How did your pellet stove start up go this year?

[heat seeker]

Just finished firing mine up for the first time this season. Other than a slightly delayed start (because I forgot to reconnect the ignitor), things went perfectly. It put a big grin on my puss seeing the first smoke and sparks come out, and then the flame. It's like seeing an old friend again!

This past spring, I disconnected the ignitor to clear the auger of pellets. I then ran it through a start cycle, and the auger ran long enough to clear itself into the pot (with the hopper empty, of course).

Went from this:

To this:

 

[iron stove]

I left a partial bag of Vemont softwoods in my hopper. Burning since 2003, and think only once I had a empty hopper over the summer.

 

[george pence]

It was 65 in the house..the dog went over and sniffed the stove and barked, within one hour the house was 75 and climbing..nice heat

 

[The Village Idiot]

Have been running the new Hearthstone off-and-on for over a week now. Can only hope these reliable start, stop, and run times will be this easy for years to come!

 

[imacman]

It was 65 in the house..the dog went over and sniffed the stove and barked.......

Too funny!

 

[DexterDay]

Have been running the new Hearthstone off-and-on for over a week now. Can only hope these reliable start, stop, and run times will be this easy for years to come!

That stove is a pretty smart stove. It varies the pellet feed, based on room temp. Also being able to program the stove .. .. .. A Super Plus

I am looking forward to pics and also your review at mid season (once you really push it)

What color did you get (steel and stone?)?

 

[Augmister]

I really should clean at end of season in the spring, but usually wait till the end of September. This is season 7 with the house stove. Just normal maintenance but figure an ignitor or internal blower motor can't be too far off in my future. I usually clean twice a year during burning season, at the end of each ton. Got one of those lint cleaners for the clothes dryer up the vent pipe via the clean out and it made a BIG difference in the stoves ability to breathe and burn. Need to do the second stove this weekend. Have all my pellets... let the games begin!

 

[DMZX]

This is the third season on my Pioneer. It seems like it runs better than ever. Or maybe I just know, after two seasons, exactly how to dial it in. Or maybe I am using better pellets, (the ash seems to be lighter in color, and finer than last year).

BTW Augmister, that lint brush up the clean-out is a great idea. I could also use it to clean the vent ducts behind the ash traps at the end of the season.

 

[The Village Idiot]

That stove is a pretty smart stove. It varies the pellet feed, based on room temp. Also being able to program the stove .. .. .. A Super Plus

I am looking forward to pics and also your review at mid season (once you really push it)

What color did you get (steel and stone?)?

Yes, you're right, Dexter, it IS a smart stove. Completely programmable. Has settings to run in: Manual, Thermostat, Automatic (With a room sensor) and even Programmable (for when you're "Home" or "Away"). It also has a safe-mode that they call a Frost Setting in where IF the living area gets down to 42 degrees F, the stove will automatically start-up to "save" the home from freezing and will run itself until the room temperature reaches 55F. (As long as there are pellets in the hopper, of course.)
If you click on the link in my signature, you'll see the exact model that I purchased. It's the Hearthstone "Heritage" in Brown Majolica Enamel and Sand Soapstone. Looks nice in it's "Earth-tone" colors and the soapstone has like an imitation wood-grain look to it. I'll try to get some pics up more sooner than later!

 

[Bank]

Fired mine up last weekend. It was like it ran all summer. All loaded up with 2.5 tons of CleanFire Pacifics, 3 tons of Granules LG and a 1/2 ton of Maine's Choice. Ok winter, bring it on ole man

 

[Ezekiel_33]

Mine ain't acting right. I have been discussing it on a thread I started-"Thermostat?" Thought I had her figured out, then misfire! Push RESET- away she goes for some more cycles, until she suddenly decides not to light again..........

 

[vinny11950]

Very technical here, but I had to wiggle the hopper lid switch on my M55 for it to drop pellets. Happened last year too. Only happens on the first start=up of the season, though.

 

[Snowy Rivers]

Last night was the number 2 fire this year.
Due to health issues, I have not done a good cleaning on either of the two Whits.

Ran the large Whit last night for about 4 hours then shut it off when we retired for the eavening.
Old girl works flawless.

First rains due in here by Friday, so stove season is here for sure.
I need to check the little Whit and make sure its good to go too.

Back in the saddle again Eh????

Snowy

 

[Lousyweather]

cleaned my stove in the Spring, made sure no pellets were in the bin, oiled the burn chamber. Threw pellets in the other day, lit it (P61), and off to the races- no problems whatsoever.......amazing what proper maintenance can do.....

 

[camdids]

Started mine this morning. Did a complete clean when shut it down for the summer. Issue I had was Some dust Bunnies coming out the Distribution. Usually not an issue , but this time had one that was alight. Shut it down straight away. Usually they blow right out. One didnt.