P61 Issues

[mik_kane]

I am new to this site and I have read some great feedback from the members here so I thought I would ask about some things I have noticed with my Harman P61. This is my first year burning pellets so I am a rookie to this but I am willing to learn.
I have noticed a build up of ash in the burn pot which makes a lazy flame, I usually take a 3" spackling knife and scoop the ash out of the front of the burn pot (see pics). I clean it regularly, even the door under the burn pot. I am burning Greene Team pellets and my feed rate is set at 3-4. Is this normal for the ash to build up like that? I also have black soot that forms on the glass(see pic) where the air wash gasket is at. I have replaced the gasket but it still happens.
And one more question how does the air flow on the burn pot work? Is it circulated through the air holes in the front?

Thanks

 

[kinsmanstoves]

Where is the stove located in the house? What does the venting consist of (please do not say it goes out and up) list all parts and lengths? Intake air?

Clean your stove, clean your combustion blower blade, clean the venting (yes by running a brush through it), make sure you clean the cap.

Eric

 

[Mr. Spock]

Welcome aboard!
First question. When is that last time you gave the exhaust path of your p61 a thorough cleaning. Combustion fan, esp are included in that path. How about the venting? How many tons have you burned since the last cleaning of mentioned areas? Check that the burn-pot holes are open and free of carbon buildup as well.

Allowing some considerable ash buildup in the burn pot does not make for a lazy flame. The design allows ash to be pushed off when new pellets are feed in. I suspect something else going on here. Providing some information on the cleaning will rule out some of the basic trouble spots.

 

[mik_kane]

Located in a finished basement. Has an OAK, flue (see pic), I clean the blades all the time and cleaned the venting 3 days ago. After every ton the venting gets cleaned. I have burned 3 tons so far, all Greene team.
The flame is not lazy after I clean the ash away.

 

[kinsmanstoves]

what venting is on the outside of the house?

 

[Mr. Spock]

You mentioned the combustion blades. How about the remainder of the exhaust path including the esp? Are all the burn pot holes open and free of carbon? How does that venting terminate outside of the house? How old is your p61? The more specific you can be the better the members here can help.

 

[kinsmanstoves]

Reminder, you do need to scrape the pot and wipe the glass daily.

Eric

 

[mik_kane]

Added the pic of the outside flue, when I brush the fan I run the brush to the exhaust where the ESP is located. I have an old ice pick that I bent to clean the holes in the burn pot. The test date on the stove is March 1998. And I do scrape the carbon from the burn pot. The glass is always cleaned and the burn pot is vacuumed when it is shut down.

 

[Harmanizer]

.The same thing happens with my stove.I think it's normal.I burn mostly Cubex which leave a heavy ash that doesn't get pushed out of the burn pot.I'm going to try burning softwoods next year to see if that helps.Good luck and welcome to the looney bin.And don't forget to apply for membership in the basement dwellers club.

 

[Lousyweather]

a few things of note:

1. that pipe insider certainly looks like Simpson, but outside? dont think so
2. I really dont like the intake pipe sitting out there without a grating.....stuff can get in and restrict airflow
3. Your should be scraping the burnpot once a week or so
4. glass cleaning can vary, but i dont see the deposits on yours as very problematic
5. air is PULLED thru your burnpot by the combustion blower
6. ash doesnt look so bad either

 

[Shaw520]

My first and last experience with Greene Team was very heavy ash.

 

[mik_kane]

It is all Simpson venting
What is wrong with the outside pipe?
There is wire mesh in the air intake so no critters crawl in.

 

[Lousyweather]

It is all Simpson venting
What is wrong with the outside pipe?
There is wire mesh in the air intake so no critters crawl in.

I dunno, but the outside pipe certainly doesnt look like simpson, tho maybe I am wrong.

wire mesh in that intake could restrict your airflow......think grate

 

[Shaw520]

I never liked the idea of a turn down termination,... I would turn up, go 40", then cap. .... my 2 cents

 

[mik_kane]

I did not want a grate against the house because I have too many bugs and spiders looking for a home. In the summer I will wrap everything leading outside with screening.

 

[Hoot23]

Green Teames do the same to my glass. Ash and the color your glass gets will vary with the pellets you use. Try a few different brands and see how your stove reacts. Yours looks normal to me. If it was completely blacked out, then I would worry.

 

[PoolGuyinCT]

I did not want a grate against the house because I have too many bugs and spiders looking for a home. In the summer I will wrap everything leading outside with screening.

Just pick up some 3 or 4" expandable test plugs & your good to go

 

[subsailor]

I don't see anything wrong at all. Many Harman owners scrape the burnpot once ot twice a day. The soot buildup on the glass is exactly the same pattern that it builds up on mine. Now that it's getting warmer and the stove is on and off a lot, it will build up quicker. So all and all. I don't see a problem.

 

[Mr. Spock]

The op stated concerns about the development of a lazy flame. An active flame would have sharp tips, a bright orange body and a blue base. From the pictures I can make out what appears to be a blue base but the second and third pics do appear on the lazy side. Pictures can be deceiving . Video is better.

 

[subsailor]

If that's the case, I suspect the issue might be a worn door gasket. I'm having the same problem right now and I know I need a new gasket. It's hard to tell if his ash is gray or more black than gray. If it's on the black side, I say it's the door gasket.

 

[mik_kane]

If that's the case, I suspect the issue might be a worn door gasket. I'm having the same problem right now and I know I need a new gasket. It's hard to tell if his ash is gray or more black than gray. If it's on the black side, I say it's the door gasket.

The color of the ash depends on the seal of the door? interesting

 

[mik_kane]

The op stated concerns about the development of a lazy flame. An active flame would have sharp tips, a bright orange body and a blue base. From the pictures I can make out what appears to be a blue base but the second and third pics do appear on the lazy side. Pictures can be deceiving . Video is better.

The flame is lazy when the ash builds up, when the ash is cleared away the flame looks normal (active).

 

[mik_kane]

I dunno, but the outside pipe certainly doesnt look like simpson, tho maybe I am wrong.

I bought the stove used and the pipe came with the stove, so I am not sure about the end pipe on the flue.

 

[subsailor]

The color of the ash depends on the seal of the door? interesting

Not necessarily the door seal, but black ash is an indicator of an air leak. The ash should be gray.

 

[mikesj]

Make sure to clean the area behind the exhaust fan. It can be a bit of a pain to pull the fan off, but ash can really build up behind it and restrict airflow. I also get the ash build up. I usually scrape the pot when I fill the stove.