How to Prime the Auger on a Traeger: A Comprehensive Guide
Priming the auger on your Traeger grill ensures a smooth and efficient start-up. This involves manually feeding pellets into the fire pot until they begin to ignite, preventing frustrating start-up issues and guaranteeing consistent temperature. The auger should be primed after initial assembly, after running out of pellets, or after any period of inactivity.
Why Priming Your Traeger Auger Matters
Priming your Traeger auger is a critical step in ensuring successful and consistent grilling. Without it, you risk a frustrating experience, characterized by failed start-ups, inconsistent temperatures, and potentially even damaging your grill. Understanding the importance of this process will motivate you to incorporate it into your routine.
The Benefits of a Properly Primed Auger
Priming offers numerous advantages:
- Ensures reliable start-ups: A primed auger delivers pellets to the fire pot immediately upon ignition, preventing delays and ensuring a successful start.
- Maintains consistent temperatures: Consistent pellet delivery is crucial for maintaining the desired cooking temperature. A primed auger eliminates gaps in fuel supply, leading to more even cooking.
- Prevents pellet bridging: An empty auger tube can lead to pellets bridging within the tube, blocking the flow and causing the grill to shut down mid-cook. Priming helps prevent this issue.
- Extends the life of your igniter: Repeatedly trying to start the grill with an empty auger puts unnecessary strain on the igniter, potentially shortening its lifespan.
- Minimizes frustrating experiences: Nobody wants to wait for their grill to heat up only to find out it isn’t working correctly. Priming prevents this annoyance and saves you time and effort.
The Step-by-Step Auger Priming Process
Here’s a detailed breakdown of how to prime the auger on your Traeger:
- Ensure the Grill is Cold: Always prime the auger when the grill is completely cool to prevent accidents and ensure safety.
- Fill the Hopper with Pellets: Ensure the hopper is filled with your desired wood pellets. Avoid mixing different types of pellets, as this can affect the flavor and consistency of your cooks.
- Power On Your Traeger: Turn on your Traeger grill.
- Initiate the Priming Cycle (If Applicable): Some newer Traeger models have a prime auger cycle. Consult your owner’s manual to see if your grill has this feature and how to activate it. If it does, simply follow the on-screen instructions.
- Manually Prime (If No Cycle): If your grill doesn’t have a priming cycle, set the temperature to the lowest setting, usually 165-180°F.
- Monitor the Auger: Listen and watch the auger to see if it’s feeding pellets. You should be able to hear a slight grinding sound as the auger turns.
- Wait and Observe: Allow the grill to run for 5-10 minutes. You should start to see pellets slowly falling into the fire pot.
- Verify Pellet Delivery: Visually confirm that pellets are consistently being delivered to the fire pot. The fire pot should slowly fill with pellets.
- Complete the Process: Once you see a steady stream of pellets, the auger is primed. You can then proceed with your desired grilling or smoking process.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid these pitfalls when priming your auger:
- Overfilling the Hopper: Don’t pack the hopper too tightly, as this can impede the pellet flow.
- Using Damp or Old Pellets: Damp pellets can clog the auger, and old pellets may not burn efficiently. Always use fresh, dry pellets.
- Ignoring the Fire Pot: Pay close attention to the fire pot. If it’s not filling with pellets, the auger is not properly primed.
- Starting the Grill Without Priming After Running Out of Pellets: This can lead to a frustrating and delayed start-up. Always prime after refilling the hopper.
- Using The Wrong Type of Pellets: Never use heating pellets. Only use food-grade hardwood pellets.
Pellet Quality Considerations
The type and quality of pellets you use significantly impact the performance of your Traeger. High-quality pellets are made from 100% hardwood and contain minimal additives. Low-quality pellets may contain fillers, binders, or even harmful chemicals, which can affect the flavor of your food and damage your grill.
| Pellet Type | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| 100% Hardwood | Clean burn, authentic flavor, consistent performance | Can be more expensive |
| Blended Hardwood | More affordable, decent flavor | May contain fillers or binders, inconsistent performance |
| Heating Pellets | NEVER USE THESE | NOT FOOD GRADE – Can release toxic fumes, can damage your grill |
Troubleshooting Auger Priming Issues
If you’re experiencing difficulties priming your auger, consider the following:
- Check the Auger for Obstructions: Debris or compacted pellets can block the auger. Disconnect the power and manually clear any obstructions.
- Inspect the Igniter: If the igniter is faulty, it may not be able to ignite the pellets. Replace the igniter if necessary.
- Clean the Fire Pot: Ash and debris in the fire pot can prevent proper ignition. Clean the fire pot regularly.
- Verify Power Connection: Ensure the grill is properly connected to a functioning power outlet.
FAQs: Priming Your Traeger Auger
Why does my Traeger say “Low Pellet Alarm” even after I filled the hopper?
This can be caused by the pellet sensor needing calibration or by a blockage in the auger tube preventing pellets from reaching the sensor. Try resetting the sensor as per your Traeger manual or clearing any potential blockages.
How often should I prime my Traeger auger?
You should prime your Traeger auger every time you run out of pellets or after any prolonged period of inactivity, generally longer than a week or two. This ensures consistent fuel delivery and prevents start-up issues.
Can I use different types of pellets in my Traeger?
While you can use different types of pellets, it’s generally recommended to stick to one type per cook to maintain consistent flavor and temperature. Avoid mixing different wood types unless you’re familiar with how they burn and affect the taste.
What happens if I don’t prime the auger?
Failing to prime the auger can result in a delayed start-up, inconsistent temperatures, and potential damage to the igniter. The grill will struggle to maintain the desired temperature, leading to unevenly cooked food.
My auger is making a loud grinding noise. What does this mean?
A loud grinding noise can indicate a blockage in the auger tube, a faulty auger motor, or damaged auger flighting. Disconnect the power and inspect the auger for obstructions. If the noise persists, you may need to replace the auger motor or flighting.
How do I know if my auger is properly primed?
You’ll know your auger is properly primed when you see a steady stream of pellets being delivered to the fire pot. The fire pot should slowly fill with pellets.
What if the pellets in my hopper are damp?
Do not use damp pellets. They will clog the auger and prevent proper ignition. Discard the damp pellets and replace them with fresh, dry pellets. Store your pellets in a dry, airtight container.
Is there a specific temperature I should set my Traeger to when priming?
Typically, setting the temperature to the lowest setting (around 165-180°F) is ideal for priming the auger. This allows the auger to run without immediately igniting the pellets.
Can I manually feed pellets into the fire pot to prime the auger?
While you can manually add pellets to the fire pot initially, it’s not a substitute for priming the auger. The auger needs to be primed to ensure continuous fuel delivery throughout the cooking process.
My Traeger won’t ignite after priming the auger. What should I do?
Check the igniter to ensure it’s functioning properly. Also, make sure the fire pot is clean and free of debris. If the igniter is faulty, it will need to be replaced. Consider cleaning the RTD sensor (temperature probe) as well.
How do I clean the auger tube if it’s clogged?
Disconnect the power to the grill. Remove the hopper and access the auger tube. Use a stiff brush or a shop vacuum to clear any obstructions. You may also need to use a specialized auger cleaning tool.
Does the type of wood pellet affect the priming process?
The type of wood pellet shouldn’t significantly affect the priming process itself, as long as you use high-quality, food-grade pellets. However, different wood types will burn at different rates, which can influence the overall cooking temperature.