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Fix a pellet grill that will not ignite

We'll confirm the grill powers on, rule out power and pellet feed, then isolate the cause—auger, igniter, pellet quality, hopper, airflow, or control board—or tell you when to call a pro.

Troubleshooting · Home appliances
15–45 min
What you'll need
  • Multimeter (for continuity tests on igniter)
  • Screwdriver set (Phillips and flathead)
  • Shop vac or brush (for cleaning burn pot)
  • Replacement igniter (if tests show a fault)
Step 1 of 9

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Steps

Goal: Confirm the symptom, rule out power and pellet feed, then isolate the ignition fault.

  • Turn the grill on and set it to smoke or a low temperature. Wait three to five minutes.
  • Good: The control panel lights up but no flame appears in the burn pot—ignition system has failed. Proceed to Check power and pellet feed.
  • Bad: The panel stays dark—power issue. Check outlet and circuit breaker.

Check power and pellet feed

Goal: Rule out power loss and pellet feed before opening the grill.

  • Verify the grill is plugged into a working outlet and the circuit breaker has not tripped. Reset the breaker if tripped.
  • Check that the hopper is at least one-quarter full of dry, quality hardwood pellets. Listen for the auger turning—a low hum or clicking. Clear any jam in the hopper (unplug first, open hopper, remove bridging or clumping).
  • Good: Power is on and pellets are feeding toward the burn pot. Proceed to Pellet quality and burn pot.
  • Bad: Auger does not turn or hopper is empty—fix those first, or call a pro if the auger motor has failed.

Pellet quality and burn pot

Goal: Check that pellets are dry and the burn pot is clean so the igniter can reach the fuel.

  • Use dry, sealed hardwood pellets. Avoid pellets stored in humidity or left in the hopper during rain. Replace soft, dusty, or clumped pellets.
  • Unplug the grill and let it cool. Remove the grates and heat deflector. Inspect the burn pot for ash buildup or pellet clogs. Clean with a shop vac or brush.
  • Good: Dry pellets and a clean burn pot. Proceed to Igniter path.
  • Bad: Damp pellets or blocked burn pot—replace pellets and clean, then retest.

Igniter path

Goal: Inspect and replace the igniter if it is damaged or failed.

  • Unplug the grill and let it cool. Locate the igniter near the burn pot. Check your owner’s manual or search “[brand] [model] pellet grill service manual” for disassembly steps.
  • Inspect for cracks, breaks, or burn damage. Test for continuity with a multimeter if possible. If damaged or no continuity, replace with an exact match.
  • Good: The igniter glows and pellets light when you restart. The grill ignites.
  • Bad: The igniter glows but pellets still do not light—check airflow and exhaust; if clear, the control board may be faulty. Call a technician.

When to get help

If you see fire or smoke indicating a fire hazard, evacuate and call 911 from outside.

Call an appliance technician if:

  • The auger does not turn (auger motor or control board).
  • The igniter glows but pellets still do not light after cleaning and pellet replacement.
  • Error codes persist after basic checks.
  • You are not comfortable working with electrical components.

Verification

  • The control panel lights up and the auger feeds pellets to the burn pot.
  • The igniter glows and pellets light within a few minutes of startup.
  • Smoke rises from the exhaust and the grill reaches the set temperature.
  • No persistent error codes.

Escalation ladder

Work from the device outward. Stop when the problem is fixed.

  1. Confirm symptom Verify the grill powers on but pellets do not light in the burn pot.
  2. Power and pellet feed Check outlet, breaker, hopper level, and that the auger feeds pellets.
  3. Pellet quality and burn pot Use dry pellets; clean the burn pot if blocked.
  4. Igniter Inspect and replace the igniter if damaged or failed.
  5. Call a pro Fire or smoke indicating fire hazard—evacuate, call 911 from outside. Auger or control board issues—call an appliance technician.

What to capture if you need help

Before calling support or posting for help, have these ready. It speeds everything up.

  • Grill brand and model
  • Whether the control panel lights up
  • Whether the auger turns and pellets feed
  • Igniter test results (continuity, visible damage)
  • Any error codes displayed
  • Steps already tried

Does the grill power on but pellets do not light?

Turn the grill on and set to smoke or low temp. Wait three to five minutes. Look for pellets in the burn pot and a glow from the igniter. No flame means ignition has failed.

Turn the grill on. Wait three to five minutes. Check the burn pot for pellets and the igniter for a glow. Yes: panel lights, auger may hum, but no flame—ignition fault. No: pellets light—problem solved; no action needed.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

No action needed

The pellets are lighting. No further action required.

Done

Is power on and is the auger feeding pellets?

Check outlet, breaker, hopper level, and that pellets move toward the burn pot.

Verify the grill is plugged in and the breaker has not tripped. Check that the hopper is at least one-quarter full of dry pellets. Listen for the auger turning. Clear any jam in the hopper. Good: power on and pellets feeding. Bad: auger does not turn or hopper empty—fix those first.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Are the pellets dry and is the burn pot clean?

Damp pellets will not ignite. A blocked burn pot prevents the igniter from reaching the pellets.

Use dry, sealed hardwood pellets. Clean the burn pot if ash or clogs are present. Good: dry pellets and clean burn pot. Bad: damp or clumped pellets—replace with fresh; blocked burn pot—clean and retest.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Clean burn pot and replace pellets, then retest

Clean the burn pot. Replace damp pellets with fresh, dry hardwood pellets. Restart the grill. If it ignites, the issue was pellet quality or blockage. If not, proceed to check the igniter.

Done

Is the igniter damaged or showing no continuity?

The igniter glows when the grill calls for heat. A cracked or failed igniter will not light the pellets.

Unplug the grill and let it cool. Locate the igniter near the burn pot. Inspect for cracks or burns. Test for continuity with a multimeter. Damaged or no continuity: replace igniter, reassemble, test. Good: igniter glows and pellets light. Bad: igniter glows but no flame—check airflow or control board; call a pro if needed.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Replace igniter and test

Replace the igniter with an exact match. Reassemble and start the grill. The igniter should glow and pellets should light within a few minutes. If the igniter glows but pellets still do not light, check airflow or call a technician.

Done

Is airflow clear and are there error codes?

Blocked exhaust or a faulty control board can prevent ignition.

Check that the chimney or vent is clear. Confirm the grill is not trapped against a wall. Note any error codes on the display—check your owner's manual. If the igniter glows, pellets feed, and airflow is good but still no flame, the control board may be faulty. Call a technician for control board work.

Done

Call a technician

If you see fire or smoke indicating a fire hazard, evacuate and call 911 from outside. Call an appliance technician if: the auger does not turn; the igniter glows but pellets still do not light after cleaning; error codes persist; or you are not comfortable working with electrical components.

Done

Reviewed by Blackbox Atlas

Frequently asked questions

Why would a pellet grill power on but not ignite?
Common causes: a failed igniter (hot rod), auger not feeding pellets, damp or poor-quality pellets, blocked hopper or burn pot, or a faulty control board. Check power and pellet feed first, then the igniter.
Can I fix a pellet grill that will not ignite myself?
Yes. You can inspect and replace the igniter, clean the burn pot and auger, and verify pellet quality and airflow. Control board or auger motor replacement may require a technician if you are not comfortable with wiring.
When should I call a technician for a pellet grill that will not ignite?
If you see fire or smoke indicating a fire hazard, evacuate and call 911 from outside. Call a technician if the igniter glows but pellets still do not light after cleaning, if the auger does not turn, or if error codes persist after basic checks.

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