Traeger ErH Error — High Temperature Shutdown Fix

What Does This Error Mean?

ErH means the grill's internal temperature has exceeded the safe limit (typically 550°F+) — the controller shut down to prevent fire.
Open the lid to release heat.
Most causes: too many pellets fed during ignition (creating a runaway fire), grease fire, or controller stuck commanding heat.
After cooling, clean the firepot and grease pan thoroughly before restarting.

Affected Models

Traeger Pro 575
Traeger Pro 780
Traeger Ironwood 650/885
Traeger Timberline 850/1300

Common Causes

Pellets piled up during failed ignition (runaway fire when lit)
Grease fire in the firepot or drip pan
RTD probe failure causing controller to keep heating
Wind blowing into the grill creating excessive draft
Too many pellets in the firepot before ignition

How to Fix It

Open the lid and let heat dissipate.

Open the grill lid fully.
This releases heat and prevents trapped heat from damaging components.
Stand back — flames may be visible briefly.
Don't pour water or use an extinguisher unless flames are spreading outside the grill.
Power off and let cool completely.

Press power off.
Unplug from the wall.
Wait 30-60 minutes minimum for the grill to cool completely.
Don't try to clean or inspect while hot — burns and risk of further ignition.
Clean the firepot.

Once cool, vacuum out the firepot completely.
Remove any pellet pile-up — that's often the cause of ErH.
If pellets piled during a failed ignition attempt, they all caught when the grill finally lit, creating runaway temperatures.
Clean the grease pan.

Pull the grease pan out and clean thoroughly.
Grease fires are a common ErH cause.
If the pan was overflowing or had old grease, that's the source.
Clean Traeger's grease tray after every 2-3 cooks to prevent grease accumulation.
Re-ignite carefully.

Start the grill at low temperature (180–200°F).
Watch for normal smoke and steady temperature climb.
If ErH returns, the RTD probe may be failing — the controller heats blindly without accurate feedback.
That's a probe replacement (20–40 USD).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ErH dangerous?

Yes — at 550°F+ inside the grill, internal components can melt, igniter parts can fail, and grease can flash to fire.
The shutdown is exactly the protection you want.
Don't bypass.
Address the cause (clean firepot, fix probe) before resuming use.

What's the difference between ErH and HEr?

Both are high-temperature codes on Traeger.
ErH: high temperature warning during operation.
HEr: high-temperature shutdown, often more severe.
Different code variants depending on Traeger model and firmware version.
Same fix path — let cool, clean, restart cautiously.