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Traeger Thermometer Not Accurate
Traeger thermometers are exposed to a lot of grease and soot, which can coat the probe and gradually start to affect accuracy.
Though Traeger themselves notes that the internal temperature can be off by as much as 7 to 10 to even 15 degrees in bad weather.
Anything more than 15 degrees for a prolonged period of time, in normal weather conditions, likely means there is an issue with your Traeger’s thermometer.
You can easily test it by placing a remote probe thermometer or an upturned surface thermometer in the primary chamber while it’s running and comparing the readings.
Usually, a gentle wipe-down of the thermometer probe and routine deep cleaning of the grill’s interior is all that’s needed to restore accurate readings.
Though you should note that Traeger advises deep cleaning after every 20 to 30 hours of use.
If careful cleaning doesn’t sufficiently restore the accuracy of your Traeger’s thermometer, it might need to be replaced. Fortunately, most Traeger replacement thermometers cost less than $20 and only take a few minutes to install.
How Do I Tell If My Traeger Thermometer Is Not Accurate?
Your Traeger’s thermometer should be around 7 to 10 degrees +/- the target temperature on the control panel. If it’s more than 15 degrees off for a prolonged period of time, it likely means there is an issue with the thermometer itself.
Most of the time, it just takes a little gentle cleaning to remove soot and caked-on grease from the surface of the thermometer. You can then test its accuracy by placing a remote probe thermometer in the Traeger and comparing the numbers of each.
If a good cleaning isn’t enough to restore the normal accuracy of your Traeger’s thermometer, you might need to replace it. Luckily the part is inexpensive and installing the new thermometer is relatively easy.
What Should I Do If My Traeger Thermometer Is Not Accurate?
A thorough, yet gentle cleaning is the first thing to try if you suspect your Traeger’s thermometer isn’t accurate. You can then compare it to the reading of a remote probe thermometer.
If your Traeger thermometer is still inaccurate beyond 10 to 15 degrees, you might need to buy and install a replacement.
How To Prevent an Inaccurate Thermometer
The best way to prevent an inaccurate thermometer in a Traeger grill is to gently wipe it clean after every use. Especially if you’ve had a particularly long and smoky cook, or you had the thermometer close to a large, fatty piece of meat.
You should also note that Traeger recommends giving all of their wood pellet grills a thorough deep cleaning after every 20 to 30 hours of use. This will also go a long way toward maximizing the performance of your grill and reducing the risk of an inaccurate thermometer.
Final Thoughts
Improper cleaning and poor maintenance habits are two of the most common causes of an inaccurate thermometer in a Traeger grill.
Most of the time a gentle wipe-down and deep cleaning of the grill is all that’s needed to restore accurate readings of 7 to 10 degrees.
Traeger notes that you should deep clean your wood pellet grill after every 20 to 30 hours of use. This will keep everything in good working order, optimize your grill’s performance and increase the likelihood of your thermometer staying accurate.
If deep cleaning and basic maintenance aren’t enough to restore the accuracy of your Traeger’s thermometer, you might need to replace it. It’s a relatively cheap part that is easy to replace with even a small amount of mechanical skill.
Robert is a certified Pitmaster, with over a decade of experience in smoking the best meats you’ll ever feast upon. He also has a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio. When he’s not researching technical topics, he’s most likely barbecuing in his backyard.