Harman P35i - Dirty Glass

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MikeT181

New Member
Feb 10, 2012
3
Southern New Hampshire
I have a Harman P35i and I was wondering if there are any other owners out there who think the glass gets dirty very quickly. I clean the glass thoroughly with Rutland Glass cleaner and within 24 hours there are "burn marks" on the glass extending up from the air wash holes and there is an ash build up that starts at the top of the glass. After several days the ash build up becomes so heavy that you cannot see through the glass. Does any one else have this problem? I am using Cleanfire hardwood pellets (less than .5% ash).

I have seen a picture from "Fire Honor Society" on this web site whose unit looks similar to kine after a day but it gets worse as time goes on? Is this normal for this unit.

THANKS!!
 
I have the same issue. I vacuum my glass every day for about 3-4 days after a good cleaning then just clean it with Rutland glass cleaner/polish and start the cycle all over again. I use a brush attachment on my vac and do not shut down for the "quickie" clean.
 
How many tons have you put thru the unit?
Sounds like you may need to clear out the air wash.
My P43 is on it's 4th season (12 tons burned) & it's the only
heat source my daughter has. The glass really started to
get almost BLACK very quickly after cleaning & once I brushed,
poked & vacuumed the airwash, the problem abated. Most of
the pellets thru this have been Cleanfire Hardwoods, as well...
 
yea, check the airwash, some deposits also depend on the rate of burn....slower the rate, generally the more deposits. The pellet also has a bearing, some seem to leave more deposits on the glass. Also check the air intake damper and the pathways of air INTO the stove.......you might have an obstruction...have you removed the left and right baffle for cleaning lately?
 
It has been this way on my stove since day one. I burn mainly Barefoot pellets but have tried other "super premium" pellets as well with the same results.
 
if the pic in your margin is actually your stove, the deposits on the glass arent out of the ordinary burning at a mid-low rate......
 
Lousyweather said:
if the pic in your margin is actually your stove, the deposits on the glass arent out of the ordinary burning at a mid-low rate......
Click to expand...

You are correct, the pic is after a couple hours. The top of the glass starts getting an accumulation of ash after 3-4 hours that becomes rather thick. After 24 hours you can't see through it. Part of my problem is the stove burns too damn good! It does not need to burn hot enough with the mild winter we have been having.
 
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so, am I to understand that, as you said, after 24 hours you cannot see thru the glass at all? If so, youve got an issue of some sort. Barefoots are a very good pellet, so its likely not that. Was there a draft test done upon install (cant stress enough the importance of this!)? If so, if another reading were taken, you could compare the two. Its important to have a draft reading upon install, so later one can diagnose possible mechanical or cleaning issues.
 
Lousyweather said:
so, am I to understand that, as you said, after 24 hours you cannot see thru the glass at all? If so, youve got an issue of some sort. Barefoots are a very good pellet, so its likely not that. Was there a draft test done upon install (cant stress enough the importance of this!)? If so, if another reading were taken, you could compare the two. Its important to have a draft reading upon install, so later one can diagnose possible mechanical or cleaning issues.
Click to expand...

That's correct, but it is not dirty from soot, it is dirty from built up ash. A 2 second vac with a brucs and I am back to clear.
 
Here is a picture of my Harman P35i insert showing the "burn marks" above the air wash holes and the amount of ash build up after two days. I thoroughly cleaned the glass two days ago with Rutland glass cleaner and this is what it presently looks like. It gets worse and after five days or so you cannot see inside. Someone mentioned if there was a draft test conducted during installation......there was not and the dealer told me it was not needed that this was done at the factory. My pellet insert is new....it was just installed. Any comments about the glass door? THANKS!!!


 

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MikeT181 said:
Here is a picture of my Harman P35i insert showing the "burn marks" above the air wash holes and the amount of ash build up after two days. I thoroughly cleaned the glass two days ago with Rutland glass cleaner and this is what it presently looks like. It gets worse and after five days or so you cannot see inside. Someone mentioned if there was a draft test conducted during installation......there was not and the dealer told me it was not needed that this was done at the factory. My pellet insert is new....it was just installed. Any comments about the glass door? THANKS!!!
Click to expand...
I had the same problem, and at least in my case, I figured it out. Above the burn pot are two removable plates. One on the burn pot itself, and another above it called a flame guide extension. The extension can be positioned forward, or back against the rear wall. Mine was forward, and I always left it that way because that's how the installer left it. PUSH THE FLAME EXTENSION GUIDE BACK AGAINST THE WALL, AWAY FROM THE GLASS. Once I did so I noticed the ash blew up instead of forward!
 
FrankCT said:
I had the same problem, and at least in my case, I figured it out. Above the burn pot are two removable plates. One on the burn pot itself, and another above it called a flame guide extension. The extension can be positioned forward, or back against the rear wall. Mine was forward, and I always left it that way because that's how the installer left it. PUSH THE FLAME EXTENSION GUIDE BACK AGAINST THE WALL, AWAY FROM THE GLASS. Once I did so I noticed the ash blew up instead of forward!
Click to expand...

hello, new to the site. just picked up a new insert, its working great. i was wondering would you guys happen to know if the accentra 55i has a similar style extension guide that can be adjusted? im also getting dirty glass. nothing as excessive as in the photos but do have build up around the perimeter of the glass after 1 bag of fuel. or is this common? thaks in advance
 
Mine does the same thing I clean it with a wet paper towel on my 7 day cleaning with it off and the glass not hot.
 
brown/grey ash buildup on glass is a perfectly normal thing for all stoves.

It's a known occurrence with the P35i and have just learned to live with it. Ill typically clean it every time I dump the ash pan, which is every 2 weeks or so.
 
CBL said:
brown/grey ash buildup on glass is a perfectly normal thing for all stoves.

It's a known occurrence with the P35i and have just learned to live with it. Ill typically clean it every time I dump the ash pan, which is every 2 weeks or so.
Click to expand...

Just wanted to post a quick update. My flame extension guide kept working its way back forward every day. For weeks I just lived with it. Today I tried looking for videos that show it, and couldn't find any. I started looking at the install section of the manual, and found that my extension plate was backwards! (Top edge pointing to ward the glass.) I flipped it around, and that seems to have made a much better fit. My installer screwed up when they set it up, and stupid me, I trusted them and never looked in the book. Make sure the plate curves up, not toward the front door. Hopefully, not everyone is as dumb as my Harman installer and I!
 
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