON’T MISS: Pit Boss special offer

Reason #1: You’re not using the ideal temperature for smoking

Your Pit Boss may not be smoking also if you cook at the wrong temperature.

Set your grill to between 60^oF and 90^oF (P4 setting) because you need low temperatures for more smoke from your grill.

For even more smoke, bring the temperature down to around 220^oF.

Reason #2: Dampness in your wood pellets

If you’re trying to smoke meat using a Pit Boss pellet grill and notice that your Pit Boss is not smoking, the first things you should check are the wood pellets.

The wood pellets you use for smoking need to be completely dry in order for them to produce smoke.

The presence of water in wood pellets could be the reason why your Pit Boss doesn’t smoke. Swap the damp wood pellets for dry ones and try again or leave them to dry before using them.

Reason #3: Faulty hot rod ignitor

The hot rod ignitor is a crucial component of your Pit Boss grill that fires up the hardwood pellets without you using a lighter. Another job of the hot rod ignitor is to maintain the fire for the duration of your cooking.

This component is located at the bottom of your firepot. It works in a similar way to the ignitor in gas grills and stoves.

The issue with the hot rod ignitor is that it does not last forever. With use, it shows signs of wearing out sooner or later.

When this happens, your Pit Boss grill starts to produce less and less smoke until it gets to the point where your Pit Boss doesn’t smoke at all.

When this happens, you have to replace the hot rod ignitor. Thankfully, it’s pretty straightforward to do this. Purchase the hot rod ignitor kit from Amazon or the official Pit Boss website and follow the instructions below.

10 steps to replace hot rod ignitor kit in Pit Boss grill

Step 1: Take the Pit Boss grill away from all flammable objects and out of your home.

Step 2: Connect the grill to a power outlet.

Step 3: Get some dry wood pellets, and fill the hopper with these.

Step 4: Disassemble the cooking grates, top shelf, and flame broiler.

Step 5: Dispose of any ash left from the firepot.

Step 6: Next, put some pellets inside of the firepot and pour some cooking oil into it, and ignite the starter using a normal lighter.

Step 7: Allow the pellets to catch fire, and leave it for 5 minutes.

Step 8: While the pellets are burning, carefully replace the parts.

Step 9: Put your Pit Boss in the Smoke position.

Step 10: Set your Pit Boss grill to your preferred cooking temperature and leave it to heat up.

Reason #4: Damaged or incompatible extension cord

As surprising as it may sound, a major reason why your Pit Boss grill doesn’t smoke is that you may have simply forgotten to plug it into a power outlet. It could also be that you plugged in the grill to a power source that is incompatible with your Pit Boss.

You are almost certainly bound to forget to plug in your pellet grill if you are used to a charcoal grill. So, ensure that you do this.

If your grill is connected to a power outlet, ensure that this source is 110V rated.

Confirm that your extension cord is free from external and internal damage. Also, also test the power flow using a circuit tester to confirm that the outlet is grounded.

Make sure you replace the cord if you notice any tears on it. Grounding the outlet and replacing worn cords reduce the risk of electrical incidents.

Lastly, confirm that your outdoor extension cord has a minimum of 12/3 gauge and is compatible with a GFCI circuit.

Reason #5: Weak induction/combustion fan

The induction fan is another vital component of your pellet grill that also helps maintain the fire and circulate the smoke and heat for your cooking. With a weak induction fan, not only would your Pit Boss not produce (sufficient) smoke, but it would also not cook your food evenly.

Unlike the hot rod ignitor, however, the fan is designed to last for a long time without issue. However, it will get weak with time and use. In this case, you have to clean or replace the fan.

Step 1: Disconnect your pellet grill from the electricity source and remove the bottom place off the hopper.

Step 2: You will see the fan in the hopper. Using a dry material, clean the fan.

Step 3: Check if the fan can rotate easily. You can do this using a screwdriver or your finger. Ideally, it should rotate without you applying much force.

Step 4: Replace the fan if it is damaged.

Reason #6: Debris and ash in the firepot

Sometimes, if your Pit Boss is not smoking properly, some cleaning up can fix it. You won’t get a clean burn if the firepot contains too much ash from the last time you used it. The debris and ash block the airflow in the chamber and stop the grill from heating up.

With much ash blocking the airflow, and the grill not heating up sufficiently, you’ll inevitably notice that your Pit Boss is not smoking when you cook.