Pellet Stove Stinkin!

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
Status
Not open for further replies.

Bucktail

Member
Jan 14, 2009
42
Maryland
Hey Everyone, As the post reads, my pellet stove stinks while burning.

The reason it smells is because last spring I sprayed Pam on the inside of it, and now, it just has a continous burnt PAM smell that doesn't seem to burn off. I have been using the stove a few weeks on a off, sometime for like 8 hours a day.

I was thinking of something like Febreze', but wasn't sure if that was really safe.

Anyone have any suggestions for something I might be able to spray or do to offset the odor?

The stove is Quadra-Fire Castille model.

Pellet stove has been running great by the way.

Thanks!
 
If you sprayed Pam on the inside of the firebox which is where it should have been used there should never be a smell from it.

Now exactly where did you spray with that Pam?
 
If you sprayed Pam on the inside of the firebox which is where it should have been used there should never be a smell from it.

Now exactly where did you spray with that Pam?

Along the walls of the firebox, and also sprayed some up on the heat diffuser bars at the top of the firebox. I also sprayed some on the combustion fan because it was getting rusty as well.

The heat diffuser bars are actuall above a stainless baffle inside the firebox. I have been thinking that maybe that area just isn't getting hot enough to burn it off?
 
Still there should be no stink coming from that, that area should not be open to the outside.

Further Pam in that area would vaporize upon first fire and exit the venting.

Now if you got it on any exterior portions of the stove or inside the shell but outside of the firebox it would act like it does in a frying pan.
 
Along the walls of the firebox, and also sprayed some up on the heat diffuser bars at the top of the firebox. I also sprayed some on the combustion fan because it was getting rusty as well.

The heat diffuser bars are actuall above a stainless baffle inside the firebox. I have been thinking that maybe that area just isn't getting hot enough to burn it off?


WHY? Tell me what page in your owners manual that is tell you to spray PAM on it? Please let me know.

Eric
 
If you still smell the Pam, I suggest you check your exhaust system connections inside the house.....that's the only place ANY smells can come from.
 
Every year, there is dust to be burnt off and any other foreign material.

Put it on a High burn for a couple hours and it should go away.

My woodstove and pellet furnace are the same way. Little stinky.on first fire.
 
Ive seen it recommended in many threads on here to prevent rust, others have recommended silica desiccant or damprid also not in the manual.


If it is on the internet it must be true, BONJOUR!
 
Along the walls of the firebox, and also sprayed some up on the heat diffuser bars at the top of the firebox. I also sprayed some on the combustion fan because it was getting rusty as well.

The heat diffuser bars are actuall above a stainless baffle inside the firebox. I have been thinking that maybe that area just isn't getting hot enough to burn it off?
If you sprayed more than a trivial amount onto the heat exchanger tubes, it's possible that the Pam oil ran down the tubes and collected at the bottom end of the tubes enough to drip into the convection blower. The ends of those tubes are not sealed...
 
If you sprayed more than a trivial amount onto the heat exchanger tubes, it's possible that the Pam oil ran down the tubes and collected at the bottom end of the tubes enough to drip into the convection blower. The ends of those tubes are not sealed...

They are on my Quad.. Sealed with High Temp Silicone. If they were not, then there is the possibility of a leak. Either degrading the burn or pushing CO into the living space.
 
They are on my Quad.. Sealed with High Temp Silicone. If they were not, then there is the possibility of a leak. Either degrading the burn or pushing CO into the living space.

The opening is far less than the air-wash above the glass. Besides, they seem to seal tight when it's running (thermal expansion, I assume).
 
I would not spray my stove with anything other than Stove Bright paint.

Eric
 
  • Like
Reactions: jjs777_fzr
Dexter, I see you "Liked" this post Isnt pam, graphite, and damprid things you have recommended in the past? ,

I "liked" it because of the Bonjour. Have you seen the commercial? Funny as Chit.

As for Pam. Yes. I have recommended it. Never said I didnt.

I personally paint my fireboxs every year now and add Damp rid. Not everyone is as OCD as me. So a light coat of Pam will prevent rust (read: light). Nothing wrong with doing so. Lots of members do it and have no ill effects.

Again I think the stove just hasn't burned hot enough. Every new "high temp" reached, the smell will likely return. Turn it up and let it cook.

My 2 cents. (Pic of my quad over summer. Note the black firebox/ Stove Brite)

Goldgrill.jpg
 
Ive seen it recommended in many threads on here to prevent rust, others have recommended silica desiccant or damprid also not in the manual.
This is not a bad idea to do in the spring when you are done for the season. It will help prevent oxidization and rust over the humid days of summer. But to do this and then immediately start burning? Well, you see...
Not the end of the world once the smell goes away.
 
I did a light spray earlier this year, and added damp rid. No rust, and the first fire had no ill effects. I think as long as you go super light, it will not hurt anything and help protect the metal. Althought Im not going against your judgement eric as you do this for a living.
 
Hey Everyone, As the post reads, my pellet stove stinks while burning.

The reason it smells is because last spring I sprayed Pam on the inside of it, and now, it just has a continous burnt PAM smell that doesn't seem to burn off. I have been using the stove a few weeks on a off, sometime for like 8 hours a day.

I was thinking of something like Febreze', but wasn't sure if that was really safe.

Anyone have any suggestions for something I might be able to spray or do to offset the odor?

The stove is Quadra-Fire Castille model.

Pellet stove has been running great by the way.

Thanks!

Hey Everyone, As the post reads, my pellet stove stinks while burning.

The reason it smells is because last spring I sprayed Pam on the inside of it, and now, it just has a continous burnt PAM smell that doesn't seem to burn off. I have been using the stove a few weeks on a off, sometime for like 8 hours a day.

I was thinking of something like Febreze', but wasn't sure if that was really safe.

Anyone have any suggestions for something I might be able to spray or do to offset the odor?

The stove is Quadra-Fire Castille model.

Pellet stove has been running great by the way.

Thanks!
lesson learned............some suggestions on here should only be taken with a grain of salt. spraying pam on the inside of a stove and using your ash to clean the door glass etc. are some of those.
 
whats wrong with using the ash to clean the door glass?
Well it just makes better sense to use ceramic stove top cleaner than go digging for ash inside the stove and potentially stir it up in the air or drop ash all over place....making a mess. Ceramic cleaner works well and a container of it will last a few years if not longer.
 
Iv used different cleaners and they always stink and make my eyes burn. They never worked nearly as good as a damp spunge dipped into the ash. Having a child in the house id rather have a few flakes of ash on the floor then drips of over spray from those nasty chemical sprays. ;)
 
Ceramic stove top cleaner is not a spray and works very well. It does have a slight odor but i'd rather smell that than get fine ash in my lungs.:p
 
Status
Not open for further replies.