Pit Boss Carbon Series 700 (PB700CP): problems, parts and running costs

Checked: 2026-10-20

Summary

The Carbon 700 is the entry-level Pit Boss pellet grill: 718 sq in of porcelain-coated steel grates, a 13.5 lb hopper, an 180–500°F LCD controller with a single meat probe, no Flame Broiler and no Wi-Fi, all under a 3-year warranty on parts and electrical components.[1][2] The complaints that keep coming back are temperature control (the display reads 25–50°F hotter than an independent thermometer, and some grills run away to full temperature), auger jams from wet or soft pellets, and weak smoke flavor from Pit Boss-branded pellets.[2][3][5][6][7][8][16] Running costs are mostly pellets and grease tray liners, with no pellet price on record, and at $379.99 on the Pit Boss store (October 2026) it is worth buying below $350 or in the $351–420 band but weak above $420.[1][9]

Common problems and fixes

• Display temperature reads high — an owner on r/PitBossGrills reports the controller showing 25–50°F hotter than a separate thermometer, and other threads describe 20–50°F gaps between the display and other probes, usually blamed on probe placement or controller tuning rather than a dead part. Verify with a grate thermometer and set the controller a little low. The 3-year warranty covers defective controllers and probes, not an offset caused by where a probe sits.[3][5][7][2]
• Temperature swings and runaways — Pit Boss’s own FAQ calls ±25°F swings around the setpoint normal auger-cycling behavior, while owners on r/pelletgrills describe grills running to maximum temperature whatever the setting is, suspected to be a failed controller or RTD probe, plus 20–50°F swings. Raising the chimney cap and adjusting the P-setting takes the edge off the swings; a runaway blamed on the controller or probe is a defect and sits inside the 3-year warranty.[4][5][7][8]
• Weak smoke flavor with store-brand pellets — a 2025 r/pelletgrills thread on Pit Boss-branded pellets repeats complaints of minimal flavor and more filler and bark than other brands. Fuel is the only consumable that changes the finished food and no warranty applies to it, so most owners budget for third-party hardwood pellets instead.[6]
• Only one probe port — the controller takes a single meat probe, so one cut of meat can be monitored at a time; the two-port layout of the 700 DX is not here. A spare probe can be bought from the Pit Boss parts catalog, but a missing port is a design limit rather than a covered fault.[2][10][11]
• No searing and no app — there is no Flame Broiler, so direct-flame searing above the 180–500°F controller range is not available, and the grill is not on Pit Boss’s Wi-Fi or Bluetooth list, so the app does not apply. Neither is a defect; both point to a different model.[1][4][11]
• Grease and ash buildup — the burn pot needs cleaning every few uses and the grease tray liners need replacing when soiled, otherwise grease drips into the fire and ash starts to choke the burn. Routine upkeep is maintenance, not a warranty item.[2][9]

Parts and consumables

• Grease tray liners — $13.99–$19.99 at pitboss-grills.com (October 2026); sold separately and not in the box, replaced when soiled, usually every few cooks.[9]
• Extended protection plan — $31.99–$39.99 for 3–5 years, offered at Pit Boss checkout (October 2026); optional, and this model already carries a 3-year parts and electrical warranty.[1][2]

Yearly running cost

The rated fuel input is 1.12 kg/h (2.48 lb/h) on 100% hardwood pellets, and pellets are the bulk of what an owner spends; no pellet price was confirmed in the research, so no dollar total per year can be stated.[2] The known non-fuel spend is grease tray liners at $13.99–$19.99 (pitboss-grills.com, October 2026) plus an optional extended protection plan at $31.99–$39.99 for 3–5 years (pitboss-grills.com, October 2026); electricity pulls 250 W on 110–120 V, 60 Hz, with no tariff on record.[9][1][2] There is no subscription and no app to pay for.

When it is a good buy

Sources

• Pit Boss Carbon Series 700 Wood Pellet Grill PB700CP — official product page
• Pit Boss Carbon Series 700 user manual PB700CP (PDF)
• r/PitBossGrills — temp reads higher than actual
• Pit Boss FAQ — temperature swings, Wi-Fi list, P-setting
• r/pelletgrills — Pit Boss temp swings and incorrect temperature
• r/pelletgrills — no matter the setting, this Pit Boss runs as hot as possible
• r/pelletgrills — temp swing issues
• Pit Boss Carbon Series collection — Carbon 500, Carbon 700, bundles, liners
• Pit Boss official replacement-parts collection
• Pit Boss 700 DX Wood Pellet Grill — official product page
• Pit Boss Grills store reviews and pros/cons — Tenereteam aggregator
• Pit Boss Grills reviews and buying guide — third-party claims site
• r/BBQ — experience with the Pit Boss pellet smokers
• r/smoking — picked out the Pit Boss 700FB wood pellet grill
• Hey Grill Hey — the 5 best pellet grills of 2024