While it’s true that most people want to get more smoke from their Pit Boss. During some cooks, you may notice more smoke than usual. In fact, just opening the lid can hurt your eyes. If you’ve ever encountered this problem, you’ve likely wondered “why is m Pit Boss smoking so much?” Is it normal and what can I do?
Why Is My Pit Boss Smoking So Much?
Too much some usually can mean the P-Setting is too high, poor pellet quality, the flame has died out, you’re cooking low and slow, or the grill just started up, you’ve set the grill to “smoke” after using it on a cook setting without allowing it to cool down.
Of course, there are several other reasons why a Pit Boss can be smoking too much, such as
However, these are the most common reasons, so we’ll take a closer look at each one and what you can do.
The Grill Is In Start-Up Mode
When the grill first starts up, it’s normal to see a lot of thick “white smoke.” At start up, the fire rod is working hard to heat the grill up.
As the firerod heats up, it will only smolder the pellets, rather than burn them cleanly, hence the reason for the thick white smoke.
Once the fire rod becomes hot enough, it will burn the pellets more cleaning, producing the thinner blue smoke everyone loves.
Your Temperature is Too Low
Pellet grills are popular for slow and low cooking, which is when they produce the most smoke. If you’re seeing too much smoke when you’re cooking hamburgers, try turning the temperature dial to a hotter setting.
During “hot and fast” cooks, the grill won’t produce as much smoke.
The P-Setting Is Too High
Cooking during the colder weather, means you’re going to have to adjust the P-Setting. That said, cooking on a high P-Setting number like P6/7 will produce the most smoke.
Many people use their Pit Boss during the cold weather, but you’ll need to learn how to use the P-Setting on cold days. Especially, if you don’t want too much smoke or don’t want to experience a flameout.
Poor Quality or Bad Pellets
If you’re seeing thick smoke throughout the cook, it’s likely due to the pellet quality. Your pellets may have been compromised, especially, if you store the grill outside.
Pellets don’t last very long, especially, if you leave them in the hopper and while the grill is stored outside.
Always do a wood pellet quality test, especially, when you’re starting the grill for the first time in the Spring. If the pellets are comprised and contain moisture, they won’t burn hot and will produce smoke.
If you’re not sure if the pellets are good and they’ve been in your hopper for several months, it’s best just to try a fresh batch.
Sometimes the grill can be producing too much smoke because of the pellets you’re using. Not all pellets are created equally, some wood pellets are higher quality, which means they will burn better and produce less smoke.
While some off-brand pellets may contain more fillers than wood, causing them to create more smoke. This may sound good, especially, if you like smoke, but a pellet that produces a lot of smoke doesn’t always mean it’s a high-quality smoke.
Always check the percentage of wood on the bag of pellets to ensure they are made from real wood and don’t contain a lot of fillers.
You’re Experiencing a Flame Out
If you’re noticing a drop in temperature with a bunch of white smoke, it’s usually due to a flameout. A flame out occurs when the pellets don’t get hot enough air to burn due to too much ash leftover in the firepot from the last cook.
After every cook, it’s important to run the Pit Boss shut down procedure, as it will burn off any extra pellets in the firepot. You should also vacuum out the grill regularly, especially, after smoking a Boston butt for 6 hours or more.
The Grill Is In The Smoke Mode
If this is your first time using a Pit Boss, it can be confusing to know how to set the temperature dial. When the Pit Boss is set to the “smoke” setting, it will produce a lot of smoke.
If you’re seeing a lot of smoke, it may be something as simple as the smoker being on the “smoke” setting.
You’re Trying to Smoke Right After Cooking
If you’ve just finished grilling and then set the grill to “smoke” without letting it cool down, you may notice more smoke than usual. This is due to the left over pellets in the fire pot, to be pushed through the auger, rather than the burn pot, which will produce a lot of black smoke.
When this happens, turn off the Pit Boss and allow it to cool down properly before trying to use grill in the smoke setting.
Check The Induction Fan
Another reason you might be experiencing thick smoke throughout the cook is the induction fan may not be working properly. You’ll know it’s an issue with the induction fan if you see the smoke coming from the hopper instead of the barrel.
The induction fan starts running the minute you power on the grill, all the way through the cool-down process. When the induction fan is working properly, you’ll be able to feel the air blowing into the firepot.
If you’re experiencing excessive smoke coming from the hopper, you’ll want to do the following:
- Unplug the grill from the electrical outlet
- Keep the hopper closed so the grill doesn’t get any oxygen
So How Smoke Should A Pit Boss Grill Produce?
The answer will vary depending on the technique, grill settings, cleanliness, and electrical components of the grill. As I mentioned above, at startup, you’ll see a lot of smoke.
However, once the grill heats up, you should see thin blue smoke, which can be hard to see. The thin smoke is what gives the food the smoke flavored taste.
If you see too much smoke, like something is on fire, once the grill heats up, it could mean that something is wrong with it. You can check the manual to troubleshoot the grill or contact customer service.
Final Word
As mentioned above, most people are trying to get more smoke from the Pit Boss. But hopefully, you now understand why your Pit Boss grill is smoking too much.
You own a smoker, so you’re supposed to get a lot of smoke. It’s completely normal and there’s no need to freak out. If you have too much smoke, and it’s been awhile since you’ve cleaned your Pit Boss, it could be a ventilation problem.
Once you continue using your smoker, you’ll know the differences between the color of the smoke and what’s normal and what’s not.
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