Troubleshooting Guide

YES
Using fresh, dry pellets?
Are the pellets very long or larger
diameter than normal?
Empty out existing pellets and
add fresh, dry pellets.
Even out of a new bag some
brands or batches of pellets may
be too moist.
Try another type before
confirming that this is not the
issue.
Is the controller reading an
accurate temperature inside the
grill when compared to the food
probes placed in the same
position?
Cool bananas, you fixed it!
Fire-pot vacuumed out recently?
Vacuum out the fire-pot.
NO
YES
NO
V3. 10th January 2021 For suggestions on how to improve this guide, please email [e-mail]
LEr or The Fire Went Out
Z Grills Wood Pellet Smoker
Troubleshooting Flow Chart
Long pellets (>20mm 3/4") or
can burn inefficiently or block the
delivery of pellets into the firepot.
Try breaking into shorter lengths
or mix together with smaller
sized pellets
YES
If the grill temperature is not accurate, grill temperature probe
connection may be loose.
1. Check the plug in the centre of the thin white temperature
cable (if applicable).
2. With the power unplugged, check to ensure the thin white
cable connections in the back of the controller are not loose.
NO
May be faulty grill Temperature
Probe.
Contact Z Grills support.
STILL NOT
WORKING
With everything out of the grill so you can see in the fire-pot,
start up the grill and leave on SMOKE setting.
Monitor the fire with the lid open.
Fire should be maintained and pellets should drop once every
30 - 90 seconds.
Is the fire maintained?
Empty the hopper and vacuum
out so you can see the auger in
the bottom.
Start the grill and confirm if the
auger is very slowly rotating and
turning on/off periodically.
If rotating, add fresh dry pellets
and start up again.
Are pellets dropping into the
firepot during startup?
NO
Getting smoke and fire within
5-7min of starting the grill?
May be a faulty Auger Motor.
Contact Z Grills support.
YES
NOT TURNING
YES
YES
NO
Is ignition rod getting hot within 3-
4 of turning from Shut Down
Cycle to SMOKE?
NO
May be a faulty Ignition Rod.
Contact Z Grills support.
Is ignition rod extending out into
the fire-pot at least 5mm / 1/4"?
YES
NO
Remove the fire-pot, loosen the
screw holding the ignition rod in
place and reposition to extend
out 12mm / 1/2".
NO
YES
Close the lid and test at low, mid
and high temperatures, each for
at least 15minutes.
OK FIXED
Contact Z Grills support for
further assistance.
LEr AGAIN
Can you hear the sound of the
auger motor trying to turn?
Auger may be jammed with
pellets. Disassemble auger and
clear.
YES
NO
DONE
Was the hopper low in pellets?
NO
YES
Sometimes, when the pellets
level is low, a cavity can form
around the auger entry. If there
is a gap in the pellet supply the
fire can go out.
Always check pellet levels
before beginning a cook and
periodically if a cavity easily
forms.
Is the fire only going out at
different temperatures, or just
SMOKE?
AT VARIOUS
TEMPS
Try operating at 107oC or higher
temperature settings.
Cold moist air could impact the
burning of the pellets on SMOKE
setting.
If not reliable at SMOKE setting
in various weather conditions
contact Z Grills support
JUST
SMOKE
Is it a hot day and the grill
temperature is set to
Smoke or 82℃?
NO
Run the grill at minimum of
107℃ and keep the grill in the
shade.
YES