Store pellets without moisture damage

Maintenance rhythm

• After opening a bag: move unused pellets to a dry, airtight container instead of assuming a folded bag protects them from humidity.
• Before a long break: empty the hopper if your model and storage conditions make fuel exposure likely, then vacuum residual sawdust only when the cooker is cool and disconnected.
• Before every important cook: look for dampness, swelling, excessive dust, or a packed bridge near the bottom of the hopper before blaming the auger.
• After humidity or water exposure: discard compromised fuel and clean residual sawdust through the approved model-specific path before loading fresh pellets.

Check the pellets before blaming the grill

Look for swelling, soft pellets, damp clumps, unusual dust, or a bridge near the hopper bottom. Note where the bag or container was stored. A pellet that looks compromised is already enough reason not to feed it into the cooker.

Safe sequence

1. Keep unused pellets in a clean, dry container that closes securely and stays off damp ground.
2. For a long break or suspected moisture exposure, cool and disconnect the cooker before following the model’s hopper-emptying path.
3. Discard wet, swollen, soft, or clumped pellets instead of trying to dry or burn them out.
4. Vacuum only cold residual sawdust where the manual permits, then load fresh dry pellets for the next documented startup.