Temperature Control: What the Flame Broiler and PID Controller Actually Do

When you’re ready to take your grilling game to the next level, you’ll need to master pellet grill temperature control. Uneven heating, cold spots, or grills with unpredictable temperatures can take the fun out of backyard cooking. 

Pit Boss has designed its pellet grills with temperature control in mind. The build of our grills, the Flame Broiler™ Lever, and the PID Controller bring control and great, consistent results to your cook. Read on to learn how these technologies work.

PID Controller on Your Pellet Grill

How does a pellet grill maintain its temperature? On a Pit Boss grill like the Navigator 850 Connected Grill (PB850M), the PID controller handles that. It works a lot like the oven in your kitchen. You set the temperature, and the grill works to keep it there.

The controller keeps checking the temperature inside the grill. When the heat drops, it feeds more pellets to the burn pot. When the heat climbs past your target, it holds back. That constant adjusting keeps your cook steady from start to finish.

The PID controller also responds to what’s happening around your grill. Wind, cool evening air, and lifting the lid to check on your brisket can all change the heat inside. A standard controller feeds pellets on a set timer no matter what. A PID controller adjusts as conditions change.

For you, that means more control and more consistent results. Steady heat makes your cook times easier to predict, so you can cook with confidence and know when dinner will be ready. You spend less time watching the grill and more time enjoying the cook.

Want the full breakdown? Read PID Controller Basics: How It Works on a Pellet Grill to learn what PID stands for and how it compares to standard controllers.

The Flame Broiler™ Lever: Smoke, Roast, and Sear on One Grill

The PID controller keeps your heat steady. The Flame Broiler™ Lever decides how that heat reaches your food. It’s what sets a Pit Boss pellet grill apart and it’s simple to use.

Indirect Heat for Low-and-Slow Cooking

With the Flame Broiler™ closed, your grill cooks with indirect heat. The flame stays covered, and fan-forced convection moves heat evenly around your food. This is how you smoke ribs, roast a whole chicken, or bake a pizza. On the Navigator 850, you can set temperatures from 180°F up to 500°F.

Direct Flame Searing Up to 1,000°F

When you’re ready to sear, pull the lever. Your food cooks right over the open flame, with direct flame searing up to 1,000°F. You get a deep, flavorful crust on steaks, burgers, and chops without a second grill.

 One Lever, Total Versatility

The Flame Broiler™ gives you the control to switch between two styles of cooking on the same grill. That makes it perfect for recipes like our T-Bone Steak with Smoked Tomato Pesto. Grill, smoke, bake, roast, and sear, all with wood-fired flavor.

Caring for Your Flame Broiler

Your Flame Broiler™ plate is made of steel and sees a lot of heat. Over time, it may need to be replaced. Our Customer Care team can help you find the right replacement part for your grill, even if it’s no longer under warranty.

How Pit Boss Features Work Together

Great temperature control doesn’t come from just one feature. It comes from a full system built to work as one. Here’s how it plays out during a cook.

It starts with the Rapid Igniter, which gets your grill fired up and ready faster. From there, the PID controller takes over and keeps the heat steady. The burn pot turns your pellets into heat and smoke, and fan-forced convection spreads that heat around your food. When you’re ready to finish with a sear, pull the Flame Broiler™ Lever.

Each piece does its own job. Together, they give you more control and consistent results from start to finish.

Better Fuel, Better Heat

Your grill is only as good as what you put in it. Think of it like gas in a sports car. Top-tier fuel helps your engine run at its best. The same goes for pellets.

Pit Boss hardwood pellets are made with no flavor oils, fillers, or binders. They’re also low in moisture, which helps your grill get the most heat out of every pellet. That means clean, wood-fired flavor and a burn you can count on. Store your pellets somewhere dry to keep them that way.

Keep an Eye on Your Temperature

Wondering if pellet grills come with built-in temperature gauges? Most do and Pit Boss takes it a step further. The Navigator 850 has a digital control panel that lets you set your temperature in 5° increments. It also comes with a meat probe, so you can track your food’s internal temperature without lifting the lid.

Want to step away from the grill? The Navigator 850 connects with Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth®. With the Pit Boss Grills app, you can check and adjust your temperature right from your phone.

Navigator 850 vs. a Leading Competitor

How does the Navigator 850 stack up? Here’s a side-by-side look at a similarly priced pellet grill from a leading competitor.*

For the same price, the Navigator 850 gives you more cooking space, a higher temperature range, and a bigger hopper. The biggest difference is the Flame Broiler™ Lever. It lets you smoke and sear on one grill.

Prefer a Vertical Smoker? Meet the Navigator 3-Series

If smoking is your main focus, a vertical smoker might be the right fit. The Navigator 3-Series Vertical Pellet Smoker doesn’t have a Flame Broiler™, but it has plenty of other features to help you control heat, including a PID controller.

The Navigator 3-Series starts at just 130°F and goes up to 420°F. A chimney exhaust and convection airflow move heat and smoke through the whole cabinet. With 1,118 square inches across five racks, you have room for a full day of smoking. The 50-pound hopper keeps long cooks going without constant refills. It was also named "2025 Best Vertical Smoker" by Men’s Journal.

Explore all of our vertical smokers to find the one that fits the way you cook.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do pellet grills have built-in temperature gauges?

Most pellet grills have a digital controller that shows the grill’s temperature. Many Pit Boss models, including the Navigator 850, also include a meat probe and app connectivity so you can closely monitor your grill’s heat.

How does a pellet grill maintain its temperature?

A pellet grill feeds hardwood pellets into a burn pot to create heat. On a Pit Boss grill, the PID controller keeps checking the temperature and adjusts the pellet feed to keep the heat steady.

Can you sear on a pellet grill?

Yes. With the Pit Boss Flame Broiler™ Lever, you can switch from indirect heat to direct flame searing up to 1,000°F.

Take Control of Every Cook

Temperature control is what turns a good cook into a great one. With the PID controller keeping your heat steady and the Flame Broiler™ Lever giving you direct flame when you want it, you’re in control from start to finish.

Ready to see it for yourself? Shop the Navigator 850 and start cooking with confidence.

*Competitor comparison based on the Traeger Westwood™ XL, using specifications listed on traeger.com and pitboss-grills.com as of September 2026. Specifications and pricing are subject to change.