Napoleon Backdraft Through Auger Tube

Pellets back-burning into hopper or smoke coming from hopper

Safety Warning

This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.

If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.

Possible Causes

Overfilled fire pot, Excessive pellet feed, Combustion fan not running, Auger tube packed with pellets and dust

How to Fix / Troubleshooting

Immediate safety actions:

Turn OFF and unplug the grill.
Keep the hopper lid closed to limit oxygen.
Have a fire extinguisher ready. Do not use water.

After cool-down:

Empty hopper: Remove all pellets and inspect the auger intake.
Clean fire pot and auger tube: Remove excess pellets from the fire pot and, if necessary, pull the auger to clear packed pellets.
Verify fan operation: Ensure the combustion fan runs properly to maintain correct pressure in the burn chamber.
Restart with small load: Refill hopper partially and monitor for normal operation.

Repair Difficulty

Hard 4/5

Required Part

Auger Assembly

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