My insert is blowing ash...I think?

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Stax

Stax

Minister of Fire
Dec 22, 2010
941
Southeastern PA
So last nite I removed my faceplate to see how she would burn without the friction that my faceplate creates on my air control knob. There were small accumulations of particles (looked like really fine ash) lying around where the blower air exits. Before starting a fire I used the shop vac to clean it all up. Ran a load past nite with faceplate off and discovered the following.

More fine ash in same area (small amounts) and stove ran hotter than usual because I think with faceplate off, more air was being permitted to pass thru primary. Do u think it's ash? If so, what can I do to remedie this?
 
You are talking about the top of the stove? Could it be that it is pulling dust from under the stove and blowing it up top? Just a thought.
 
Not sure Katt, good suggestion. I just took a pic. Will post later. Question for ya...is ur air control knob compromised by ur faceplate? Mine rubs a whole lot.
 
I run a room air filter in the house to filter out some of the dust/ash/cat dander floating around. Now sure how much is ash, but it seems to do a good job, lots of stuff in there when i clean it.
 
Mine will rub but I can hold it so it does not rub. Your post made me curious so i looked at mine and have a little ash/dust behind the grate at the top. I know that the blowers have pulled dust and ash from reloads under the unit and every once in a while i will see some blow out especially on high.
 
I don't have a Lopi, but our blower will suck in random ash that gets loose during reloads and what-not and distribute it wherever. I can imaging that during this process, the ash also gets broken down very fine, like household dust. I put a trimmed piece of charcoal filter that I bought and placed it over the blower inlet, it works well to stop the blower from sucking in the bits of ash that get loose. That may not be practical for you, I don't know.
 
I think it's the nature of the beast...I was told by a chimney sweep that inserts that have fans do tend to blow ash.
The air purifier is probably a good idea, I just do alot of dusting throughout the year, and having 4 cats & 2 dogs helps add on
more dust.
 
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