Pit Boss Grill Not Heating Up? Here’s Why (and How to Fix)

Pit Boss grills are known for their high quality and durability. However, even the best grills can develop heating issues every now and then. 

If your Pit Boss grill isn’t heating up, there are a few potential causes:

• Bad weather
• Incorrect “P” setting
• Corroded burn pot
• LCD screen not lighting up
• Ignition failure
• Malfunctioning combustion fan
• Malfunctioning automatic startup
• Build-up of dirt, ash, and debris

1. Bad Weather

Weather is one of the most common causes of temperature issues on Pit Boss Grill. Wind, direct sunlight, rain, humidity, hot weather, or cold weather can affect your Pit Boss Grill temperature and cause abnormal fluctuations. This means that weather conditions can hinder your grill from getting hot.

How to Fix

1. Make sure the weather is suitable for grilling. Avoid keeping your grill outdoors during any of the weather conditions we’ve mentioned above.
2. Ensure you cover your Pit Boss Grill to protect it from harsh weather.

The following video demonstrates how to cover your Pit Boss Grill appropriately:

2. Incorrect “P” Setting

The P setting represents PAUSE. When you increase the P setting, the pause time between pellet cycles will also increase. By doing so, you’ll be withholding the pellets for an extended amount of time, which will result in a lower temperature and additional smoke.

Adjusting the P setting too frequently or too drastically does cause further temperature issues in your Pit Boss Grill, including massive temperature swings and flame dying out. When this happens, then your Pit Boss Grill won’t get hot.

How to Fix

1. Only use P setting on the “SMOKE” mode.
2. Adjust your P setting in intervals, giving them about 30 minutes to settle.
3. If your grill is losing its flame or dropping temperature, decrease the P setting.
4. Use your Pit Boss Grill at a factory setting of P-4 before adjusting the P setting.

The following video will help you understand the P setting and temperature on your Pit Boss Grill control panel:

3. Corroded Burn Pot

If your Pit Boss Grill burn pot has holes, then it’s easy for heat to escape, which results in your grill not heating up. This typically happens to older Pit Boss Grills. However, depending on how you keep your grill, the burn pot can corrode and develop pinholes that let the heat out.

If the corrosion is particularly severe, you may need to purchase a new Pit Boss Grill.

4. LCD Screen Not Lighting Up

When the LCD screen on your Pit Boss Grill isn’t lighting up, your grill won’t get hot.

There are four primary causes of an LCD screen not lighting up:

• The grill isn’t securely plugged in
• Blown out circuit board fuse
• A tripped ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI)
• The temperature dial is in off position

How to Fix

1. Ensure your grill is plugged in correctly into a working power source.
2. Ensure all electrical cable connections are connected firmly.
3. Check the fuse for a damaged wire. Also, check if the fuse cables have turned black and, if so, replace them.
4. Ensure your GFCI is between 10 to 15 amp service.
5. Avoid using your grill over 25 feet.
6. Turn your temperature dial to “SMOKE” mode to start up the grill.

5. Ignition Failure

An ignition failure is another common cause of a lack of heat. Ignition problems are typically caused by ash build-up, old pellets, low-quality pellets, wet pellets, or a defective igniter. 

How to Fix

1. Clean out the ashes after every cook.
2. Replace any charred black pellets in your firepot.
3. Ensure you don’t place wet pellets in your firepot.
4. Use premium quality pellets to avoid ignition difficulties.
5. Clean the igniter or replace it if it’s damaged.

If you need to replace the igniter, the following video will show you exactly how to do it:

6. Malfunctioning Combustion Fan

The combustion fan on a Pit Boss grill often stops working occurs after several years of use. This is typically due to a lack of regular grill maintenance, as grease builds upon the fan and restricts its movement.

The combustion fan’s primary role is to pull enough air into the firepot to feed the fire and blow the smoke out through the chimney. If this fan fails, the heating efficiency of your grill will be minimal. 

How to Fix

1. Clean your combustion fan.
2. Unplug the grill and try rotating the fan manually using your finger or a screwdriver.
3. If the fan is damaged beyond repair, consider replacing it.

The following video demonstrates how to replace a combustion fan in your Pit Boss Grill:

7. Malfunctioning Automatic Startup

Sometimes you can start-up your Pit Boss automatically but fail to heat up due to mechanical igniter problems, as we mentioned above. If this happens, you’ll need to start the grill manually.

How to Fix

1. Turn the temperature dial to off position.
2. Plug in your power cord into a 110V grounded outlet.
3. Ensure there are no foreign objects in the auger feed or hopper system.
4. Fill the hopper with dry pellets.
5. Remove the flame broiler, cooking grids to expose the firepot.
6. Squirt any approved pellet starter or add a small little solid fuel fire starter.
7. Add a small number of dry pellets over the fire starter.
8. Use a lighter or long fireplace match to light the starter and burn for about 5 minutes.
9. Replace the cooking grids and flame broiler quickly but carefully.
10. Turn your temperature to SMOKE.
11. Turn on the temperature dial and allow your Pit Boss Grill to heat for about 10 to 20 minutes.

Watch the following video to see how you can light your Pit Boss Grill manually:

8. Build-up of Dirt, Ash, and Debris

Dirt, ash, and debris in an unclean Pit Boss Grill can cause auger jams, flameouts, and igniter problems. If you haven’t cleaned your grill in a while, then there is likely a build-up of dirt, ash, and debris preventing the heat from reaching the pellets.

How to Fix

1. Use a grill brush to scrub the surfaces of your grates.
2. Use a shop vac to remove any ash.
3. Remove your flame broiler and wipe off any gunk that hasn’t dripped into the grease bucket.
4. Empty the grease bucket..

The following video illustrates how to clean a Pit Boss Grill:

Final Thoughts

This article discusses various potential reasons for a Pit Boss Grill not heating up and effective ways to fix these issues. Use this information to uncover the reason behind your Pit Boss Grill not getting hot and implement the solutions we’ve discussed above. If you still encounter further issues with your grill, don’t hesitate to find an expert to assist you.

Alanna Greene

Alanna is an avid traveler who lives in Michigan. In addition to writing for Temperature Master, he also sells crafts on Etsy and takes long walks through the forests near her home.