How to Remove & Replace Pellets

What's in This Article?

When preparing your grill for storage, or if your pellets have been compromised by age or water, follow the steps below to make sure your grill continues running at its optimal state. 

WHEN TO REPLACE PELLETS

Pellets can be compromised from exposure to water, age, or handling. Keep an eye out for the following to determine if a bag of pellets has gone bad: 

  • Pellets are dull and have no sheen 
  • Pellets easily crumble 
  • Moisture in the pellet bag/storage container
  • Clumps of sawdust 
  • Sawdust throughout the bag 

HOW TO REMOVE PELLETS

Emptying your hopper is easy. There are three methods to empty your hopper, depending on the grill.

IMPORTANT: Always turn off the grill when putting your hands into the hopper.

  • Pellet Slide 
    • New Timberline grills have a pellet slide just under the hopper. Place a bucket under the evacuation slide, pull the slide, and allow all pellets to empty into the bucket. Use a shop vac to remove remaining pellets and sawdust from the bottom of the hopper and from the auger tube. 
  • Pellet Door
    • If your grill has a release door on the back of the hopper, place a bucket underneath the evacuation door. Unscrew the lock and open the door, allowing the pellets to fall into the bucket. Use a wet-dry vacuum or your hands to remove any remaining pellets or sawdust from the hopper and from the auger tube. 
  • No Door or Slide
    • If your grill does not have a release door, unscrew and remove the pellet guard in the hopper. Use a small bucket or other device to scoop out pellets. Then use a wet-dry vacuum to remove the remaining pellets from the hopper and from the auger tube. 
      • Do not tip your grill to empty the hopper.

Removing Pellets When Troubleshooting

Follow these steps when removing ALL pellets from the grill to aid in troubleshooting steps. 

  1. Turn off the grill and empty the hopper following the previously outlined steps.
  2. Remove all internal components of the grill, like the grill grate, drip tray, and heat baffle.
  3. Plug in and turn on the grill.
  4. Prime the auger to remove any remaining pellets that you did not vacuum out of the auger tube. Prime until no more pellets fall into the firepot.
    • WiFIRE-enabled grills: On your controller, navigate to Select Auger > Prime Auger. Repeat until pellets no longer come out of the auger tube. 
    • Non-connected grills: On the grill controller, set the grill to High (or the highest temp possible) until pellets no longer come out of the auger tube. 
  5. Turn off and unplug the grill.
  6. Use a wet-dry vacuum or your hands to remove all the pellets and sawdust from the firepot. 

HOW TO ADD NEW PELLETS

Once you’ve removed the compromised pellets, follow the steps below to prime your auger again and get back rolling smoke. 

  1. Add fresh pellets to the hopper. 
  2. Prime the auger until pellets fall into the firepot. 
    • WiFIRE-enabled grills: On your controller, navigate to Select Auger > Prime Auger. Once pellets begin to fall into the firepot, select Done to turn off the auger. 
    • Non-connected grills: On the grill controller, set the grill to High (or the highest temp possible) until pellets begin to fall into the firepot. 
  3. Return all internal components to their correct places inside the grill (heat baffle, drip tray, and grill grates). 
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