Pit Boss Error Codes Explained: ErH, ErR, ErP, Er1, noP, and ErL

If your Pit Boss® grill is showing an error code, here is the quick version: ErH means the grill overheated, ErP (on most models) means improper shutdown or lost power, ErR and Er1 mean the temperature probe is not connecting, noP means a bad meat probe connection, and ErL means the start-up cycle failed or the fire will not stay lit.

But here is what most error code lists on the internet get wrong: Pit Boss codes differ by controller generation. The same letters can mean different things on different models — on most dial controllers ErP is a power-interruption code, yet per some early manuals it was the temperature probe error. That is why this guide is organized by controller family, and why you should confirm any code against your own model's manual before replacing parts.

First, Identify Which Controller You Have

Pit Boss has shipped three broad controller families, and the code set depends on yours:

Legacy dial controllers — small LCD readout with a temperature dial (PB440D, 700 and 820 series, among others)
Digital PID / push-button controllers — digital display with buttons instead of a dial (Pro Series vertical smokers and similar)
Smoke IT WiFi controllers — app-connected, with icon-based error reporting (Laredo 1000, Lockhart, KC Combo)

Your model number is on a sticker on the grill (commonly near the hopper). Find it, download that model's manual from Pit Boss, and treat it as the final word.

Legacy Dial Controllers (PB440D, 700 and 820 Series)

ErH — Grill Overheated

What it means: Per the PB440D owner's manual, ErH indicates the grill has overheated — typically from a grease fire or excess fuel in the fire pot.

How to fix it:

Turn the grill OFF and let it cool completely. Do not restart a hot grill after an ErH
Once cool, inspect for signs of a grease fire — heavy soot, burned grease — and clean the grill thoroughly, including the fire pot and grease management components
Remove unburned pellets from the fire pot
Check that internal components (flame broiler, fire pot, heat deflection parts) are seated correctly
To clear the code: turn the dial to OFF, open the lid, and wait 3 to 4 minutes before restarting

Safety warning: If an active grease fire triggered the ErH, follow the manual's grease fire procedure exactly — see the safety section below.

ErR — Temperature Probe Not Connecting

What it means: The temperature probe wire is not connecting, so the controller cannot read grill temperature.

How to fix it: Unplug the grill, remove the panel behind the hopper, and check the probe wire connections to the control board. Reseat loose connectors and inspect the wires for damage. If the connections are solid and the error persists, replace the probe.

ErP — Improper Shutdown or Power Outage

What it means: The unit was not turned off properly, or power was interrupted during a cook. The controller deliberately blocks an automatic restart, because relighting a hot fire pot full of unburned pellets is a genuine flare-up risk.

How to fix it: Turn the dial to OFF, wait about 2 minutes, and restart manually. Before relighting, check the fire pot — if it is loaded with unburned pellets from the interrupted cook, vacuum them out first.

Flashing Dots — Not an Error

Per the PB440D owner's manual, flashing dots mean the igniter is switched on during startup, which normally runs about 5 minutes. The grill is working correctly — let it finish.

Flashing Temperature — Grill Running Too Cool

A flashing temperature means the grill dropped below its operating threshold — 110°F on SMOKE, 150°F on a COOK setting — and the fire risks going out. Check pellet level, fire pot ash, the fan, and the auger. If the fire dies, our pellet grill flame-out guide covers the safe relight.

The Generation Trap: Why You Must Check Your Own Manual

On most legacy dial controllers, ErR is the probe error and ErP is the power-interruption code. But on some early manuals — the PB820 is the documented example — ErP was the probe error, and ErR did not exist at all. An owner following a modern code chart could spend an afternoon power-cycling an older grill when the real problem is a disconnected probe wire. If your grill is more than a few years old, check the manual for your exact model number before trusting any code list, including this one.

Digital PID / Push-Button Controllers (Pro Series Vertical and Similar)

On the push-button digital controllers, two codes replace and extend the legacy set:

Er1 — Temperature Probe Not Connecting

Same fault as ErR on the dial controllers: the grill temperature probe wire is not connecting. Unplug the grill, check the probe wiring to the control board, reseat the connectors, and replace the probe if the error persists.

noP — Meat Probe Connection Fault

What it means: The controller detects a bad meat-probe connection at the probe port.

How to fix it: Reseat the meat probe firmly in the port, then check the wire for kinks, cuts, or corrosion at the jack. If the error persists, try a replacement probe — probes fail far more often than boards. If a known-good probe still throws noP, the control board's port is the likely culprit.

ErH, flashing dots, and flashing temperature behave the same here as on the legacy dial units above.

Smoke IT WiFi Controllers (Laredo 1000, Lockhart, KC Combo)

The app-connected Smoke IT controllers keep ErP (improper shutdown / power outage) and ErH (overheated) with the same meanings and fixes as above, and add an icon-based system for component faults. These controllers do not use Er1 or noP.

ErL — Failed Start-Up Cycle

What it means: The grill failed its start-up cycle or will not stay lit.

How to fix it: Per the Smoke IT controller manuals, work through the combustion chain:

Confirm all internal components are installed and positioned correctly
Check that the hopper has pellets and they are feeding
Make sure the temperature probe is clean — a grease-coated probe misreads
Verify the igniter gets hot and sits correctly in the fire pot
Confirm the fan runs

One detail straight from the manual that saves winter frustration: "in extreme cold, the grill may require a second start." One failed ignition on a freezing morning is not necessarily a broken grill.

Err + "NO PELLETS" — Fuel Out or Feed Obstruction

The grill ran out of pellets or something is blocking the feed. Refill the hopper, check for bridging (pellets doming over the auger intake), and clear any obstruction in the feed path.

Err + Blinking IGNITOR Icon — Igniter Failure

The igniter has failed or is not heating. Two checks from the manuals: hold your hand above the burn grate during startup and feel for heat off the igniter (do not touch it), and verify alignment — it should protrude about 0.5 inch into the fire pot. No heat with correct positioning and solid wiring means replacement.

Err + Blinking AUGER Icon — Auger Fault

The auger is unprimed or jammed. If the grill is new or ran dry, the auger tube may simply be empty and need priming. If pellets are present but nothing moves, clear the jam before restarting.

Err + Blinking FAN Icon — Fan Failure

The combustion fan has failed or has a bad connection. Unplug the grill, check the fan's wiring connections, and replace the fan if it still will not spin.

Codes People Cite Online That Are Not in Any Pit Boss Manual

Search results are full of Pit Boss "code charts" with codes no official manual documents. In our review of Pit Boss manuals and the official FAQ, these appear nowhere: Er2, Er3, 4P1, LL4, L52, and Ls1.

Er2 deserves special mention because it is cited so often. Owner sources generally describe an ignition failure but contradict each other on the details. Treat it as part of the ErL family — run the same fuel, igniter, fire pot, and fan checks — and contact Pit Boss support if it persists.

One last group: if your display briefly flashes L01, L02, 126, or 128 at plug-in, do not panic. Per Pit Boss's official FAQ, these are programming codes shown at power-up, not errors. They require no action.

Safety: Grease Fires, Overheats, and Why ErP Blocks Restart

The most dangerous condition behind any of these codes is a grease fire. Pit Boss's manuals are specific about the response:

Turn the grill OFF
Keep the lid closed until the fire is completely out
"Do not unplug the power cord, throw water on, or try to smother the fire"
Keep a class-ABC fire extinguisher nearby
If the fire does not come under control, call the fire department

After any ErH or overheat event, let the grill cool completely and clean it before restarting — a dirty, hot restart invites a repeat. As routine prevention, vacuum the fire pot roughly every 40 to 60 pounds of pellets burned so ash never chokes the flame or fuels a flare-up.

The ErP restart block exists for the same reason: after a power outage, the fire pot can hold residual heat plus unburned pellets, and an automatic relight into that pile can flare violently. Hence the forced manual restart — ideally after emptying the pot.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does ErP mean on a Pit Boss?

It depends on your controller generation. On most legacy dial controllers and on Smoke IT WiFi controllers, ErP means the grill was not turned off properly or lost power during a cook — a safety feature blocks automatic restart, so turn the dial to OFF, wait about 2 minutes, and restart manually. But on some early manuals, such as the PB820's, ErP was the temperature probe error instead — always confirm against your own model's manual.

Is Er2 a real Pit Boss error code?

Er2 does not appear in any Pit Boss owner's manual we could verify, and owner reports online contradict each other about what it means. Most describe an ignition failure, so treat it like the ErL family: check your fuel, clean the fire pot, verify the igniter heats and sits correctly, and confirm the fan runs. If it persists, contact Pit Boss customer service with your model number.

What do the flashing dots on my Pit Boss display mean?

Flashing dots are not an error. Per the PB440D owner's manual, they mean the igniter is switched on during the start-up cycle, which normally lasts about 5 minutes. Let the startup finish. If the dots persist far beyond that and the grill never lights, troubleshoot the igniter — but the dots themselves are the controller working as designed.

How do I clear an error code on a Pit Boss?

On legacy dial controllers, turn the dial to OFF, leave the lid open, and wait 3 to 4 minutes before restarting (for ErP, about 2 minutes). On Smoke IT WiFi controllers, power off, fix the underlying issue, and restart. Never clear a code without fixing the cause — especially ErH, which requires a full cool-down and cleaning before the grill runs again.

Many "problems" on a Pit Boss are quirks of the SMOKE setting — our companion Pit Boss P setting guide explains the most misunderstood control on these grills. Comparing brands? See our Traeger error codes guide and Traeger vs Pit Boss comparison. Shopping for a current-generation Pit Boss? Our Pit Boss Navigator 850 review covers how the newer controllers behave in practice.

Explore more: Pit Boss P Setting Explained | Pellet Grill Flame-Out Fixes | Traeger Error Codes | All Guides