Wondering if your grill’s temperature sensor is working? This guide covers common temperature concerns and how to check if your RTD is reading properly.
Common Questions & Concerns
Why won’t my grill reach the set temperature?
Your grill never gets hot enough or overshoots the set temp. Select the article below that pertains to your grill and temperature concern.
Why does my thermometer show a different temperature than my grill?
Your Traeger controller measures the whole cooking environment, not just the air. It factors in:
- Heat coming off grill surfaces (radiant heat)
- Airflow inside the grill
- How heat moves around your food
Third-party thermometers (like instant-read probes or oven thermometers) only measure air temperature at one spot.
Check out Third-Party Thermometers for more details.
Why is food cooking too slowly on my new grill?
It’s normal for your grill to take extra time during the first few cooks on a brand-new grill or after a deep clean. This can also happen if you’ve replaced parts like the heat baffle or drip tray liner.
Your grill needs a few cycles to build up a seasoning layer that helps maintain heat. Once that happens, cooking times will be more consistent.
To learn more, see My Food Is Taking too Long to Cook.
Why is my grill’s temperature reading irregularly?
If the temperature on your controller is reading backward or negatively. see: Temperature Reading Irregularly, Negatively or Backwards on Controller
My Thermocouple is broken
Is your RTD broken, bent or has frayed wiring or melted wiring?
Check out: Thermocouple Damage
How to Check if a Thermocouple is Working Properly
The thermocouple measures the internal grill temperature and sends it to the controller. The best indicator that the thermocouple is working correctly is the controller's behavior.
If your Traeger controller says 225°F, it is 225°F.
The controller accounts for the complete cooking environment, including:
- Heat coming off the grill surfaces (radiant heat)
- Airflow
- How heat moves through the grill.
Inspect the Thermocouple
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Check for a protective cap:
- If it’s plastic and melted, the thermocouple should be replaced.
- If it’s paper/cardboard and didn’t burn off during seasoning, have the customer remove it. This can cause inaccurate temperature readings.
Loose Connections or Improper Installation
If the thermocouple is loose or installed incorrectly, your grill will show an error code:
If you have any questions, please contact Customer Support.