Traeger HEr Error Code: High Temperature Overheat Fix

Quick Answer

Traeger HEr is a HIGH TEMPERATURE safety shutdown. Unlike LEr which is a nuisance, HEr can indicate a genuine safety issue: a grease fire in the drip tray or firepot. When grease accumulates on the drip tray and heat baffle, it can ignite and cause temperatures to spike well beyond the setpoint.

In my years servicing Traegers, HEr usually means the grill basically turned into a furnace. It can happen fast, and if you ignore it and restart without checking, you're looking at a warped drip tray at minimum or a full grease fire at worst. Most of the time it's a maintenance issue, not an electronics failure. Rule out the dangerous stuff first before you start poking at sensors.

TraegerPelletgrillSeverity: high80% DIY Success

Time to Fix

10–60 min

Difficulty

beginner

Parts Cost

$5 – $25

Tools Needed

Shop vacuum with narrow nozzle attachment, Phillips #2 screwdriver

What Does the HEr Code Mean?

So your Traeger just threw an HEr code and shut itself down. Here's the deal: that's actually the controller doing its job. The question is whether you've got a real grease fire on your hands or just a dirty sensor lying to the brain. Most repairs here cost nothing, just cleaning. But ignore it and restart without checking, and you're asking for a much bigger problem.

Most Likely Causes

Based on aggregated repair data, here is the probability breakdown for this error code:

Grease fire on drip tray40%

Accumulated unburned pellets igniting24%

Firepot ash blocking airflow then suddenly clearing14%

Damper stuck open12%

Fan speed too high for low-temp setting10%

Symptoms You May Notice

HEr flashing on the controller display and everything's dead quiet, no fan noise, no auger movement, just a hot barrel sitting there.
Thick black smoke pouring out of every gap in the lid, way more than the thin blue smoke you'd see during a normal cook.
The Traeger app shows your temp graph went basically vertical, like from 250°F to 550°F in just a few minutes.
You can see an orange glow or actual flames flickering through the gap between the lid and the barrel.
The barrel stays hot to the touch for way longer than normal after shutdown, sometimes over an hour.

Can you reset a Traeger pelletgrill to clear the HEr code?

Flip the power switch to OFF. Unplug from the wall, don't just use the app or the switch alone. Before plugging back in, vacuum out the firepot completely so you're not starting a new cycle with a pile of fuel waiting to catch. Wait at least 10 minutes for the controller to fully reset. Plug back in, flip the power on, and run a normal startup watching for smooth ignition. Temp should climb gradually to your setpoint without spiking.

Tools Required for Diagnosis

Shop vacuum with narrow nozzle attachmentPhillips #2 screwdriverMultimeter (for RTD resistance testing)Flashlight or headlampSteel wool or fine wire brush (for RTD probe cleaning)Heat-resistant glovesReplacement drip tray liner (grab one while you're cleaning anyway)

Diagnostic Checklist

Follow these steps in order. We start with the easiest external fixes before opening up the machine.

ComponentComponent Under Test

Expected Range100–115 ohms

ConditionIf Open (OL) or infinite, replace component.

Replacement Parts

If your diagnostic testing proves the component has failed, you will need a replacement. We recommend OEM parts over aftermarket for water-handling components.

Part Name	OEM Number	Estimated Price
Traeger Drip Tray LinerBAC407 · $5–$25	BAC407	$5 – $25
Traeger RTD Temperature ProbeBAC194 · $15–$25	BAC194	$15 – $25

Frequently Asked Questions

Is HEr dangerous?

It can be, but the controller is actually doing its job by shutting everything down. The real danger is a grease fire inside the barrel. If you haven't cleaned your drip tray in several cooks and you're running high heat, that accumulated grease can and will ignite. I always tell people: keep the lid closed during an HEr event. Opening it is what turns a contained situation into something way scarier. Let it cool completely, then dig in and find out what caused it.

HEr after LEr, what happened?

This is the classic Traeger trap and honestly I see it constantly. Your fire goes out (LEr), the auger keeps dumping pellets into the firepot because it doesn't know the fire's out, and then you restart without vacuuming the pot first. Now you've got a massive pile of fuel that all catches at once. It creates a mini furnace the controller can't handle, and boom, HEr. Always, always check the firepot after any flame-out before you try to restart. Thirty seconds with a shop vac saves you a huge headache.

How do I prevent HEr?

Maintenance is everything with these grills. I vacuum out the ash every two or three long cooks, more often if I'm doing really fatty meats. Pellet quality matters too. Dusty or wet pellets cause inconsistent burns that lead to exactly the kind of pellet buildup that triggers this code. If you're doing a high-heat cook, put a fresh drip tray liner down before you start. Old carbonized grease is the primary fuel for basically every HEr code I see in the field. Just clean the thing.

Can I replace the RTD sensor myself?

Yeah, totally, it's one of the easier Traeger repairs. The sensor itself runs about $20-40 depending on your model, and you can find them on Amazon or straight from Traeger's site. You'll need a Phillips screwdriver to get at the controller box where the wire plugs in. The probe just slides out of a small bracket inside the barrel. Takes maybe 20 minutes your first time. Search 'Traeger RTD probe' plus your exact model number and you'll find the right part.

How often should I clean my Traeger to avoid this?

Honestly? Vacuum the firepot after every 2-3 cooks minimum. Every 5-6 cooks, pull the drip tray and heat baffle and do a real cleanout. If you just did a big fatty cook like a pork butt or a full brisket, clean the drip tray after that specific cook rather than waiting. Takes 10 minutes with a shop vac. Compared to the alternative, which is dealing with an HEr event or an actual grease fire, it's not even a question. Clean the grill.

Related Traeger Pelletgrill Error Codes

Code: HUBTraeger Error Codes Code: LErTraeger LEr: Low Temperature Error

Models Known to Experience HEr Errors

This repair applies to most Traeger pelletgrills with this error code. Common model numbers include:

Pro 575 (TFB57PZBO), Pro 780 (TFB78GLE), Ironwood 650 (TFB65BLEC), Ironwood 885 (TFB89BLEC), Timberline 850 (TFB85WLE), Timberline 1300 (TFB131WLE), Silverton 810, Ranger (TBT18KLD)

Written by

Sarah Kim

Smart Home & Specialty Appliance Tech · 12 years experience

Last verified for technical accuracy on March 15, 2026