Topic · 12 guides

Troubleshooting

Something's off with your cooker? Start here. These guides identify what's wrong and how to fix it — most issues have predictable causes you can solve in under an hour.

• Grill Care · Apr 30, 2026

  Yellow Flame on a Gas Grill: Causes and Fixes

  A yellow flame on a gas grill is a warning sign — incomplete combustion that means worse food, wasted gas, and sometimes a real safety risk. Here's what causes it and how to fix it.

• Smoker Care · Apr 27, 2026

  Pellet Smoker Auger Jam: Causes and Fixes

  An auger jam can stop a long cook cold. Here's what causes them, how to fix one in progress, and the maintenance habits that prevent the next one.

• Griddle Care · Apr 26, 2026

  Why Your Blackstone Seasoning Keeps Peeling

  Seasoning that flakes, chips, or peels in sheets isn't normal — it's a sign one of three specific things went wrong. Here's how to diagnose which, and how to fix it for good.

• Grill Care · Apr 20, 2026

  Spider Webs in Your Grill Burner Tubes? Here's What to Do

  Yellow flames, weak heat, or a flashback after the grill sat unused for a while? Spider webs in the venturi tubes are the most common cause. Here's how to find them, clear them, and prevent the next infestation.

• Smoker Care · Apr 10, 2026

  Why Your Smoker Won't Hold Temperature (Cleaning Edition)

  Most temperature instability problems are cleaning issues, not equipment failures. Here's the diagnostic walk-through that fixes 80% of smoker temperature problems before you call for service.

• Griddle Care · Mar 30, 2026

  Griddle Not Heating Evenly: Causes and Fixes

  Hot spots and cold zones on a griddle are diagnosable, fixable, and almost always either burner-related or seasoning-related. Here's the troubleshooting walk-through.

• Smoker Care · Mar 13, 2026

  Why Is My Smoked Meat Bitter? (And How to Fix It)

  Bitter smoked food is fixable, but the cause matters. Here are the four reasons smoked meat tastes bitter — and what to do about each one.

• Grill Care · Mar 12, 2026

  Grill Won't Get Hot? Here's What to Check

  A grill that won't reach high temperatures has a small list of usual causes — and most of them are diagnosable in 10 minutes. Here's the troubleshooting walkthrough.

• Grill Care · Feb 20, 2026

  Grill Flare-Ups: Causes and How to Prevent Them

  Sudden flames erupting under your food on the grill? Here's what causes flare-ups, how to manage them when they happen, and the maintenance habits that prevent them.

• Smoker Care · Feb 11, 2026

  Smoker Temperature Too High? Here's What to Check

  A smoker running hotter than set is the opposite of the more-common 'won't hold temperature' problem — and the causes are different. Here's the troubleshooting walkthrough.

• Grill Care · Feb 5, 2026

  Why Won't My Charcoal Light? Here's What to Check

  Cold charcoal that won't ignite is a common frustration with simple causes. Here's the troubleshooting walkthrough — fuel, technique, equipment, and conditions.

• Smoker Care · Jan 28, 2026

  Pellet Smoker Error Codes Explained (Traeger, Pit Boss, Camp Chef)

  ER1, ErH, ER2, P-0 — pellet smoker error codes are predictable signals of specific problems. Here's what each code means and how to fix it.