Having Temperature Problems with Your Pit Boss? Or Is It Overheating? Find Out Why And How to Fix It  

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Are you having problems with the temperature of your Pit Boss? A well-running smoker should be providing consistent temperatures. And you definitely don’t want it overheating.

So, what are the causes of this issue in temperature? Is it a case of user error or a flaw in the cooking appliance’s design?

And most importantly, is there a way for you to fix it (and fast)? See why your experiencing these temperature problems below and how to fix them ASAP

Help! My Pit Boss Pellet Grill is Overheating!

Let’s say that you’re in the process of smoking a piece of meat And that’s when you see the ‘ErH’ error code appear the Pit Boss’s control board screen. 

Unfortunately, there may also be times in which your Pit Boss might be overheating without your grill’s display showing ‘ErH’. 

Nobody ever wants to see error codes pop up on their smoker’s control panel — no matter if it’s an Er1 error code or an Er-P error code.

However, an Er 1 code and ErP symbol might be slightly easier to solve compared to an ErH code. 

For example, an Er 1 code simply means that the grill’s temperature probe isn’t connected properly. And an Er P-code implies that your Pit Boss wasn’t switched off properly during its last use.

So, what could be causing your pellet grill to overheat, and is there a way to prevent this from happening?

What Are the of Temperature Problems with a Pit Boss?

There are many reasons why the temperature in your smoker may be flacuating.

In this article, we’ll be covering the top eight reasons or causes.

Reason 1: The Summer Heat

Hot weather is a very common cause of an overheated grill. Is your Pit Boss is currently exposed to direct sunlight while you’re cooking?

If so, then the grill’s cooking temperature is likely to be much higher than it actually needs to be.

An easy solution to this is getting your grill out of the sun and into the shade.

Luckily, these pellet grills are built on wheels and you can easily just roll it to an undercover area in your backyard. 

If the pellet grill is currently too hot, it’s a good idea to turn it off first and let it cool before you move it. 

Reason 2: The Firepot Has Been Filled With Too Many Pellets

If there are too many pellets in the grill’s firepot when you first start it up for your cook, then this might cause the Pit Boss to flare up.

You definitely don’t want to do this. Because it can lead to unnecessarily high temperatures throughout the rest of your cooking session.

To avoid this, make sure to inspect the pellet supply in the firepot before beginning each cooking session.

Just to make sure that there aren’t too many pellets in there. If there are too many pellets, see how to remove pellets from the Pit Boss here.

If your Pit Boss didn’t shut off as it should the previous time you use it, then you might have more pellets in there than you’d expect.

You should also vacuum or clean up the ashes that have accumulated in the firepot.

If there’s too much ash there at the start of or during the cook, you’ll probably get occasional bursts of heat and flames while you’re cooking.

Reason 3: Is the Control Board Damaged?

The control board on your Pit Boss gives you all sorts of information regarding your pellet grill’s current state.

Yes, it also controls the temperature settings.

Hence, if it’s not operating as it should, there could be a high chance that it’s the reason behind the overheating.

The great thing is that the control board or panel can easily be replaced, however, it’s not cheap.

So, you should definitely make sure that the access panel is the culprit of the temperature issues first.

You might also want to call up the Pit Boss customer service to ask for a second opinion first. 

Reason 4: The RTD Temperature Probe Needs to Be Cleaned

RTD stands for Resistance Temperature Detector. And this probe is responsible for registering accurate readings of the temperature in pellet smokers.

A sign of a bad RTD probe is one that is dirty.

If the RTD grill probe is dirty, then it won’t give you proper temperature readings. 

For example, it might indicate that your grill’s temperature is slightly lower than the actual temperature. Hence, why it might seem that your grill is overheating.

Because the grill’s internal temperature is higher than the probe’s actual temperature reading. 

Cleaning a dirty temperature probe is easy, all you’ll really need is a wet clean cloth.

Reason 5: Incorrect P-Setting 

If you’re a novice backyard cook and don’t have much experience with pellet grills then you might not be familiar with the Pit Boss P Setting.

If so, we suggest that you conduct a bit more research and learn a bit more about this P setting. 

For now, all you need to know is that it can help control the production of smoke. And it helps control the temperature too. 

On top of that, a lower P setting will make your grill have a higher temperature.

So, you should definitely check that you’re actually using the right P setting.

Reason 6: You’re Opening the Grill Lid too Often

Yes, opening the grill lid does initially lower the grill temperature.

However, it also causes it to have to work twice as hard to increase its temperature again.

This can also cause it to overheat as it tries to overcompensate for the temperature in the cooking chamber.

So, the solution to this is to remain patient and keep that lid closed.

Reason 7: Something’s Not Installed Properly

The cause might also be due to components of your grill; like the burn pot, grease tray, or grill grates. 

You might not think it, but things like…

• rusted grease trays
• improperly installed grill grates
• damaged burn pots
  
  … can cause the Pit Boss temperature to fluctuate during a cook. 
  

Reason 8: Auger Issues

Have you recently changed the pellet grill auger? If so, you might want to double-check that everything’s actually connected properly.

The Pit Boss pellet grill auger is responsible for feeding the pellets into the firepot. 

If your auger is making strange noises have a read of this resource.

If there’s something wrong with the auger motor connection, it’ll be the cause of temperature control issues.

Your auger might not be turning. This could be due to jammed or wet pellets.

There are so many reasons why wood pellet grills experience these temperature swings.

If you’re still unable to pinpoint the exact cause of the overheating then you might just need to contact the support team at Pit Boss.

They provide excellent customer service and they’re always to help out.

Alternatively, perhaps there’s nothing wrong with your Pit Boss pellet grill. For example, there could instead be a problem with your meat temperature probe.

Perhaps it’s recording a temperature reading that’s slightly lower than the actual temperature.

Smoke On!

Charlie

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