Visible smoke leaks from hopper lid during operation

Safety: Turn the grill off if heavy smoke or flame appears in the hopper.

• Check exhaust: Ensure chimney and exhaust vents are clear and the cap is properly adjusted.
• Clean fire pot: Remove excess pellets and ash from the fire pot to prevent burn-back into the auger.
• Inspect hopper lid seal: Check for a damaged or missing gasket. Replace the hopper lid gasket if it does not seal well.
• Monitor operation: After cleaning, run the grill and confirm that smoke exits primarily through the exhaust, not the hopper.