Pellet Grill Maintenance and Cleaning

As the weather gets warmer, you start daydreaming about rich smoked ribs and barbeque pulled pork. If you own a pellet grill or smoker, summertime probably means you’re always at your grill cooking for friends and family. However, before you jump into cooking old favorites or trying new recipes, you first have to get your pellet grill ready with some cleaning.

Cleaning your pellet grill keeps your food tasting great and your BBQ operating properly. In this article, we will show you how to clean an electric smoker the best way — from its shiny exterior to its greasy interior components. Use these pellet grill maintenance and cleaning tips to keep your smoker in top shape for longer.

How To Clean A Pellet Smoker | How To Clean The Smokestack | How To Clean The Drip Bucket | How To Clean The Outside Of Your Grill | How To Clean The Inside Of Your Pellet Grill | Maintenance Tips

Why Cleaning Your Pellet Grill Is Important 

Every time you use your pellet grill, it collects ash and grease. Over time, ash and grease build-up impact how well your pellet smoker functions and can even shorten the lifespan of your grill. Here are a few reasons why cleaning your pellet smoker regularly is so important:

• Keeps food clean: As pellet ash collects in your smoker, it will circulate inside the smoker while you are cooking, which can lead to ash in your food. When you are working on perfecting your smoked ribs recipe, you can ensure quality flavor by removing the risk of pellet ash. 
• Better temperature control: Keeping your pellet grill’s interior clean allows better airflow, which results in better temperature control. If the ash builds up too much in the burn pot, it can reduce airflow, which can cause the grill to heat unevenly or the fire to die out. Whether you’re perfecting an old favorite or trying something new, proper temperature control lets you produce the best results with your pellet grill.
• Proper grill function: Infrequently cleaning the burn pot can cause ash to build up, which can make it hard to light the grill. Thoroughly cleaning your grill will usually return it to perfect condition. However, in the worst-case scenario, an uncleaned pellet grill can cause a clogged grease drain tube to surface into the grill or cause a grease fire. You’ll be left with scorched food, as well as impairing your top-notch wood pellet grill’s functionality.

If you want to maintain your pellet grill’s quality for a long time, understanding how to clean a pellet grill and proper BBQ maintenance is essential.

How Frequently Should You Clean Your Pellet Grill?

How often you clean your pellet grill depends on how often you use it. If you are a grill enthusiast and find yourself flipping burgers every night, you may want to perform a thorough clean about once a week. If you only grill every few weeks, you can clean your grill less often.

Ideally, it’s best to keep up with your pellet grill maintenance. Being proactive will make your next cleaning easier. You can perform smaller cleaning tasks every few weeks or weekly, depending on your grill use. Here is a basic grill cleaning schedule for how often to clean your grill:

• Every few weeks: You should clean the grease drip tray inside your grill and your grill’s burn pot every few weeks. If your BBQ has an ash collection tray, you should empty it frequently. How often you clean the inside of your grill will depend heavily on how often you grill. Every three to five grill sessions, you will want to cleanse the burn pot and grease drip tray. By cleaning your pellet grill’s smokestack about every few weeks, you can ensure better grill airflow. 
• Each time you grill: Before and after grilling, be sure to thoroughly scrub the grates. When you clean grill grates regularly, you can maintain quality food taste and prevent too much grease from building up. You must clean the grill grates while the BBQ is hot, so it is often easiest to clean the grates when you already have the grill on to cook. Clean the grease drip bucket, grease drain tube and exterior of the grill with every grilling session.
• Helpful hint: For easy cleanup, place heavy-duty aluminum foil, or get a pellet grill drip pan liner, on your drip tray.

If you keep up with regular pellet smoker maintenance throughout the season, your grill will be more reliable for the next time you go to use it. Please consult your pellet grill manual for exact maintenance procedures or cleaning schedules.

What Can You Use to Clean Your Pellet Grill? 

To clean your pellet smoker, you will need tools for scraping grease, removing ash and washing the surface of your BBQ. In general, you want to use a non-mental scraper and not too abrasive so it will not scratch the surface of the grill. Use gentle cleaning cloths that can get grease and smoke on them — because they will. Disposable soft rags are often a great choice for that reason.

Here is the complete list of what to clean your grill with:

• A brush or scraper: A griddle scrape, plastic putty knife, wooden paint stirring stick or non-metallic bristle brush all work well. You may want to have a few small brushes to reach the nooks and crannies in your smoker, as well as larger brushes to quickly remove scaling from the walls of the chamber.
• Rags and paper towels: Soft cleaning rags are perfect for wiping down and polishing the outside of your grill, while paper towels are often best for messier tasks like cleaning the grease bucket and grease drip tray.
• Cleaning solution: For cleaning the outside of your pellet grill, a stainless steel cleaner will make your grill shine or use a BBQ grease cleaner. Biodegradable cleaners or non-toxic BBQ degreasers are a great option for cleaning the inside of your grill. If you prefer a homemade grill cleaning solution for cleaning your pellet grill, warm water and regular soap works well. We find using a BBQ grease cleaner is best, but be sure your grill is cold before using.
• Utility vacuum cleaner: A shop vac or utility vacuum cleaner is the easiest way to remove ash build-up from inside your pellet smoker. If you do not have a shop vac, you can use a handheld vacuum cleaner instead. An ash vac is a helpful tool as well. Manufacturers design ash vacs for finer ash particles and are heat resistant in case you get a hot ember in the vac.
• Nitrile gloves: The higher gauge nitrile gloves are an optional tool. It’s up to you if you want to keep your hands clean or if you don’t mind the rough look of sooty fingers.

The exact tools you choose for cleaning your grill will depend on your preferences and what you have available. Giving your pellet grill a good clean does not require any fancy tools, and you can often get the job done well with materials you already have around the house.

How to Clean a Pellet Smoker 

Depending on the model of your pellet smoker, the process for cleaning your grill may differ slightly. However, this guide will provide the basic knowledge you need for how to clean your pellet smoker effectively.

Before cleaning your pellet smoker, turn it off and unplug it. Aside from cleaning your pellet grill grates, which you can do when the grill is hot, you should perform all other cleaning tasks when your pellet grill is cold and disconnected from the power source. This prevents burns from hot surfaces or grease and protects both you and your pellet grill from harm.

You should also empty the hopper before performing any cleaning tasks that require water, soap or another liquid cleaner. If your wood pellets get wet, they can expand and clog the auger. To remove the pellets, simply use the quick dump and catch the pellets in a bucket.

Cleaning your pellet smoker can be a messy task if you haven’t done it in a while — if you just power-washed your patio and don’t want to risk getting grease on it, you may want to pull your grill into the driveway or garage before diving in.

After cleaning your pellet grill with any degreaser, make sure to burn it off for around 45 minutes at a high temp, usually above 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Your pellet grill manual will provide exact procedures for burn-off temps and times. It is often easiest to perform deep cleaning for the inside and outside of your pellet smoker at the same time.

How to Clean the Smokestack 

With your grill completely cold, remove the cap from the smokestack. Using a brush or wooden scraper, scrape the inside of the smokestack to remove any residue. Use a rag or paper towel to wipe out any remaining soot and ash. Clean the chimney cap using a soft cloth with cleaner or BBQ degreaser. Dry the cap entirely before putting it back on the smokestack.

How to Clean the Grease Drip Bucket and Drain Tube 

To clean the grease drain and bucket, remove the bucket when the grill is off. Use your scraper to remove any grease from the drain opening at the bottom of the grease drip tray and scrape the inside of the drain tube that connects to the grease bucket to remove the excess grease with a paper towel. Use a drip bucket liner or make your own with aluminum foil for fast and easy cleanup.

Clean the grease bucket by scrubbing out the grease with a wooden or plastic scraper — because grease can be messy, it is best not to use your nice nylon brush for this task. Empty the grease into a container you can throw away or directly into the trash. You cannot pour grease down the drain or into a gutter. Cool the grease entirely before throwing it away, as grease is flammable.

After dumping the grease bucket, you can also wash it with cleaner or soap and water. How dirty your grease drip bucket is will not affect how well your pellet grill functions, but if you empty your grease bucket often, it will be a lot easier to clean the next time.

If your pellet grill’s grease bucket gets exposed to the weather, be sure to remove it after use, as rainwater can overflow the bucket causing grease to spread on your deck.

How to Clean the Outside of Your Grill 

For spot-cleaning the outside of your grill, you can simply use a dry cloth to remove grease marks, dust and dirt quickly. To perform a deep clean, use a soft cloth with soap and water, stainless steel cleaner or a BBQ degreaser. Follow these steps to clean the outside of your BBQ:

1. Make sure your grill is cold before spraying any cleaner on the outside of your grill.
2. Apply your cleaner using a soft cloth or spray bottle. If spraying cleaner onto your pellet grill, be very careful not to get any inside of your grill. Avoid spraying stainless steel cleaner onto plastic components as it can cause them to degrade more quickly.
3. Allow the cleaner to sit for at least 30 seconds to break down any dried grease or food residue.
4. Wipe the cleaner off with a clean cloth or paper towel. If cleaning a stainless steel BBQ, wipe in the same direction as the grain. If your smoker has a painted surface, wipe in circles.
5. Repeat this process as necessary until you remove all of the dirt and grime.
6. Using a wet cloth, wipe down the grill’s surface to remove all remaining cleaner or soap residue. Do not rinse your pellet grill with a hose or bucket, as water can get into the grill or hopper and cause damage to its electrical components or ruin the pellets.

Always unplug your pellet grill from its power source before cleaning it with water or liquid cleaner and allow it to dry for at least 24 hours before your next grilling session. Empty your wood pellets from the hopper before cleaning and check that there is no water or cleaner in the hopper before putting the pellets back in.

How to Clean the Inside of Your Pellet Grill 

It is often easiest to clean the inside of your grill at the same time as the outside because you have already unplugged your grill and it will be cold and emptied of wood pellets. Cleaning the inside of your pellet smoker involves several steps to ensure proper pellet grill maintenance, including cleaning the grease drip tray, vacuuming, scraping the burn pot and scrubbing the grill grates.

1. Grease Drip Tray 

When cleaning the grease drip tray, start by taking out the grill grates and other cooking racks. Use a griddle scraper to scrub grease off of the surface of the tray and remove the scrubbed grease using a paper towel. Clean the grease drip tray by wiping them with a cloth or paper towel. If you want to clean your grease drip tray with soapy water or liquid cleaner, remove the tray from the BBQ first. Dry the tray completely before putting it back into your pellet smoker.

2. Burn Pot 

Regular pellet grill ash clean-out keeps your smoker operating in top condition. A clean smoker provides even cooking and produce the best tasting pulled pork, ribs, and grilled veggies — or anything else you want to cook. When cleaning your burn pot, start by removing the grease drip tray and heat deflector to access the pot. Pay attention to how they fit together so you can put them back in when you are done. 

A lot of ash and debris will build up in the burn pot over time. You can remove these in many ways, but many prefer using a vacuum cleaner or ash vac to carefully and easily pull ash out of the burn pot. Afterward, you can use a clean rag to remove any remaining ash or soot.

When deep cleaning your pellet grill after winter, you can take this a few steps further and scrub the interior walls of the smoker to remove any accumulated grease or dirt. After vacuuming the ash, use a scraper with a flat edge to dislodge the scale from the sides of the smoker chamber. Scrub the loosened dirt with a non-metallic brush and wipe the fire pot with a clean cloth.

You can use a damp cloth to wipe the grill’s interior, but never put water directly into the burn pot. Use caution not to damage the electric elements and allow the grill to dry completely before use. Once your burn pot is clean, replace the heat deflector, drip tray and grates.

If your grill has an ash container, now is a great time to empty it. Ash collection systems make it easy to remove ash build-up and allow you to clean your burn pot less often, as they collect much of the ash that normally builds up inside your pellet smoker.

3. Grill Gates 

Cleaning your pellet smoker grates every time you use your grill keeps your food tasting delicious and fresh, leaving your cookout guests satisfied. There are two ways to clean your grill grates — cold or hot. Follow these steps for how to clean your grill before or after use:

If you want to clean before cooking, you can utilize the cold method by completing the following steps:

1. Ensure you unplug your grill and give it time to cool.
2. After removing the grates, use soap and water or invest in BBQ degrease to clean them best. Some grill grates are safe to put in the dishwasher, but you can also use a sink, pressure washer or garden hose to clean them. For painted grates, you may want to consider gently washing in the sink or with a hose to prevent stripping the paint. 
3. Scrub the grates thoroughly. Use a proper cleaning tool, like a brush or spatula, to thoroughly clean them and remove any grime and residue.

Many people like to clean after cooking, so if that interests you, you can complete the hot method with the following steps:

1. Set your grill to the highest temperature. Grill grates are easiest to clean when they are hot — and your grill will do most of the work for you. After you cook, turn your grill to the highest temperature and allow it to heat up completely.
2. Do a burn-off — wait 10 to 15 minutes to let your grill burn away the remaining food and grease on the grill grates. Performing a burn-off loosens any stuck-on grease and makes it easy to scrape off the ash.
3. Scrub the grates thoroughly. Remove any remaining residue using a brush or spatula. Because the grill will be hot, it is best to use a long-handled brush or scraper. You may also choose to clean your grill grates while wearing an oven mitt or grill glove to prevent burns.

Deep Cleaning a Pellet Grill 

Everyone has different schedules when it comes to cleaning their pellet grill. Some people may prefer only to clean what’s necessary at any given point to more efficiently use their time. Deep cleaning, however, will require you to clean everything at once. While schedules often depend on use, you should consider deep cleaning your pellet grill at least once a year, though frequent BBQ grillers should consider deep cleaning closer to every two to three months. 

While some may clean all their pellet grill equipment at once, deep cleaning involves thoroughly cleansing each piece of your grill’s equipment. To deep clean, you can still follow the above cleaning processes for each piece of equipment, but ensure that you are more intensely washing the equipment to remove all grease, ash and grime. When you regularly deep clean your pellet grill, you can better preserve its lifespan and functionality, as well as ensure your food’s quality. 

As you prepare to deep clean your pellet grill, consider some of these tips to help you through the process: 

• Schedule time for cleaning: Deep cleaning will take longer than routine cleaning, so you will want to make time for this process. Schedule a few hours of your day and save it for deep cleaning your grill. By marking it on the calendar and dedicating the right amount of time, you ensure that you won’t forget or schedule something else that day. If you frequently use your grill, you can schedule repeating events, so you never forget a cleaning. 
• Organize cleaning supplies together: Because each grill component requires unique cleaning supplies, you may keep them in different locations so you can clean efficiently and conveniently. However, since deep cleaning is more extensive, it may take more time to search many places for various supplies. Instead, the night before or after the last basic cleaning, compile all necessary supplies into one area, so you are ready for your deep cleaning. 
• Enlist help: Deep cleaning will require removing many moving parts and using several materials. While you can do it alone, you may benefit from receiving support from a friend or family member. Together, you can split the work to clean two parts simultaneously, or you can more thoroughly clean the same equipment together. 

While deep cleaning is an intensive process to an already engaging cleaning regimen, regularly deep cleaning can help you maintain your grill’s quality. After deep cleaning, you can continue to provide great food for your family and friends. 

BBQ Maintenance Tips 

By now, you’re probably itching to head outside and get your grill cleaned for the season, but here are just a few more pellet smoker cleaning tips for how to keep your grill clean all summer long:

• Keep the inside of your grill dry: A pellet grill contains electrical components — such as the digital controller, auger motor, igniter and fan — that can get damaged by water or moisture. Avoid using water or liquid cleaner inside your grill as much as possible, and if you choose to use a liquid cleaning solution, apply it carefully with a damp cloth. Never spray or dump water directly into your pellet smoker or the smokestack.
• Use tin foil for easier cleaning: One of the best BBQ cleaning tips is to use tin foil to make your job easier. If you do not want to scrub out your grease drip tray and grease bucket all the time, you can line them both with heavy tin foil. Whenever your grease drip tray gets dirty, you can remove and replace the foil. When adding tin foil to your grill, clean the tray first before wrapping it in foil.
• Purchase a grill cover: A pellet grill cover will protect the outside of your grill from dirt and rain that can damage grill components. Grill covers are beneficial for preventing your wood pellets from getting wet and clogging the auger.
• Store your grill in a dry place: While you will certainly keep your grill outside and ready to go all summer long, you should aim to keep it out of the rain and away from moisture as much as possible. Try to pull your grill undercover on rainy days, such as onto your porch or into your garage. During winter, store your grill inside if possible to keep it away from snow, moisture and animals.
• Use high-quality wood pellets: BBQ pellets already benefit from producing less ash than charcoal or firewood because they burn more efficiently. High-quality cooking pellets made from 100% wood will produce even less ash to keep your grill clean all summer long.

By following these pellet grill cleaning and maintenance tips, you can keep your pellet grill in top condition for years to come. Regularly cleaning your pellet grill lets you enjoy the best-tasting food, whether grilled, smoked, roasted or barbequed.

Choose BBQ Pellets from Energex 

Now that your pellet grill is cleaned and ready for the season, it’s time to start cooking. High-quality BBQ pellets create the ultimate grilling experience while also helping keep your grill clean. BBQ pellets made from 100% hardwood produce less ash build-up in your BBQ while providing the rich, smoky flavor you love.

Energex is proud to supply Ol’ Hick cooking wood pellets made from 100% hickory and 100% applewood. For even more flavor, we make our Jim Beam Bourbon Barrel Cooking Pellets with genuine Jim Beam bourbon barrels to take your grilling or smoking to the next level. Ol’ Hick BBQ pellets heat up quickly and clean up easily, making your grilling season fun, easy and full of flavor. Explore our collection of Cooking & Heating Pellets today with Energex! 

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