Gel Starting a Pellet Stove?

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MarkF48

MarkF48

Feeling the Heat
Nov 14, 2011
270
Central MA
Chilly day and I figured it was time for first fire of the season and I'd give it a go with gel starter for the first time to see how it would go........Didn't go as well as I thought it would.

The stove is a Harman XXV and I went by the book as described in the XXV user manual (excerpt below). Used Rutland One Match starter gel.

Igniter Switch to "MANUAL " (up position)
Make sure the unit is plugged into a 120 VAC,
60 HZ electrical source. The power light should be
the only light lit.
To avoid unwanted smoke, be sure there is no
fuel in the ash pan prior to lighting.
1. Turn FEED ADJUSTER to desired feed rate.
No. 4 is good for most pellets.4
2. Turn the Mode Selector to “OFF” and
then to the desired mode. This will reset control
and start the combustion motor.
3. Turn the Temperature Dial to the desired
setting.
4. Clean burn pot with scraper if necessary.5
5. Fill burn pot with pellets, only level with front
edge. (Do Not Over Fill).
6. Add starting gel on top of the pellets. Stir gel
into pellets for fast lighting.
7. Light starting gel with a match, and close the
door. Operation will begin when the fire reaches
the proper temperature.3
8. Fill hopper with pellets and remove ashes
as required.1, 6

Dribbled about a tablespoon or more of gel over pellets in burn pot stirred the pellets a bit, and lit it. Nice blue flame on top, but wasn't getting down into the pellets. With combustion fan running it "fanned" the flame and threw a few sparks, but the flame didn't want to seem to burn down into the pellets below and the combustion fan appeared to make it worse. Added a bit more gel on top, but didn't seem to help. A hit with the propane torch wasn't much better. The torch scorched the pellets, but no joy of flames. I rather thought pellets might ignite easier.
Out of frustration just to get stove going I put the stove to AUTO, used the ignitor, and it started no problem in a few minutes as usual.

Any ideas or hints that might help getting the stove going in manual with gel or what kind of problem I was having?
 
I suspect hes just practicing just in case his igniter goes kablooie.
 
You need way more than a tablespoon of the gel and when using a propane torch it's takes about 45 seconds of moving it back and forth to get things going enough to close the door. Use your igniter, that's what it's there for.
 
TonyVideo said:
Why not use the electric auto ignitor?
Click to expand...
IIRC from last year he subscribes to the theory of don't use the igniter unless necessary.....
 
I use Isopropyl Alcohol, fill the burn pot 3/4 of the way put the last 1/4 in a container and add the alcohol mix it up for 30 seconds then pour it into the burn pot. works every time.
.
 
I walk over to the wall and push the button marked on/off. 5 - 10 minutes later, fire magically appears.
 
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Kinda did it like this from the gel starter bottle, plus stirred the top pellets as the Harman book suggested......

One Match® Gelled Fire Starter
Application:
Pellet Stoves: Be sure no heat or flames are present.
Open flip-top cap and squeeze approximately one
(1) tablespoon of One Match gel into burn pot. Add
a small handful of pellets on top of gel. Add another
1/2 tablespoon of gel on top of pellets. Close the
container and place away from stove. Just touch a
match to the gel to light. Wait until pellets are
burning well then turn on the pellet feed.

Why not use the ignitor?......
http://www.wbur.org/2014/09/24/boston-electricity-rates-rise

Trying to reduce electric use. Anticipate my normal electric bill of about $130/mo will be up to about $200 or more. The ignitor is about 300w and maybe while not a lot it adds up.

Yup, I want to be able top start the stove if the ignitor should go kablooie

IIRC from last year he subscribes to the theory of don't use the igniter unless necessary.....
Click to expand...
Don't recall stating that(?)

Summary: Simply looking for an alternative reliable means to start the stove, either if possible to minimize electric use or ignitor fail. If not as easy as it seems it should be, I have no problem using the ignitor.

Will likely try hand sanitizer when the jug of gel is gone. Just surprised at the difficulty igniting pellets with the gel.
 
Your ignitor use in the big picture will amount to pennies......
Once you figure out the right combo of gel vs pellets you'll be fine.
A propane torch is much easier.....
 
I've used a map gas torch many times at work we had Harman pellet furnace and igniter went out.

All I've ever done was throw a handful of pellets on your burn pot and run the torch over them back and fourth real good for 45 secs to min, get them cooking and shut the door and walla
 
I have had the igniter go out several times and have done it with gel and with a torch. The key is to not turn the stove on, put a handful of pellets in the burn pot, add and light the starter or torch the pellets, get a good flame going, crack the door a little and let it burn. When you think it has burned enough let it burn some more, then close the door and turn on your stove. At least this is the way to manually light my Whitfield.
 
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MarkF48 said:
Trying to reduce electric use.... The ignitor is about 300w and maybe while not a lot it adds up.
Click to expand...

Actually, it's probably tons cheaper than the gel....
If your igniter stays on for 8 minutes, and your cost is $0.18KWH, that is less than 1 cent.
I doubt you could ever start your stove with a penny's worth of gel...

Dan
 
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After trying a bunch of methods, I find this one to work perfectly and consistently consistently: I stole a plastic cap off a detergent bottle, not the giant ones. I fill the cap with pellets, pour in a small amount of 91% isopropyl rubbing alcohol (they sell it at target). Let it soak for 20 seconds and dump that into the burn pot, with the stove on. Lite it with a bbq lighter and close the door, after about a minute I turn the auger on. Of course common sense must be used when using a flammable liquid.
 
stmar said:
I have had the igniter go out several times and have done it with gel and with a torch. The key is to not turn the stove on, put a handful of pellets in the burn pot, add and light the starter or torch the pellets, get a good flame going, crack the door a little and let it burn. When you think it has burned enough let it burn some more, then close the door and turn on your stove. At least this is the way to manually light my Whitfield.
Click to expand...
Yep - exactly the same for mine.
 
The 91% isopropyl rubbing alcohol method works great, takes seconds and the door only stays open as long as it takes you to press the button on the BBQ liter. I can usually turn the auger on in less than 30 seconds.
 
Thanks to those of you that gave useful suggestions pertaining to my original question:). Got the stove going this morning with just the gel. The Harman instructions stated to only put the gel on top of the pellets, where the gel starter instructions stated put a tablespoon in the burn pot and then some on top of the pellets. I think having the gel under the pellets helped as the gel would burn up through the pellets, rather than just on top. Leaving the door open as a few suggested until the pellets got going helped quite a bit also. I'll be using the ignitor for most starts, but at least I now have an alternate way to get fire if the ignitor goes "kablooie". Probably give the torch a try again in the next week.
 
Put pellets in burn pot, add gel starter, mix it, add more gel, light it, leave door open a crack until lit. Or gel and torch, or just torch works well... Just be sure you don't add gel starter, close the door and reopen and light it , you'll get a flash..
 
I just tried the isopropyl alcohol thing to light my pellet stove for the first time. Worked great.
1.jpg
 
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When you try the torch method just make sure you get it really burning, that is the key when the igniter goes out and you need to do it the old fashioned way. After you torch it keep the door cracked a bit for a minute, you will be able to tell when it is ready to start.
 
IMAG1158.jpg IMAG1161.jpg IMAG1163.jpg IMAG1165.jpg
Alcohol method. Fill cup with pellets, pour in small amount of alcohol, let soak 30 seconds, dump in pot, light, close door immediately. After 30 seconds to one min turn auger on.
 
PS, I know I need new fire bricks. I'm just being cheap. Haha
 
It only took me one match last night. I even had the cheap rubbing alcohol too, only 70%.
 
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I got that large bottle from target for just over 2 bucks. It'll last memonths too!
 
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