Englander 25-pdvc not burning like it used too.

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Athair

New Member
Jan 9, 2015
16
New Hampshire
My stove is in my basement, now before you all go on about how basement installation is complicated and tricky and doesn't always work with all the variables in play, I KNOW :) but it has worked heating the basement all year last year and up till recently this year.
Now let me get to what caused the initial problem. One of the hopper latches came loose and fell into the hopper ( yup ouch ) needless to say augers don't like large piece's of metal in them. So I emptied the hopper, pulled motor to loosen the auger, took out the piece of latch, put it all back together again, TA-DA !?!?
Yeah NO !
Now the burn pot doesn't fill up as much as it did before this happened and it doesn't burn nearly as hot as it was.
I spend money >:| now me has brand new motor and gear box for the top auger. Me takes everything out, cleans it up real pretty like. new gasket on the top auger. EVERYTHING SUPER CLEAN.
The machine is still running like it did AFTER the latch fell into the hopper.

I cant figure out why the burn pot isn't filling up the way it used too. My "3 little buttons" are set at 6.3.1
 
Remove all the pellets from the hopper and make sure the restrictor plate is 50% or more open.
 
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If the stove is still not feeding pellets you will need to pull both auger shafts out and make sure there is no blockage in the tubes.

Also, the length of the pellets will play a factor on the amount of fuel fed into the burn pot, longer pellets = less fuel.
 
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or the plate at the bottom of the hopper? the plate at the bottom of the hopper is full open as much as it will allow

This is the plate.

Long pellets will also cause a bridge effect, and lead to less / no fuel being fed to the burn pot.
 
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If the stove is still not feeding pellets you will need to pull both auger shafts out and make sure there is no blockage in the tubes.

Also, the length of the pellets will play a factor on the amount of fuel fed into the burn pot, longer pellets = less fuel.

Both augers are clear of debris and/or blockage. Pellets are being fed but they are burning almost instantly ( and yes i have checked the pellets they are not so dry they should burn up so quickly ) Everything honestly seems to be working just fine and all is correct but . . . . heat is not up to what it was and pot wont fill like it did.

I appreciate you taking the time to help me with this. tyvm.
 
Mode the stove is in and the lower three please.

I'm going to assume (yes I know this can bite ya) that you likely powered the unit down and pulled the plug.
 
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My stove is in my basement, now before you all go on about how basement installation is complicated and tricky and doesn't always work with all the variables in play, I KNOW :) but it has worked heating the basement all year last year and up till recently this year.
Now let me get to what caused the initial problem. One of the hopper latches came loose and fell into the hopper ( yup ouch ) needless to say augers don't like large piece's of metal in them. So I emptied the hopper, pulled motor to loosen the auger, took out the piece of latch, put it all back together again, TA-DA !?!?
Yeah NO !
Now the burn pot doesn't fill up as much as it did before this happened and it doesn't burn nearly as hot as it was.
I spend money >:| now me has brand new motor and gear box for the top auger. Me takes everything out, cleans it up real pretty like. new gasket on the top auger. EVERYTHING SUPER CLEAN.
The machine is still running like it did AFTER the latch fell into the hopper.

I cant figure out why the burn pot isn't filling up the way it used too. My "3 little buttons" are set at 6.3.1
If it is 6-3-1 I would guess a C or D mode? I would try a 6-4-1 first number determines how long top auger turns,2nd number is combustion blower and third has to be 1 its the temperature the room blower comes on. I would also check your room blower in that model,I believe the screen to the room blower faces in so you cant tell when it is shut with dust and debri if this happens you will not get heat out.
 
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My stove is in my basement, now before you all go on about how basement installation is complicated and tricky and doesn't always work with all the variables in play, I KNOW :) but it has worked heating the basement all year last year and up till recently this year.
Now let me get to what caused the initial problem. One of the hopper latches came loose and fell into the hopper ( yup ouch ) needless to say augers don't like large piece's of metal in them. So I emptied the hopper, pulled motor to loosen the auger, took out the piece of latch, put it all back together again, TA-DA !?!?
Yeah NO !
Now the burn pot doesn't fill up as much as it did before this happened and it doesn't burn nearly as hot as it was.
I spend money >:| now me has brand new motor and gear box for the top auger. Me takes everything out, cleans it up real pretty like. new gasket on the top auger. EVERYTHING SUPER CLEAN.
The machine is still running like it did AFTER the latch fell into the hopper.

I cant figure out why the burn pot isn't filling up the way it used too. My "3 little buttons" are set at 6.3.1
You gave your settings not what mode you are running in that is why I say I am guessing. Trying to help not guess.
 
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Yes, So I am not sure what "mode" I am running in. I have basically not adjusted anything on the machine since I got it ( other than feed/temp and blower ) and have only recently adjusted the ( 3 little buttons ) after looking online to find factory settings and found 6.4.1 was that. Why I have it a 6.3.1 ? because thats what i put it at o_O And yes I have powered down and started back up and had the temp and blower both at 5 when i did this. pellets are fine augers are clean of debris air intake and exhaust are both clean.

At this point I'm thinking there might be an electrical failure to read temp maybe? but even so i thought adjusted temp/feed would null that failure for its mono-esque manual-ness o_O lol sorry for the labored termanology. I think you might know what Im trying to say.
Any idea what may cause that if possible?
 
ESW stoves have been known to change mode upon power up after being unplugged or through power surges.

That alone can change the entire performance of the stove, just like you finally getting the hopper latch situation taken care of can or did.

Because having a tight hopper seal prevents a number of air flow disrupting issues., including one of the modes that ends in burn back.
 
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Yes, So I am not sure what "mode" I am running in. I have basically not adjusted anything on the machine since I got it ( other than feed/temp and blower ) and have only recently adjusted the ( 3 little buttons ) after looking online to find factory settings and found 6.4.1 was that. Why I have it a 6.3.1 ? because thats what i put it at o_O And yes I have powered down and started back up and had the temp and blower both at 5 when i did this. pellets are fine augers are clean of debris air intake and exhaust are both clean.

At this point I'm thinking there might be an electrical failure to read temp maybe? but even so i thought adjusted temp/feed would null that failure for its mono-esque manual-ness o_O lol sorry for the labored termanology. I think you might know what Im trying to say.
Any idea what may cause that if possible?
heat sensor maybe? look for mike holton on here he post to alot of englander issues and works for them.
 
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Check / set the 'mode' with the info below..

Checking / setting the Heat Mode
Heat Mode, the default setting is 'd' for the 25-PDVC, and for the 25-PDV it is 'c', but some control boards default to 'A' when a reset is done. Do not run the stove in 'A' or 'b' mode.
Unplug the stove from the mains.
Plug power lead back in and press both the up and down blower speed buttons at the same time within 4 - 5 seconds and then release the buttons, you should now see a letter (A, b, c or d) in the left or right digital display under heat range or blower setting, you need to change this to 'd' or 'c' using the up / down buttons below that readout, or in case of the 25-PDV you need to use both buttons up or down, once set to 'd' or 'c' wait 10 - 15 seconds then unplug the power again and wait 5 seconds. (Sometimes the mode that you want does not set and defaults back to the mode that it was in before, repeat this step to make sure the mode that you want is set.)

The 3 lower buttons factory settings for the 25-PDVC should be
LFF = 6
LBA = 4
AOT = 1

Note: The 25-PDVC can be run in mode 'c'. Never run the 25-PDVC in 'A' or 'b' mode.

More info ...
If the mode settings can not be set using both up or down buttons for the 25-PDV, try the procedure for the 25-PDVC. (Both stoves use the same control boards)

Older boards ... (before 2004)
Heat Mode Setting ......

if the board is a "non igniter" board the procedure is different may require 2 people if the plug is on the other side of the stove , the up and down blower speed buttons are held in while the stove is being plugged in , in other words, unplug , press AND HOLD the up and down blower speed buttons , plug in WITHOUT LETTING GO OF THE BUTTONS then once its plugged in ,let go of the blower speed buttons and set the abcd mode with the heat range up or down. then tap the "on " button twice to lock it in.
 
Last edited:
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Check / set the 'mode' with the info below..

Setting / setting the Heat Mode
Heat Mode, the default setting is 'd' for the 25-PDVC, and for the 25-PDV it is 'c', but some control boards default to 'A' when a reset is done. Do not run the stove in 'A' or 'b' mode.
Unplug the stove from the mains.
Plug power lead back in and press both the up and down blower speed buttons at the same time within 4 - 5 seconds and then release the buttons, you should now see a letter (A, b, c or d) in the left or right digital display under heat range or blower setting, you need to change this to 'd' or 'c' using the up / down buttons below that readout, or in case of the 25-PDV you need to use both buttons up or down, once set to 'd' or 'c' wait 10 - 15 seconds then unplug the power again and wait 5 seconds. (Sometimes the mode that you want does not set and defaults back to the mode that it was in before, repeat this step to make sure the mode that you want is set.)

The 3 lower buttons factory settings for the 25-PDVC should be
LFF = 6
LBA = 4
AOT = 1

Note: The 25-PDVC can be run in mode 'c'. Never run the 25-PDVC in 'A' or 'b' mode.
More info ...
If the mode settings can not be set using both up or down buttons for the 25-PDV, try the procedure for the 25-PDVC. (Both stoves use the same control boards)
Older boards ... (before 2004)
Heat Mode Setting ......

if the board is a "non igniter" board the procedure is different may require 2 people if the plug is on the other side of the stove , the up and down blower speed buttons are held in while the stove is being plugged in , in other words, unplug , press AND HOLD the up and down blower speed buttons , plug in WITHOUT LETTING GO OF THE BUTTONS then once its plugged in ,let go of the blower speed buttons and set the abcd mode with the heat range up or down. then tap the "on " button twice to lock it in.
Thanks for the information exactly why I like my englander 25-pah one mode no switch anything.
 
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Check / set the 'mode' with the info below..

Checking / setting the Heat Mode
Heat Mode, the default setting is 'd' for the 25-PDVC, and for the 25-PDV it is 'c', but some control boards default to 'A' when a reset is done. Do not run the stove in 'A' or 'b' mode.
Unplug the stove from the mains.
Plug power lead back in and press both the up and down blower speed buttons at the same time within 4 - 5 seconds and then release the buttons, you should now see a letter (A, b, c or d) in the left or right digital display under heat range or blower setting, you need to change this to 'd' or 'c' using the up / down buttons below that readout, or in case of the 25-PDV you need to use both buttons up or down, once set to 'd' or 'c' wait 10 - 15 seconds then unplug the power again and wait 5 seconds. (Sometimes the mode that you want does not set and defaults back to the mode that it was in before, repeat this step to make sure the mode that you want is set.)

The 3 lower buttons factory settings for the 25-PDVC should be
LFF = 6
LBA = 4
AOT = 1

Note: The 25-PDVC can be run in mode 'c'. Never run the 25-PDVC in 'A' or 'b' mode.

More info ...
If the mode settings can not be set using both up or down buttons for the 25-PDV, try the procedure for the 25-PDVC. (Both stoves use the same control boards)

Older boards ... (before 2004)
Heat Mode Setting ......

if the board is a "non igniter" board the procedure is different may require 2 people if the plug is on the other side of the stove , the up and down blower speed buttons are held in while the stove is being plugged in , in other words, unplug , press AND HOLD the up and down blower speed buttons , plug in WITHOUT LETTING GO OF THE BUTTONS then once its plugged in ,let go of the blower speed buttons and set the abcd mode with the heat range up or down. then tap the "on " button twice to lock it in.


Tyvm very informative I am on lunch right now. I will try this as soon as I get home.

Thank you all for your help I will post again with the results !
 
well I just started up the machine again and went through what clad posted, it was already set to "d" so Im letting it start up again and see what happens AGAIN . No offense to anyone who owns an Englander but next time I will dish out the extra cash for a Harman my Harman I have had for 5 winters and runs like a champ and has never given me much of a problem. I have had this englander for 2 winters and it has been a royal pain in my ass. lol again ty all for your help I will post with results of this start up.
 
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I'm trying to think do these stoves default to D mode? Reading the post he said there is not as much ash and not as much heat... That to me seems like the stove was in C mode and went to D mode some how..
 
Is there anything stuck in the drop down that sends pellets to the lower auger. A stray pellet or other restriction there would interfere with the pellet supply being delivered for burning.

Also a vacuum issue can interfere with pellet flow.
 
I'm trying to think do these stoves default to D mode? Reading the post he said there is not as much ash and not as much heat... That to me seems like the stove was in C mode and went to D mode some how..

If a board reset is done it sets the stove to 'A' mode.

Sometimes a power spike can do this too, as can unplugging the stove from the mains supply (I have seen this once with my own stove).

I have yet to see or hear that one of these stoves has defaulted to 'd' mode, maybe Mike @ ESW can tell us that.
 
If a board reset is done it sets the stove to 'A' mode.

Sometimes a power spike can do this too, as can unplugging the stove from the mains supply (I have seen this once with my own stove).

I have yet to see or hear that one of these stoves has defaulted to 'd' mode, maybe Mike @ ESW can tell us that.

My old '06 pdvc used to default to "D" mode...I also could independently set the heat on whatever setting I wanted and have the blower on "0" at the same time.
 
like i said feed is fluent ( there is no blockage ) everything seems to be in order. I watched the stove for a while and it seemd to incinerate pellets in about 30 secs or so ( from auger to half way through the burn pot ) The machine used to fill the whole burn pot and the whole pot would burn consistently. now it just burns up completely as it is fed. I tried filling the pot myself to give it a little jump start sort of speak and it burned down the whole pot and went back to incinerating pellets after a while. (pellets are not so dry they would burn so quick).
 
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