Quad CB 1200 insert burning too many pellets

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shoost

New Member
Nov 20, 2012
2
Hello...New to this forum. New too pellet stove ownership.
Rrecently purchased Quad CB 1200 insert. Installed 4 weeks ago, no OAK, masonry fireplace. did rig an OAK through an adjacent window to see if this would improve performance, it did not seem to. I am burning 2- 1/2 to 3 bags of pellets a day on low setting, also disappointed in heat output. 2000 sf house below average insulation.
To say I'm very disapoined in my decision to go pellet is an understatement.
Does anyone have a suggestion?

Thanks
 
Running 24/7 this unit shouldn't burn more than 2 bags a day on Low.

I ran mine /still run mine 24/7 at times (t-stat mostly now though), and Never ran through more than 2 bags a day. EVER. I have over 2,000 (Ranch) sq ft. Thats keeping the house 72°-76° depending on how cold it is outside. The colder it gets, the warmer I like it :)

On Low, this unit burns between 3-4 lbs an hour (my observations). Even in the middle at 3.5 lbs an hour thats 84 lbs in 24 hrs. Or 2 bags.

Where are you located? What are outside temps? Do you have block-off plates installed in the top and bottom of chimney?
Is the stove centrally located? Is this a 2 story 2,000 sq ft? Or Ranch? Many other variables that go into heating, but this will get us started. I suspect no block-off? And your sucking cold air? If the OAK (special kit) isn't really hooked up the way it should be, then your convection blower is grabbing that air and throwing it through your exchange tubes, lower air temps :(

Just a guess though
 
I have a Quad Castile insert in my fireplace, a small 3 bdrm brick ranch, about 1400 sq ft.. I set my feed rod all the way in, and it never burns over 1 and 1/2 in 24 hours, I probably could push the feed rod in a little tighter and run 1 and 1/3 bag in a 24 hour period... Try moving your feed rod in a bit it cuts down on the amound of pellets going in. A pellet stove is basically a space heater, and you arent going to heat 2000 sq ft much in real cold weather. My stove excels and performs at it's best when the outside temps are anywhere from 50 deg F, down to 20 degrees... Below 20 degrees I turn the furnace on because the far end of the house is really cold... only about 60 at best at the far end but living room and kitchen areas are comfortable at 72 . On 40 degree days I have to shut it off after a few hours or the living room gets up to 80 even with ceiling fans in most of the rooms. So my heat output is very good and I'm using Country Boy hardwood premium pellets which seem to burn very hot..... I dont use an OAK... I made a custom aluminum block plate for the damper area when mine was installed, it's a perfect tight fit with insulation on the back side so zero drafts and no cold air comes in it's sealed and cauled tight. You might be losing heat if your flue area isnt tightly sealed on your fireplace....
 
Thanks, everyone. House is 2 story, average temps since installing is 45-50 during the day and 25-30 at night. Not certain what you mean by a Block-off?

Lowered the feed rod a 1/2 inch or so, flame was so small very little heat was produced and flame exstinquished.

Thanks
 
A block off plate is a plate that goes in the chimney, normally below or at the Lintel. Its a plate that closes and.blocks the warm air from going up the chimney, or cold air from coming down.

If the OAK isnt hooked up to the stove, I would remove it. As its being sucked into the.convection air and lowering your air temps.

Also, if you lower the feed gate, you lower feed. Which lowers temps

Have you adjusted the flame per the manual? On High?
 
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