To ignite a Woodridge Series Traeger grill, follow four steps: Tap the selection dial to wake the grill, turn it to select the desired temperature, press the dial to set it, then hit the ignite button within 5 seconds. Ensure the grill is clean, properly assembled, pellets are in the hopper, and the lid is closed during ignition. The grill will preheat with a temperature display and an animated arrow until it reaches the set temperature, after which you can start cooking.
Igniting a Woodridge series grill can be done in 4 simple steps:
Quick Start: Follow these steps in order.
- Tap the selection dial to wake the grill.
- Turn the dial to your desired temperature.
- Press the dial to confirm.
- Press Ignite within 5 seconds.
Why is Proper Startup Important?
Following the correct startup process is very important as it can have many different effects on a cook, even hours later. For example, grills started incorrectly may experience temperature swings, flameouts, and many other issues.
How to Ignite Your Woodridge Series Grill
Before igniting a Traeger grill, we recommend walking through our pre-grilling checklist to set yourself up for a smooth startup.
Pre-Grilling Checklist
Before lighting your grill, use this quick checklist to ensure it ignites and reaches your desired temperature quickly.
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Start with a clean grill. Slow ignition time, temperature swings, and grease fires are almost always the result of a dirty grill.
- Scrape ash, grease, and debris into the EZ-Clean Grease + Ash Keg, then empty it.
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Check your pellets. For optimal performance, use fresh Traeger wood pellets.
- Good pellets should snap easily and have a nice sheen to them.
- Regularly check for and clean out sawdust from the bottom of your hopper. Sawdust won't ignite if it makes its way into your firepot.
- Check your firepot. Clean out any sawdust or debris.
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Verify all parts are properly installed.
- Tighten the auger box screws
- Confirm the drip tray is properly installed so grease flows into the grease and ash keg.
- Verify the EZ-Clean + Ash Keg is fully seated.
- Ignite with the lid closed.
- Connect your grill and keep it updated. Running the latest firmware ensures optimal performance. Your grill updates automatically, so keep your grill plugged in with the power switch set to ON when not in use to prevent delays.
- Start with an empty grill and don't add food until your grill finishes preheating. Adding food too early can slow preheating and cause temperature swings.
Ignition Process
This section walks through exactly what you'll see on the controller during startup.
- With the lid closed, plug in the grill and turn the power switch on. Press the selection dial to wake the grill. A splash screen will appear as it powers on.
- When the grill is idle, the display shows three dashes and F or C. This is the home screen, where you can set the grill temperature.
- To select a temperature, rotate the selection dial to select the grill's set temp.
- The selected temperature will blink on and off. While the temp is blinking, press the center of the selection dial to confirm your selected temperature.
- The temperature on the display will stop blinking after you confirm the set temp, and the ignite/shutdown button will start blinking.
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Press the Ignite button within 5 seconds of setting the temperature.
Do not hold the button for longer than 3 seconds, or the grill will shut down.Important: If the orange light under the Ignite button blinks, the grill did not ignite. Try again, pressing slightly longer. If needed, wipe the button clean or adjust how you press it. - The grill will now ignite and preheat to reach the set temperature.
What to Expect While the Grill Is Preheating
- An animated arrow appears next to the temperature. This means the grill is preheating.
- The temperature increases in 5‑degree steps as the grill heats up.
- When the grill reaches your set temperature, the arrow disappears.
- Small temperature swings during cooking are normal for pellet grills.
- Once preheating is complete, add your food and start cooking.