Imagine being in the middle of the cook only to find your pellet grill not working. How infuriating!
Don’t worry. It happens to even veterans too.
It’s hard to detect when the temperature will dip or the smoker shut down.
Did you get notified about your low pellet levels?
Or is your Camp Chef running out of pellets while cooking?
Sometimes, the machine fails to detect the problem correctly.
You might be facing tunneling in the middle.
Regardless of the symptom of the problem, you can get your Camp Chef running with minimal effort.
For example, the smoker might shut down because of the low pellets, but you have to follow a few steps to get it running again.
Let’s see how!
How Does a Pellet Grill Work?
There are five main components in pellet grill i.e pellet hopper, auger motor, combustion or induction fan, burn pot with hot rod igniter and control panel.
The wood pellets are transferred into a hopper.
The pellets are feed by a rotating auger into a fire pot that is powered by electricity.
A hot rod ignites the pellets in the fire pot causing them to burn.
It produces heat and smoke for cooking.
The induction fan brings in air to assists in combustion.
Above the fire pot, there is a heat baffle.
A heat baffle helps for direct evenly heating throughout the grill rather than allowing it to burn your food.
A grease drip tray located above that to catch any grease drippings.
Finally, the induction fan circulates the smoke and heat from the fire pot throughout the grill cooking chamber, cooking your food through convection-style cooking.
How Long Do Pellets Last in a Camp Chef Grill?
Pellet consumption should be around 1.5 lbs. each hour as a general rule of thumb.
A standard bag of pellets has about 20 lbs.
So, that should last you from 10 to 20 hours.
However, Camp Chef claims they require around 3 lbs. per hour.
So, what are the exact statistics?
There’s no correct answer to this. It depends on the pellet grill you’re using and the place it’s set up in.
Outside temperatures can affect the consumption rate too.
Moreover, the degree to which the grill is set up matters too.
The pellet consumption is approximately 1 to 2 lbs. per hour when the grill is smoking.
The temperature is around 250 degrees, and the grill is operating nicely and slow.
However, the pellet consumption is significantly higher once you’re grilling.
The temperature is around 450 degrees, and you consume about 3 lbs. per hour.
The type of wood pellets you use matters too.
A typical bag of BBQ wood pellets will last around 14 hours while smoking.
On the other hand, it will last for 7 hours while grilling.
For Camp Chef pellet grills, the sizing matters.
A 24-inch grill burns around 3 lbs of pellets each hour.
The cooler the temperature is, the more your grill works.
Hence, that will result in more pellets being burned.
Can You Cook in a Camp Chef Without Pellets?
You don’t have to use pellets if you’re using a Camp Chef Gas Grill or a Camp Chef Grill Box.
Those devices run on gas or electricity.
However, pellets are a must if you’re using one of Camp Chef’s pellet grills.
So, how can you tackle your Camp Chef running out of pellets while cooking?
Getting your Camp Chef running is pretty straightforward.
First, turn the smoker off. Then, let it cool down.
Next, empty the hopper, burn-pot, and ash cup.
Make sure everything is clean. You don’t want dust interfering with your cooking.
Now, refill your hopper and run a feed cycle as instructed in your Camp Chef guide.
If you still don’t see pellets, do another feed cycle.
This process should activate your Camp Chef again.
What Happens When You Run out of Pellets While Cooking on Camp Chef Grill?
Is your Camp Chef running out of pellets while cooking?
That’s okay. It happens to the best of us.
However, in this instance, the hopper is mostly half or empty.
So now, it’s just a matter of getting your grill up and running again.
The first thing you have to do is check the hopper.
If your hopper is out of pellets, your grill will stop working.
The temperature will drop, and the auger will be empty.
Continue reading to see what you have to do to get your grill running again.
Get into the habit of checking the hopper whenever you’re cooking.
This way, you won’t have to stop cooking midway.
Dust and grime can interfere with the cooking process too.
Make sure the hopper and auger are clean for the best results.
Another recurring problem is tunneling.
Some Camp Chef grills use the pellets in the middle of the hopper only.
As a result, you’ll notice a large number of pellets sticking to the sides.
Use a stick to stir the pellets around.
Check if the pellets are in place when you’re cooking next.
Also, keep an eye out for any internal damage.
Any misalignment or damage might add to the tunneling effect.
What to Do When Your Camp Chef Grill Runs Out of Pellets?
A Camp Chef running out of pellets while cooking is a common phenomenon.
This hiccup could happen for numerous reasons.
However, your hopper is most likely empty in this case.
So, here’s what you should do to get your Camp Chef grill running again.
It’s time to refill the pellets
You know your grill is out of pellets when it stops producing smoke.
In this case, you need to add more pellets into the hopper.
These pellets will now be fed through the auger.
Only then can the pellet grill resume cooking.
Check how long your Camp Chef smoker or grill has been out of pellets
You obviously don’t run out of pellets overnight.
A Camp Chef running out of pellets while cooking requires you to check how long your smoker or grill has been out of pellets.
First, check the hopper. Then, look into the auger.
If the hopper is empty, there might still be some leftover in the auger.
How can you identify this? It’s pretty simple!
The temperature would remain constant.
Moreover, you can easily detect whether your Camp Chef is out of pellets through the empty shells.
These shells cause the temperature of the grill to drop unexpectedly.
Once the auger feeds pellets, the grill should be up and running again.
Pay attention to the fluctuations in temperature
If the auger is completely empty, there will be a drop in temperature.
This change might cause the grill to shut itself off completely.
You should wait for the Camp Chef grill to cool down when this happens.
Then, pull out the grate and drip tray and let the heat dissipate.
Next, check the firepot for pellets and clean it.
Now, put the grill on high and fill the auger with pellets.
Once they start falling, turn off the heat, and reassemble the pieces.
You should be able to cook without a hitch now!
Clean the firepot
Is your Camp Chef running out of pellets while cooking?
Then, it’s time to take out your vacuums.
Running out of pellets in the middle of cooking a large piece of meat is highly annoying!
Turn off your Camp Chef pellet grill and remove the cooking protein.
Let the grill cool down before doing anything else.
Once it’s nice and cool, vacuum the firepot.
Then, refill the hopper with pellets.
Next, turn the grill back on and let the auger be filled.
Wait until the process is complete, and voila! You’re sorted.
Check for tunneling
Sometimes, the grill feeds on all the pellets in the middle and ignores the ones on the side.
Newer Camp Chef models do not have this issue. However, the older ones still do.
The solution is pretty simple with this one.
First, take a look at the hopper and stir the pellets around.
Also, check if your hopper is damaged.
Finally, clean it out in case there’s a lot of dust.
How to Empty Pellets from Camp Chef Pellet Grill?
How Do I Restart My Camp Chef Grill After I Run Put of Pellets?
Sometimes, you can’t help but crave a delicious piece of meat.
Some days call for you to take out your pellet grill and cook up an excellent selection of meat.
So, you turn on your grill with high expectations.
Suddenly, you find your Camp Chef running out of pellets while cooking.
What you’re left with is a cold pellet grill.
So, how do you replace the pellets and get your grill back on?
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you correctly restart a Camp Chef pellet grill.
Be diligent with these. If you miss a step, you’ll have to start over.
You might also damage your pellet grill in the process.
1. Turn off your Camp Chef pellet grill and wait for it to cool.
2. Remove the grill grate carefully.
3. Now dislodge the drip tray.
4. Uncover the firepot.
5. Vacuum the inside of the grill.
6. Make sure the hopper is nice and clean.
7. Refill the hopper with your desired pellets.
8. Turn the pellet grill on.
9. Once the pellets begin to fall, turn off the grill.
10. Now put the grill back together again.
11. Fire up the grill again as you usually do.
Once you complete these steps, your pellet grill should be working perfectly again.
Set the grill to your desired temperature and pick up where you left off!
What are the Best Pellets for a Camp Chef Grill that Last Longer?
High-quality wood pellets are significant purchase for pellet grill cooking.
Certainly, it is hard to find wood pellets that last long enough if they are not certified by Camp Chef.
If you are looking for the best pellets for Camp chef pellet grill, then undoubtedly, go for Competition Hardwood blend of Camp Chef Pellets.
Did you know, why these Competition Blend Pellets offer better flavor and a more efficient burn?
Because Camp Chef pellets are made from 100% pure virgin hardwoods.
There are no oils, chemicals or binders added.
Its kiln dried process produces low moisture content for a very dry, hot burning pellet.
It means it burns less to uphold your desired temperature. So, it saves more pellets for your next barbecue and there is less ash to clean.
The Competition Camp Chef Pellets are a specific blend of hickory, cherry, and maple woods.
As such, it is an outstanding blend for just about anything you might cook on a Camp chef pellet grill.
So, it is perfect for almost every meal.
So, for the best results, you should opt for Camp Chef Competition Blend.
Final Thoughts
Cooking on an electric grill is a sublime experience.
Everything goes so seamlessly.
That is until you find your Camp Chef running out of pellets while cooking.
Now you know how to tackle this problem with ease!
Follow the tips in this article to crank the heat up again.
Also don’t forget to buy only the Camp Chef Competition Blend Pellets to ensure their long lasting performance.
References:
https://www.campchef.com/blog/maintenance-tips-for-pellet-grill/
https://www.campchef.com/blog/bbq-wood-pellets-guide/
https://www.pelheat.com/grill-smoker-wood-pellet-usage.html
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