INSTALLER DIDNT DRAFT CHECK MY PELLET STOVE, SHOULD I WORRY?

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Kansasairbuspilot

Kansasairbuspilot

New Member
Sep 5, 2007
14
Wichita, Kansas
Hi guys and girls,

I had a brand new harman accentra pellet insert installed last year by my local shop. While they are nice folks, I am concerned about the fact that they didnt perform a draft check on my unit.

It states BLUNTLY in the manual that the first step is to do a draft check, but the gentleman that installed my unit told me straight out that he does not own the tool used for checking the draft on my stove and that "it should be good" ~~

I am concerned that my unit is not putting out the amount of heat that it could, even with 9200btu pellets.... I am having trouble heating a 700sqft highly insulated open room

Should I contact Harman? Does anyone know the number where I could get ahold of a real person?

I appreciate any feedback y'all have

BigMike
 
As for safety you are in no danger if the draft test was not preformed. Stove performance a draft test will tune it in as needed
Every home has a different current supplied by an electrical outlet the stove needs to be adjusted to refine that difference a draft test is used to fine tune your stove

what can suffer is effeciency
 
Kansasairbuspilot said:
Hi guys and girls,

I had a brand new harman accentra pellet insert installed last year by my local shop. While they are nice folks, I am concerned about the fact that they didnt perform a draft check on my unit.

It states BLUNTLY in the manual that the first step is to do a draft check, but the gentleman that installed my unit told me straight out that he does not own the tool used for checking the draft on my stove and that "it should be good" ~~

I am concerned that my unit is not putting out the amount of heat that it could, even with 9200btu pellets.... I am having trouble heating a 700sqft highly insulated open room

Should I contact Harman? Does anyone know the number where I could get ahold of a real person?

I appreciate any feedback y'all have

BigMike
Click to expand...

Contacting Harman has been problematic in the past - it is one of the major complaints about the company that I've seen. They are of the opinion that ALL support should go through the local selling dealer, and pretty much won't talk to retail customers - even when there are issues with the dealer....

My understanding is that the meter is overly expensive for homeowner purchase, but I have seen some discussion of how to "guess and golly" tune it w/o the meter, but didn't pay much attention since I don't do pellets... You might find it if you search.

Gooserider


Gooserider
 
Gooserider said:
Kansasairbuspilot said:
Hi guys and girls,

I had a brand new harman accentra pellet insert installed last year by my local shop. While they are nice folks, I am concerned about the fact that they didnt perform a draft check on my unit.

It states BLUNTLY in the manual that the first step is to do a draft check, but the gentleman that installed my unit told me straight out that he does not own the tool used for checking the draft on my stove and that "it should be good" ~~
The Draft test I thought we covered in the other thread..... :) Most installs need minimal tweaking to the comb blower voltage..
1st yes the line voltage to the stove is part of the equation but also if you have a couple of 90* in the pipe you can run the RPM up to help keep the draft in a good range..

I am concerned that my unit is not putting out the amount of heat that it could, even with 9200btu pellets.... I am having trouble heating a 700sqft highly insulated open room
We need more info here.. I doubt it is draft related...
What is the temp near the stove?
What is the temp in the corners of the room?
What is your stove controls setup like?
Do you run it all day or just turn it on at night?
Where is your room temp probe?
Cleaning frequency and procedure?
There's millions of scenarios..
Should I contact Harman? Does anyone know the number where I could get ahold of a real person?

I appreciate any feedback y'all have

BigMike
Click to expand...

Contacting Harman has been problematic in the past - it is one of the major complaints about the company that I've seen. They are of the opinion that ALL support should go through the local selling dealer, and pretty much won't talk to retail customers - even when there are issues with the dealer....
Again on this subject Goose....... give it a rest...
Does Ford or GM want you to contact a dealer.......YES
If you buy a car from a dealer on the west side of town do you think the dealer on the east side of town is gonna put you on a priority list to get you in for service... NO
(I hate to do this but)
VC, can you call the factory and get help on your stove? NO..... You come here right???? It's the same with the rest of us..
If you buy a Fluke meter from Grainger and it is defective do you call Fluke or Grainger....?
It's all relative...
Do I wish I could call the Engineers and tell them things (improvements) about my stove..... YEP
Do I care If the Manufacturer won't take My calls.......NOPE

My understanding is that the meter is overly expensive for homeowner purchase, but I have seen some discussion of how to "guess and golly" tune it w/o the meter, but didn't pay much attention since I don't do pellets... You might find it if you search.
The meter can be bought for about 60 bucks, if you want one...

Gooserider
Click to expand...
 
GVA hate to tell you this but VC does have a 1-800 consumer assistance hot line. The only manufactures I know that does besides Englander

But I agree. Goose give it a break. This is not the first time you have dumped this garbage line on Harman.
Harman defers all warranty work threw its dealership same with Jotul and almost every stove manufacturer.

They set up special training sessions issue service memos to address situations

This is not a standard warranty issue but a standard installation problem not understood by the selling dealer

Harmon is not running out there to place a magnaholic on this fellow's stove. One would think the dealer is intelligent enough to know what is required to make a proper installation and fine tune the stove
 
Uhhh, isn't a pellet stove a forced draft?
 
Thanks for the clarification Elk.
Warren yes it's a forced draft but add several 90s bends and turns and you have problems.... Some can be overcome by adding speed to the combustion blower
 
Good God! I didnt know I was gonna cause a flap!

I will say this though, yes, you can get ahold of National if your car (dodge anyways) get dorked up by the dealer, and you get no results from them......

Any company worth their salt has a national 1-800 service number......
 
Mike Wilson said:
Rarely do you see a group of people so anxious to jump on each others' asses... funny dynamic that.

-- Mike
Click to expand...
Sometimes I just wish we were all in the same room........... :)
Nah nevermind.........Wouldn't be pretty......................
 
Kansasairbuspilot said:
Good God! I didnt know I was gonna cause a flap!

I will say this though, yes, you can get ahold of National if your car (dodge anyways) get dorked up by the dealer, and you get no results from them......

Any company worth their salt has a national 1-800 service number......
Click to expand...
Sorry maybe they should change it but most of those tech support lines or 1-800 #s will tie you up in voice-mail he(( and don't help people much... and many (after you finally talk to a human) will tell you to contact your local dealer.......
Many of us know that those service lines do not work (except Englands) so far as I've seen......... there were recent threads of stoves falling apart and the stove owners had to rely on thier dealers for support and warranty assistance and even they were marginal... And this co had a 1-800 #.....
Anyway KABP what do you want from the forum?
Do you want us to say that Harman or the dealer is the reason for your room not being warm? or do you want to see why your not getting the heat you expected from the stove....
It's up to you to answer the questions........
The Bashing should be left to the Ash Can..........Just wish Goose would realize this and not start every HARMAN post with the same line.............. I'm not even a dealer Just tired of the Crap that is spewed here and there......
 
GVA said:
Kansasairbuspilot said:
Good God! I didnt know I was gonna cause a flap!

I will say this though, yes, you can get ahold of National if your car (dodge anyways) get dorked up by the dealer, and you get no results from them......

Any company worth their salt has a national 1-800 service number......
Click to expand...
Sorry maybe they should change it but most of those tech support lines or 1-800 #s will tie you up in voice-mail he(( and don't help people much... and many (after you finally talk to a human) will tell you to contact your local dealer.......
Many of us know that those service lines do not work (except Englands) so far as I've seen......... there were recent threads of stoves falling apart and the stove owners had to rely on thier dealers for support and warranty assistance and even they were marginal... And this co had a 1-800 #.....
Anyway KABP what do you want from the forum?
Do you want us to say that Harman or the dealer is the reason for your room not being warm? or do you want to see why your not getting the heat you expected from the stove....
It's up to you to answer the questions........
The Bashing should be left to the Ash Can..........Just wish Goose would realize this and not start every HARMAN post with the same line.............. I'm not even a dealer Just tired of the Crap that is spewed here and there......
Click to expand...

What do I want from the forum? I want to know what eveyone wants to know at a fireplace forum ..."where is jimmy hoffa buried!"

I wanted to know if I needed to be concerned about my draft on my stove.... I listed the reasons why I had concerns, and came to the forum for answers.....

If you are saying I need to answer my own questions, then I guess I am confused..... Or maybe I was married to you once... I had a woman that used to think like that! :p
 
Im not gonna argue with you guys.......

First of all, all the pellet stove manuals from Harman REQUIRE that the draft be tested....not SUGGEST it be tested. Especially on an insert! What dealer doesnt own a magnahelic to do so? As GVA says, its abt 60 bucks? Geez....thats not even a fillup of my gas tank. Tell me why a "dealer" doesnt have one of these? Do they do service work? Its indispensable for diagnostic reasons. I can think of NO good reason not to test draft...none whatsoever. Is the fact that the draft wasnt tested gonna kill you? I dont think so. But you did pay for installation, and the manual clearly states that draft must be tested, so, I think you should call your "dealer" and demand a test be done.
 
Sorry Kansas... I'm in the middle of stuff don't take it personal...
What I was trying to say...... was in the other thread we answered most of these questions (I thought)
Anyway.....
Should it be tested ...YES
Will it cause your room not to heat up....UNLIKELY
Is it dangerous....NO
can your stove malfunction and shutdown with error codes......YES
The dealer should be there right now checking the stove... He should also be purchasing the diagnostic tools to check the stoves.
So now back to the questionaire........ This may help HB and others locate possible problems with your stove /install on the forum, as far as the heat output.
 
Mike Wilson said:
If you would like, I can reincarnate my "Dealers are the weakest link in the hearth industry chain" thread... always good for about 4 pages of arguments.

-- Mike
Click to expand...

yea, thats always good for a laugh or two....by the way, Mike.....what is it you do for a living?
 
HarryBack said:
Mike Wilson said:
If you would like, I can reincarnate my "Dealers are the weakest link in the hearth industry chain" thread... always good for about 4 pages of arguments.

-- Mike
Click to expand...

yea, thats always good for a laugh or two....by the way, Mike.....what is it you do for a living?
Click to expand...

I run a very small portion of the world from the secret lair in my little realm. And I do it quite successfully.

-- Mike
 
You guys crack me up.....

I thought the debunked that hoffa myth on mythbusters!

Sounds like I am going to have to find a person with that Magnahelic, as warming trends does not have one, and he is convinced that he doesnt need one.....

Oh Well, Thanks to everyone.....
 
As a thought, you might check w/ anyone you know that does service work on oil burners or other furnaces - my understanding is that at least some of them have to use a draft meter, and may have the instrument you need, though they might not know how to make any needed adjustments (does the manual say?)

Gooserider
 
Gooserider said:
As a thought, you might check w/ anyone you know that does service work on oil burners or other furnaces - my understanding is that at least some of them have to use a draft meter, and may have the instrument you need, though they might not know how to make any needed adjustments (does the manual say?)

Gooserider
Click to expand...

it does, goose.
 
I would say everybody around here has been eatin grumpy pills. On the other side of things what good does a meter tell you for draft in a powervented product? Unless its vastly different than my unit there is feed speed and blower speed and you just set it so it doesn't burn out faster than the fuel feed drops it in. The only draft I worried about with mine is natural draft if the stove shuts off to keep smoke out of the room. Thats easy to check, just pull out the plug and watch. Sometimes it amazes me how everyone has lost the ability to set things up without relying on some sort of gadget. Now, Lets Get Back To The Fight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
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