Z Grills Error Codes Explained: Er1, Er2, LEr, and HEr Fixes

If your Z Grills pellet grill is flashing a code, the good news is that there are only four of them to learn: Er1 (temperature sensor failure), Er2 (dial security alarm on newer models, probe short on the old 7002B), LEr (Low Temperature Alarm — the fire went out), and HEr (High Temperature Alarm — the grill hit 550degF). Every Z Grills controller displays the same four codes, and each one has a specific fix covered below.

One quick correction before we start: you may see other websites list "ErH" or "ErP" as Z Grills error codes. Those codes do not exist on any Z Grills controller — they are Pit Boss codes that get copied into Z Grills articles by mistake.

How Z Grills Error Codes Work

Z Grills has shipped several controller generations — the legacy dial controller on older models, the PID 3.0 controller, and the PID 3.1 WiFi controller found on models like the 700D4E and 7002C2E. Despite the different hardware, all of them monitor the same conditions and display the same four codes: Er1, Er2, LEr, and HEr.

That consistency makes troubleshooting simpler than on some competing brands, but there is one important wrinkle: the meaning of Er2 changed between generations, which we cover in detail below. When any code appears, the controller stops normal operation, so diagnose the cause before you attempt a restart — especially with LEr, which has a real safety component.

Er1 — Temperature Sensor (RTD) Signal Failure

What it means: The controller is not receiving a valid signal from the temperature sensor (the RTD probe inside the cooking chamber). Without a temperature reading, the controller cannot regulate the fire, so it flags the fault instead of guessing.

Common causes:

Loose sensor wiring at the controller: The two white sensor wires that feed into the controller's terminal block have worked loose
Loose inline connector: On older models, the sensor cable runs through an inline plug between the hopper and the grill body, and that plug can vibrate loose
Failed RTD sensor: The sensor element itself has failed and needs replacement

How to fix it:

Unplug the grill before touching any wiring
Open the hopper's controller access and find the two white sensor wires running into the controller terminal block. Confirm both are seated tightly — per the Z Grills owner's manual, loose terminal connections are the first thing to check
On older models, also find the inline cable plug between the hopper and the grill body and make sure it is fully connected
Plug the grill back in and restart
If Er1 returns after the wiring checks out, the RTD sensor has likely failed and needs to be replaced

Prevention: Clean the RTD probe after each use. A crusted-over probe does not directly cause Er1, but keeping the sensor area clean makes wiring inspections easier and keeps readings accurate.

Er2 — Two Different Meanings, Depending on Your Model

Er2 is the one Z Grills code where you need to know your model, because Z Grills has used it for two entirely different things across controller generations.

On newer models (700D4E, MINI, and similar): Er2 is a temperature dial security alarm. Per the 700D4E owner's manual, it appears when the grill is powered on while the temperature dial is already sitting on a cooking setting. The controller refuses to start mid-setting as a safety measure.

How to fix it on newer models:

Turn the dial to the Shut Down Cycle position
Switch the power OFF, then back ON
Turn the dial to SMOKE and start the grill normally

On the older 7002B: The 7002B owner's manual used Er2 to indicate a temperature-probe short circuit — a wiring fault rather than a startup-sequence issue. If you have an older grill showing Er2, inspect the sensor wiring the same way you would for Er1.

If Er2 keeps coming back: An Er2 that appears repeatedly in the middle of cooks — not just at power-on — points to a controller fault, and the controller may need to be replaced. Contact Z Grills support before buying parts, since controllers are covered under warranty.

LEr — Low Temperature Alarm (Read This Before Restarting)

What it means: The fire went out or never lit in the first place. LEr triggers when the grill temperature stays below roughly 120degF on newer models (150degF on older ones) for 20 minutes or more.

Common causes:

The hopper ran out of pellets or pellets stopped feeding (see our Z Grills troubleshooting guide for pellet tunneling, a sneaky cause)
Damp or degraded pellets that would not stay lit
Failed ignition at startup — the fire never established
Excess ash in the fire pot smothering the flame

How to fix it — the safe way:

Do not simply restart the grill. This is the most important safety point in this entire guide. While the fire was out, the auger may have kept delivering pellets, so the fire pot can be heaped with unburned fuel. Z Grills' own documentation warns that relighting a full fire pot can cause "a huge fire and even explosion."

Unplug the grill and let it cool completely
Open the lid and remove the cooking racks, grease pan, and heat baffle
Empty the fire pot completely — scoop out every unburned pellet
Vacuum the ash out of the fire pot and the bottom of the barrel
Check the pellets in your hopper — if they are damp, crumbly, or dusty, replace them with fresh dry pellets
Reassemble and run the full Initial Firing procedure from your manual, watching to confirm the fire establishes properly

Never add pellets to the fire pot by hand. Dropping pellets directly onto a hot igniter or smoldering fire pot bypasses the controlled feed rate and can flare violently.

HEr — High Temperature Alarm

What it means: The grill's internal temperature reached 550degF, and the controller shut things down to protect the grill.

Common causes:

Lid open on a High setting, then a relight surge: With the lid open, the controller dumps fuel trying to hit the setpoint; close the lid and the accumulated fire spikes past 550degF
Missing heat baffle: Without the baffle in place, the flame heats the sensor directly
Grease fire: Accumulated grease on the pan or baffle ignited
Faulty temperature sensor: If HEr appears randomly and the displayed temperature jumps around erratically, suspect the sensor rather than a real overheat

How to fix it:

Turn the dial to the Shut Down Cycle and let it complete
Switch the power OFF
Open the lid to let heat escape
Restart the grill on the SMOKE setting and leave the lid open while the displayed temperature falls — expect around 20 minutes
Once the display has dropped, close the lid and resume cooking

If you suspect a grease fire caused the HEr, clean the grease pan and baffle thoroughly before the next cook, and read the next section carefully.

A Note on Grease Fires — The Manual Contradicts Itself

We flag this honestly because it matters: the Z Grills owner's manual gives conflicting grease-fire instructions in two different places. The safety section says to turn the grill OFF, keep the lid closed, do not unplug the grill, never use water, and never try to smother the fire. The operating-tips section, meanwhile, tells you to open the lid.

Our advice: follow the safety page of your specific model's manual. The lid-closed version is the standard grease-fire warning that appears in most manufacturers' safety sections, and starving the fire of oxygen is the conventional logic behind it.

Better yet, make the question moot with prevention: line the grease pan with foil and change the foil frequently, especially after fatty cooks like brisket, pork shoulder, and ribs. Nearly all pellet grill grease fires start in a neglected grease pan.

Preventing Error Codes

Most Z Grills error codes trace back to cleaning and pellet care:

Clean the fire pot and grilling area regularly — this is the single best defense against both LEr and HEr
Vacuum out ash after every 10 to 20 hours of cooking, per Z Grills' maintenance guidance
Clean the RTD temperature probe after each use so readings stay accurate
Keep pellets dry — damp pellets cause flameouts (LEr) and feed problems
Always start on SMOKE with the dial sequence your manual specifies, which avoids Er2 on newer models

For problems that do not throw a code — temperature swings, auger jams, WiFi trouble, weak smoke — see our companion Z Grills troubleshooting guide.

Warranty and Contacting Z Grills Support

Z Grills covers its grills with a 3-year warranty, though it excludes the fire pot, paint, and corrosion damage. If an Er1 or Er2 persists after the fixes above, the sensor or controller replacement should be covered on a grill under warranty, so contact support before buying parts.

Reach Z Grills support at support@zgrills.com or 833-947-4557. Have your model number, serial number, and photos of the problem ready — support will ask for all three, and having them up front saves a round trip.

If you are comparing controllers across brands, our Traeger error codes guide covers the equivalent codes on WiFIRE and older Traeger controllers. And if you are researching Z Grills models, see our hands-on reviews of the Z Grills 700D4E and the budget Z Grills 600D3E.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I just restart my Z Grills after an LEr error?

No. LEr means the fire went out, and by the time the code appears the auger has usually kept feeding, so the fire pot may be packed with unburned pellets. Z Grills warns that relighting a full fire pot can cause "a huge fire and even explosion." Unplug the grill, remove the racks, grease pan, and heat baffle, empty the fire pot completely, vacuum out the ash, and only then run the full Initial Firing procedure.

Why does my Z Grills show Er2 at startup?

On newer models like the 700D4E and the MINI, Er2 is a temperature dial security alarm. It appears when the grill is powered on while the dial is already sitting on a cooking temperature. Turn the dial to Shut Down Cycle, switch the power off and back on, then turn the dial to SMOKE to start normally. On the older 7002B, the same code meant a temperature-probe short circuit instead, so check your model's manual.

What temperature triggers the HEr error on a Z Grills?

HEr is the High Temperature Alarm and triggers when the internal grill temperature reaches 550degF. Common causes include leaving the lid open on a High setting and then getting a surge of heat when the fire catches up, a missing heat baffle, a grease fire, or a faulty temperature sensor if the code appears randomly alongside jumpy readings.

Are ErH and ErP real Z Grills error codes?

No. Z Grills controllers only display four codes: Er1, Er2, LEr, and HEr. ErH and ErP are Pit Boss error codes that some websites incorrectly list for Z Grills. If a guide tells you to fix ErH or ErP on a Z Grills, it is describing a different brand's controller.

Explore more: Z Grills Troubleshooting Guide | Traeger Error Codes | Z Grills 700D4E Review | Z Grills 600D3E Review | All Guides