Each one fails differently
A pellet smoker's problems usually come from ash and grease: ash packing the fire pot until it won't ignite, grease pooling in the bottom until it catches. A flat-top griddle lives or dies by its seasoning, and a cleaning that strips it the wrong way leaves you with rust by next week. Pizza ovens collect soot in the dome and flue, and the stone needs a completely different approach from anything metal. Kamados mostly need ash cleared and gaskets checked.
We treat each one according to its design. That means no caustic oven cleaner on a ceramic pizza stone, no soaking a griddle top, and no pressure washer anywhere near the electronics on a pellet grill.
What we do for each type
| Appliance | Cleaning | Common repairs |
|---|---|---|
| Pellet smokers (Traeger and others) | Hopper emptied, fire pot and barrel vacuumed of ash, grease chute and bucket cleared, drip tray scraped, chimney cleaned | Hot rods (igniters), induction fans, auger motors, temperature probes and controllers |
| Offset and vertical smokers | Firebox and cook chamber scraped, grease and ash removed, smoke stack cleared | Smoker box issues, door seals, thermometers |
| Kamado grills (Big Green Egg and others) | Ash removed from firebox and lower vent, interior burned off and brushed, grates cleaned | Gaskets, hinge bands, vents |
| Flat-top griddles | Cooktop scraped, rust removed, re-seasoned; grease trough and catch cup cleaned; burners cleared | Igniters, burners, valves and regulators |
| Gas pizza ovens | Dome and flue de-sooted, stone brushed and burned clean, burner cleared | Igniters, thermocouples, burners and valves |
| Wood-fired pizza ovens | Ash cleared, flue and chimney cap brushed, stone burned clean | Door, thermometer and flue cap issues |
How the service goes
- 1
Cool and protect
The appliance needs to be cold. We lay drop cloths and, on pellet grills, empty the hopper so pellets don't get wet.
- 2
Remove ash and debris
Ash is vacuumed out with a shop vac that's rated for it, not brushed into the yard.
- 3
Degrease where it's safe
Grease surfaces get a food-safe degreaser and scraping. Stones, ceramics and seasoned cooktops are handled dry or with heat instead.
- 4
Check the moving parts
Igniters, fans, augers, burners and gaskets are inspected and tested.
- 5
Re-season and test
Griddle tops get re-seasoned. Everything is fired up and brought to temperature to confirm it works.
Signs you need service
- Your pellet grill shows an error code, won't hold temperature or won't ignite
- Grease fires inside the smoker barrel
- Rust spots spreading across a griddle top
- Black soot falling from a pizza oven dome onto pizzas
- A gas pizza oven that lights and then goes out after a few seconds
- Ash blowing out of a kamado's lower vent
For homeowner care between visits, see smoker maintenance basics, flat-top griddle care and how to clean a pizza oven.
What's not included
We don't rebuild masonry pizza ovens or repair cracked oven domes and refractory, and we don't replace cracked kamado bodies. Pizza stones that have cracked through need replacement, which we can help you source. Controllers and electronics for pellet grills can be replaced if parts are available, but we don't repair circuit boards. For a regular gas grill, see grill cleaning.
Built-in versus freestanding
A lot of LA outdoor kitchens now have a built-in griddle or a gas pizza oven set into the island next to the grill. Those get serviced in place, the same way we handle a built-in grill: gas off at the island, drop cloths down, and parts cleaned on site. Freestanding units like pellet grills and countertop pizza ovens can be rolled or carried to a spot on the patio that's easier to work on. Either way, we leave the area as clean as we found it. If the appliance shares an island with a gas grill, it usually makes sense to have both looked at in one visit through our outdoor kitchen service.
Smoker, griddle and pizza oven questions
Do you work on Traeger and other pellet grills?
Yes. We clean and repair Traeger and most other pellet grills, including igniter, fan and auger replacements.
Will you strip my griddle's seasoning?
Only where it's flaking or rusted. We clean the top, remove rust and re-season it so it's ready to cook on when we leave.
Can you clean a pizza stone?
We scrape and burn stones clean. Stains on a pizza stone are normal and don't affect cooking, so we don't chase them with chemicals.
Do you service Big Green Egg and other kamados?
Yes. Ash removal, gasket replacement, hinge band adjustment and grate cleaning. See our Big Green Egg page.
Can you do these on the same visit as my gas grill?
Yes, and most people do. It's more efficient to handle everything on the patio at once.
What does it cost?
It depends on the type, size and condition, and what parts are needed. Call or text us with a photo and the model, and we'll quote it.
Related repairs and guides
Smoker Maintenance Basics
Maintenance basics for pellet, offset, kamado and gas smokers: ash, grease, creosote, gaskets and storage, plus what LA's humidity and fire season mean for each.
Care & how-toFlat Top Griddle Care
How to season, clean, store and rescue an outdoor flat top griddle, with extra steps for coastal humidity and the rainy months.
Care & how-toHow to Clean an Outdoor Pizza Oven
How to clean gas and wood-fired outdoor pizza ovens, including the stone, the dome, the burner and the chimney, without cracking anything.
TroubleshootingMice and Rats in Your Grill
Signs of mice and rats in a grill or outdoor kitchen, how to clean up safely, what they damage, and practical ways to keep them out for good.
Care & how-toEco-Friendly Grill Degreasers: What Works
An honest look at biodegradable and non-toxic grill degreasers: what cuts grease, what doesn't, what's safe on each surface, and where the dirty water should go.
Care & how-toHow Often Should You Clean Your Grill?
A realistic cleaning schedule for gas grills in LA: what to do after every cook, once a month, and once or twice a year, and what shortens the interval.
RepairSmoker Box Repair
Built-in smoker drawers and dedicated smoker burners that won't light or won't smoke, cleaned and repaired.
RepairGrill Won't Light
Clicking with no flame, no spark at all, or a burner that only lights with a match: what causes it and how we fix it.
RepairIgniter Replacement
Electrodes and igniter wires cleaned, regapped or replaced so every burner lights from the button again.
RepairLow Flame & Weak Heat
Flames stuck on low and a grill that won't get hot: regulator bypass, blockages and gas supply problems diagnosed and fixed.
RepairGrease Tray & Drip Pan Repair
Rusted, warped and overflowing grease trays and drip pans replaced, and the grease path cleared so it drains where it should.
RepairTemperature Gauge Replacement
Stuck, fogged or inaccurate hood thermometers tested and replaced with the right gauge for your grill.
Get it cooking right again
Call or text us, or send a couple of photos of your smoker, griddle or pizza oven with the model name.