Pellets in hopper show signs of mold, swelling, or clumping; grill performance is erratic.

Safety first: Unplug the grill before cleaning the hopper and auger.

• Empty hopper: Remove all pellets and vacuum out dust and debris.
• Clear auger: If damp pellets have entered the auger, remove the auger and clean out any swollen or stuck pellets.
• Improve sealing: Inspect the hopper lid gasket and replace if worn or missing to reduce moisture ingress.
• Use fresh pellets: Store pellets indoors in a sealed container and only load what you will use in the near term.