Deep flutter sound from new Harman 52i insert

[ilford]

I have a new Accentra 52i insert and it works great so far as far as throwing heat. The issue is it makes a low rumbling- flutter sound frequently when running. It sounds almost like a delivery truck is idling down the street. I had it professionally installed in an existing masonry fireplace. The rumbling gets much louder when the hopper lid is open. Any idea what is causing this sound and is it normal? Thanks for the input.

 

[altmartion]

how long ago was it installed?

 

[P38X2]

There are countless threads regarding this Harman "signature" sound. Some do it, others don't. Search for "woofing". Is it normal?....that's a tough one depending on how you look at it. There's nothing wrong with your stove. It's more an inherent design issue. IMO, it's related to stove model/vent length/back pressure and a resonance that gets excited in certain situations. My 2012 P38 did it on rare occasions, but the P68 that replaced it hasn't made a sound. Same venting setup.

 

[ilford]

how long ago was it installed?

I had it installed 11/15/13. It's only been less than 2 weeks.

 

[ilford]

There are countless threads regarding this Harman "signature" sound. Some do it, others don't. Search for "woofing". Is it normal?....that's a tough one depending on how you look at it. There's nothing wrong with your stove. It's more an inherent design issue. IMO, it's related to stove model/vent length/back pressure and a resonance that gets excited in certain situations. My 2012 P38 did it on rare occasions, but the P68 that replaced it hasn't made a sound. Same venting setup.[/quote

Thanks. It's been working great so far and was just unsure about the noise. It is less noticible when the glower is franked. House had never been so warm.

 

[Micmann]

Does your flame flutter along with the noise? I've been dealing with this for years and am still working on finding a solution. Trying a few different things this year. I'm adding to this post as I go. https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads...lame-woofing-issue.116554/page-2#post-1568909

 

[ilford]

The flame does flutter along with the noise. You can see a strobe like effect on the flame when it does it. Every thing else works great. I was thinking it was being caused from not having an OAK installed. I only found out about them after my install but reading your post along with others- its doesn't seem to matter.

 

[Phoenix Hatchling]

Had my Accentra installed last year, and it does it as well intermittently. I don't pay it any mind, and consider it normal design. Heats awesomely though!

 

[Lousyweather]

installed in a liner setup, or stub install? As mentioned above, could be resonance, could be draft fluctuations given the mechanics of the vent.....could also be an unseated flame guide....

 

[altmartion]

I would call the installer back. if it is a known issue maybe they can do something about it. but if anything your concern is documented. if you have a concern, always contact the dealer and installer. then they have your history and helps in any legal matters, which hopefully never happen. it helps a lot knowing the history before the tech gets there. speaking from a tech's point of view.

 

[john193]

My xxv also used to do this. It was rare but happened a handful of times each season and the fire had that "strobe" effect. Never worried about it. Usually wouldn't last more than 30 seconds.

As others indicated it is likely just a resonance.

Id keep monitoring it and if it gets worst consider your dealers input. In my experience, it was normal.

 

[fmsm]

My 2011 does it only when using Green Team pellets. I had a new stove installed last week and it has been fine burning Somersets, I got itchy to try the Cleanfire Pacific Softies I purchased and have been burning them in both stoves. I am now getting the intermittent "Harman Huff" on BOTH stoves. When it was doing it on my 2011 there was no OAK installed, there is now on both. Is it possible that this could be pellet related?

 

[Bioburner]

Not pellet related. Stove design.

 

[P38X2]

Who knows at this point. After all, it's the pellets combusting that's causing most of the "action" in a pellet stove.....for lack of a more intelligent way of describing it.

I also noticed my P38 doing it occasionally with NEWP, but NEVER the 2 other brands of pellets I burned primarily while owning that stove. Could've been simply coincidence given the rate of burn, stove condition, outside weather, etc. Maybe I'll throw a bag of ash bombs in my hopper and see if my P68 barks like a dog.

 

[Hoot23]

My 61 also does it, but not all the time. Usually when the outside temps are mild. When it's burning 24/7, no subwoofer sound.

 

[Micmann]

The flame does flutter along with the noise. You can see a strobe like effect on the flame when it does it. Every thing else works great. I was thinking it was being caused from not having an OAK installed. I only found out about them after my install but reading your post along with others- its doesn't seem to matter.

Since it is new I would suggest having the installer come back and see what they can do. Mine does it almost all the time. Some pellets do it worse and some better, but it is always still there. I get good heat but can't help think it is reducing the efficiency and possibly effecting what pellets burn good or bad. Mine began years down the road after installed. I would suggest you not accept it as a new install and get the dealer back, but it's up to you. I would also suggest not accepting that it's "normal". I respect what others have said, but I would have the dealer work with Harman to resolve it if at all possible. If you do find a resolution please post it back as many others have had this issue and may find it helpful.

 

[ilford]

Since it is new I would suggest having the installer come back and see what they can do. Mine does it almost all the time. Some pellets do it worse and some better, but it is always still there. I get good heat but can't help think it is reducing the efficiency and possibly effecting what pellets burn good or bad. Mine began years down the road after installed. I would suggest you not accept it as a new install and get the dealer back, but it's up to you. I would also suggest not accepting that it's "normal". I respect what others have said, but I would have the dealer work with Harman to resolve it if at all possible. If you do find a resolution please post it back as many others have had this issue and may find it helpful.

I will contact the dealer after the holiday and see what their take is. The installer was a sub-contractor through them. All of the mentioned of stove noise discussed is always fan related. The dealer never mentioned "woofing". The stove works beautifully otherwise and throws great heat. I have burned both Maine's Choice and LG Granules with no difference in the woofing sound.

 

[richg]

Howdy:

I had a P61A for a long time and it did the "woofing" thing....while this may have been specific to my stove, the fix for it was to replace the door gasket. While your stove is new, that does not mean that the door gasket was installed 100% air tight. The dollar bill test will be a good indicator.

 

[tjnamtiw]

Do a search on 'rumble', 'flutter', 'woofing', 'freight train' and see how many hundreds of posts there are. What you are hearing is your exhaust piping going into resonance with the heat waves traveling up it. It usually happens with high fire conditions during start up or when a big load of pellets are dropped. Perfectly normal and it happens with Quads too.

 

[Micmann]

Do a search on 'rumble', 'flutter', 'woofing', 'freight train' and see how many hundreds of posts there are. What you are hearing is your exhaust piping going into resonance with the heat waves traveling up it. It usually happens with high fire conditions during start up or when a big load of pellets are dropped. Perfectly normal and it happens with Quads too.

Don't know about the OP, but i don't believe it's normal. I have been searching for years on this issue and have read anything i can find, still no fix. I never had it till a few years ago and nothing changed with my installation. No new exhaust, no new OAK and I have tried many many things to elimiate it. Maybe some stoves do it at certian times, but there are some of us that it happens to constantly. The video below is on a low burn. No high fire and no big load of pellets. If you listen you can even hear the flutter. This is not normal. I'm trying a few different things this year and will update on the thread i mentioned above. I still don't think the OP should accept this as normal, especially if it's constant.

 

[Bioburner]

OK, found some video of pulse jets. Maddoxjets. The sound is familiar but of course on steroids with liquid fuel.

 

[boo boo]

My stove does this also. I found it to be at the end of the feed cycle.

 

[tjnamtiw]

Don't know about the OP, but i don't believe it's normal. I have been searching for years on this issue and have read anything i can find, still no fix. I never had it till a few years ago and nothing changed with my installation. No new exhaust, no new OAK and I have tried many many things to elimiate it. Maybe some stoves do it at certian times, but there are some of us that it happens to constantly. The video below is on a low burn. No high fire and no big load of pellets. If you listen you can even hear the flutter. This is not normal. I'm trying a few different things this year and will update on the thread i mentioned above. I still don't think the OP should accept this as normal, especially if it's constant.]

Can't hear the 'flutter' but my hearing sucks. I sure looks like you have a LOT of combustion air for a low flame though. I'm not familiar with bottom feeders though.

 

[Lousyweather]

just for the heck of it, try pushing your feed adjuster to 5.......any difference?

 

[Lousyweather]

and does it do it more when the hopper is full or empty?