What is a Pellet Hopper?
A pellet hopper is a device that holds the pellets for your smoker. It’s made of metal, plastic or glass and sits on top of your grill so it can be filled with fuel. The hopper has several components:
- A lid that opens and closes to allow you to add more pellets when needed
- A feed tube through which you pour new fuel into the unit when necessary
- A chute where smoke comes out once it’s been processed by your machine
Common Causes of Smoke from Pellet Hoppers
There are a few common causes of smoke coming from your pellet hopper.
- Improperly stored pellets: If you’re storing your pellets in an unventilated space, they can become damp and moldy. This can cause them to swell up and stick together, which makes it harder for the auger to move them through the chute into the burn pot.
- Too much pellet dust: If there’s too much dust in your hopper, it will clog up the auger and prevent proper feeding of pellets into the firebox. You might also notice that some of these pieces get stuck inside of other parts of your smoker like doors or hinges where they may cause damage over time if not cleaned regularly (this is especially true if you use wood instead).
Preventing Smoke from Pellet Hoppers
Preventing Smoke from Pellet Hoppers.
Store pellets in a dry place.
Make sure the lid is properly sealed, and clean the hopper regularly.
Cleaning Your Pellet Hopper
If you’re seeing smoke coming out of your pellet hopper and can’t figure out why, there are a few things to check. First, make sure that the pellets are clean and dry.
If they’re damp or wet, they will not be able to burn properly and may cause the smoke issue to occur.
Next, empty out any excess dust that may have accumulated in your pellet hopper over time by using a vacuum cleaner attachment on it (or shaking it gently).
Then wipe down inside with a dry cloth if necessary before reloading with new pellets.
Replacing a Pellet Hopper Lid
If you’re still seeing smoke coming out of your pellet hopper, it’s likely that the lid is not fitting properly. The easiest way to check this is by removing the old lid and placing a new one on top of it.
If there’s no gap between them, then they are properly aligned and you can use high-temperature silicone sealant to permanently fix them together.
Venting Your Pellet Hopper
If you’re having issues with smoke coming out of your pellet hopper, check the manufacturer’s instructions.
Most companies will tell you to use a venting system to reduce smoke and ensure proper air flow.
If you don’t have one, or if it’s not working properly, here are some steps for troubleshooting:
Checking Your Pellet Hopper for Damage
If you find that your hopper is damaged, it’s best to replace it. If you can’t do that, then you’ll want to make sure all parts are in good condition and working properly before reloading the hopper with pellets.
Using the Right Pellets for Your Pellet Hopper
The first thing you need to do is check your manufacturer’s instructions. They will tell you what type of pellets should be used in your model, and how much they should weigh.
If you don’t have this information, then contact them directly or search online for it.
The next step is ensuring that the pellets are dry before loading them into your hopper (if they’re wet or damp).
This can cause problems with moisture buildup inside the machine which can lead to corrosion over time, which could result in smoke coming out of your pellet hopper!
Troubleshooting Your Pellet Hopper
The first step to troubleshooting your pellet hopper is to check the manufacturer’s instructions. If you don’t have them, search online for a copy or call the company directly.
Most manufacturers will be happy to help you troubleshoot your machine over the phone so that you can avoid unnecessary repairs and downtime.
If you’ve followed all of these steps and still can’t figure out what’s causing smoke to come out of your hopper, it may be time for an expert opinion: call in a technician from an authorized service center near you.
They’ll know exactly what parts need replacing and how best to fix them–and they’ll have access to parts that aren’t available at local hardware stores!
Conclusion
- Regular maintenance and use of the right pellets can help prevent smoke from coming out of your pellet hopper.
