Pit Boss 700FB2 Wood Pellet Grill: problems, parts and running costs
Checked: 2026-10-19
Summary
Owners most often report auger motor failures, smoke blowing back out of the pellet hopper, and wide temperature swings from the non-PID controller — swings Pit Boss itself calls normal. Keeping it running costs hardwood pellets plus foil grease-bucket liners and the occasional igniter rod; no pellet price was captured, so a yearly dollar figure cannot be computed. It reads as a strong buy around $400-500 if the direct-flame searing matters and fair value up to about $550.
Common problems and fixes
- Auger motor failures — recurring owner reports; one forum user received a replacement auger motor from Pit Boss after a smoke-back incident, with support at 877-303-3134 option 2. [11]
- Smoke pouring out of the pellet hopper — reported as a failure mode (“auger fire”), linked to firepot issues, an unlevel grill or auger backup. Workaround: keep the hopper full to prevent smoke blowback, use the prime button to clear burning pellets from the auger on shutdown, and ramp down the temperature before turning the grill off. [5] [11]
- Flame-outs mid-cook — reported when the firebox and ash are not cleaned regularly; the fix is routine firepot and ash vacuuming. [2] [6]
- Error codes (Er1, Er2, ErH, LEr) — documented in troubleshooting guides; resolving them has meant control board or probe replacements. [6]
- Weak smoke flavor from Pit Boss branded pellets — pellets are criticized for high bark and filler content; the FAQ recommends Pit Boss or Louisiana Grills pellets for proper performance, and owners commonly switch to third-party pellets. [5] [10]
- Small fit-and-finish annoyances — the wrist can contact the hot lid when it is opened fully, the second-tier rack position makes cooking underneath difficult, and the diffuser plate is hard to clean with fatty meats (a foil liner helps). [4]
Parts and consumables
- Igniter rod — replacement estimated at $15-$25. [6]
- Foil grease bucket liners — the grease bucket is a simple steel bucket and liners are not included. [3]
- Wood pellets — 100% all-natural hardwood pellets are the fuel; consumption measured on the earlier 700FB ran about 1 lb per hour at 250°F or below, about 2 lb per hour at higher temperatures and about 2.5 lb per hour on high. [4]
- Guardsman warranty extensions — optional at purchase: 3-year $43.99, 4-year $48.99, 5-year $54.99, on top of the standard 5-year limited warranty. [1]
Yearly running cost
Hardwood pellets are the main recurring cost, plus foil grease-bucket liners and parts such as the igniter rod as they fail ($15-$25 per replacement) [3] [6]. Pellet burn on the earlier 700FB measured about 1-2.5 lb per hour depending on temperature, but no pellet price was captured in the research, so the dollar figure per year cannot be computed. Warranty extension pricing is a one-time-at-purchase option rather than a yearly cost: $43.99 for three years, $48.99 for four and $54.99 for five [1].
When it is a good buy
BMR in Canada listed the grill at $599.96, a sale from $699.98, and Pit Boss’s own Canadian page showed $649, a sale from $699, against a US MSRP of $549.99; pricing was checked in October 2026. [3] [14] [1]
- $400-500 — strong value if direct-flame searing is a priority and app connectivity is not needed. [2]
- $500-550 — fair value; compare against the Traeger Pro 575 at $799 and Camp Chef Woodwind for controller quality and app features. [2]
- $550-650 — weak value unless the Flame Broiler searing is specifically required. [2]
- Alternatives — the Traeger Pro 575 at $799 trades the direct-flame searing for a more established ecosystem, and the Recteq RT-700 at $1,199 is the premium step up; both have stronger independent test histories at their ranges. [2] The 5-year limited warranty and the Flame Broiler Lever that Sears to 1,000°F are this grill’s own selling points against them. [1] [2]