If your owner’s manual doesn’t explain your Traeger’s parts fully, it’s essential to know what they’re there for.
They’re part of your smoke machine’s functioning and must be understood if you want to enjoy it at its best. So, how do you kown if traeger hot rod is bad?
There are many things to look for if you’re considering buying a Traeger Hot Rod. First, make sure the electric meat thermometer you use is accurate. The temperature you measure might be too high or too low.
Second, make sure you have plenty of wood chunks on hand. Finally, make sure your Traeger is clean.
Cleaning is necessary to remove traces of your food.
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How To Tell If Traeger Hot Rod is Bad?
When your Traeger hot rod breaks down, you may have trouble knowing what to do about it.
Whether you’re cooking and have cranked the heat up to high or you’re at a picnic and want a few hot dogs grilled to perfection, you need a great outdoor gas grill that you can depend on every time you need to cook a meal outdoors.
You may be wondering why your charcoal is burning so unevenly or why the briquettes are barely heating up at all when they should be burning rapidly.
This occurs because it contains too little carbon and no oxygen, so it won’t burn well at all, if at all.
Check for these indicators to figure out why your charcoal grill isn’t burning properly.
Your Grill Does not Smoke
The Traeger grill ‘s design and performance set it apart from other grills on the market.
The issue with the hot rod is that the auger will wear out over time and need to be replaced with a new one.
In such instances, you should get in touch with the manufacturer to order a replacement part for your grille, which is otherwise difficult to replace yourself.
Your Grill May Not Turn on
If you’ve checked for any of the above problems, you already know that your grill isn’t working right.
The Traeger auger motor must work flawlessly in order for the grill to run properly.
The augur tube is failing because it doesn’t rotate smoothly when the machine is in use.
The Fire Has Been Extinguished
If your fire has gone out suddenly, temperature fluctuations are indicated.
Because your grill rods are made out of steel, they tend to rust after some time of use, which is why the grill doesn’t light as easily now as it did earlier on.
A worn-out rod obstructs the gas flow and results in a lack of ignition.
It Takes a Long Time to Heat Up
This is a big problem with gas-powered grills because the heat takes time to reach the burners.
It should take no more than five minutes for your grill to heat up fully, but if your grilling experience doesn’t meet this criterion, it might be due to the grates being coated with grease and dirt, which affects air flow around the coals.
If it takes longer than usual for the heat to reach all the burners, contact the manufacturer and ask them to replace it for you.
Why Would a Hot Rod Go Bad In a Traeger?
A Traeger hot rod is an important part of cooking because it makes sure the food is cooked evenly and completely.
One of the most prevalent explanations is that your Traeger’s flame is weak.
The hot rod might burn out or malfunction because it has been mishandled or if it has been exposed to excessive heat for too long a time.
Wear and tear, like with any product, can happen to any machine; the Traeger is no exception.
Another factor that might cause the hot rod to malfunction is if the augur gets clogged with food particles or ash.
Moisture may cause the hot rod to fail as well because the material can become corroded by the water that’s contained in the wood pellets.
Finally, incorrect cleaning is another factor that could cause the rod to stop working.
It’s critical to clean your grill after each and every use, and the burner assembly must be cleaned regularly to maintain efficiency and the overall longevity of the unit.
Improper cleaning might harm the burner assembly, which leads to low performance and, ultimately, premature wear and tear of the parts, including the Traeger hot rod.
How Long Does a Traeger Hot Rod Last?
Most Traeger grills last between one and two years, which may seem like a long time for a machine that is only used to cook.
They also include a warranty that lasts for up to one year from the date of purchase.
However, the hot rod’s circumstances are determined by how much it is used and how it is maintained, so some units last longer than others.
Over time, the rods will wear out from being used a lot and being beaten up by harsh weather, bad care and maintenance.
If you use it sparingly and clean it after every use, chances are your unit will last a little longer than average.
How Long Does It Take For It To Turn Red?
The hot igniter rod is activated when you switch on the power button for 15 seconds or more.
When the first flame appears, it’s a yellow flame that gradually turns red, which indicates it’s ready to cook your food.
When the Traeger is heating up, the yellow flame meets the red flame in the first 10-15 seconds, which is normal.
The yellow flame will intensify into a red flame as you continue to cook.
For the first four minutes of operation, the stove remains on only at the “Hot” setting, which is the default setting when you turn it on for the first time.
Where Is The Hot Rod On Traeger?
The Hot Rod is the rail system installed on the grill’s underside.
It is where the gas enters the grill. The gas is fed from the Traeger gas cylinder.
Then, it travels through the gas burner assembly to the fire pot, where it is then enclosed by the blue fire ring. It is from this ring that fire is spread to the cast iron grid and the racks.
The best way to get the fire to spread is to put the fire pot close to the cast iron grid and racks. This way, heat can move easily and quickly, cooking your food thoroughly.
The Hot Rod is a part of your BBQ smoker, and it is one of the most important parts because it gives the fuel or charcoal oxygen to burn.
It’s a basic mechanism, but it is essential for the proper cooking of your food and the quality of your meal.
You choose the correct setting by turning the fire pot in a clockwise direction to raise the temperature.
How Do You Fix a Traeger Hot Rod if It is Bad?
The Traeger hot rod is manufactured with high quality materials that make it last a long time, but like everything else in this world, it has its limits too and will eventually need to be replaced at some point in time.
If your hot rod is faulty or damaged in any way, you can replace it without having to buy an entirely new unit by ordering a new replacement part online.
You must disassemble the Traeger Grill and replace the bad part with a new one to replace it with the broken one before assembling it back.
A heat deflector, firepot, venturi tube, and screw kit are included in the package along with the replacement hot rod.
After you’ve removed the faulty hot rod and replaced it with the new one, you must assemble it back together, following the manufacturer’s instructions in the manual that comes with the package carefully.
Hot rod igniter kits are available online.
You can tell whether your Traeger ‘s hot rod is broken or not by simply looking at it closely or doing a quick test on it.
Once you’ve identified it, you remove it by first removing the bottom cap of the burner assembly using the included screwdriver, and then removing the igniter as well using the same screwdriver.
Also Read: How Hot Can a Weber Charcoal Grill Get?
Final Words
The Traeger hot rod is an important component of the barbecue smoker; without it, you won’t be able to get your barbecue.
If you think the rod is broken or damaged, you should replace it as soon as possible to avoid problems that could be caused by a broken or damaged rod in the future.
Look for the warning indicators highlighted in this article, and replace or repair the components immediately if you see them so that your grill continues to perform as expected.
Again, if you are not comfortable changing it yourself, you can always enlist the help of a professional to do the repair work for you.
