Creosote in my Harman?

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Bigjim13

Bigjim13

Minister of Fire
Jan 5, 2009
588
Central Vermont
Have a Harman P61A installed in fall of 2007, been burning since. Have learned a lot about the cleaning and operation of the stove thanks to this forum!

This fall has been unseasonably warm here in Southern VT and we haven't been running out stove as hot as we normally would. I got HD pellets this year, Maine Choice, and they are the dirtiest pellets I have burned yet. I have done a full cleaning twice and have only burned 1 ton.

I went to scrape the burn pot today and noticed this, creosote I assume. I did a full cleaning a week ago and there was some around the burn pot but none in the vent pipes.

I've never had this issue before. Am I missing cleaning something? Thanks!

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Could it be an issue with the gasket behind the burn pot?
 
I'm not convinced that's creosote but.

If it's creosote ( I've seen black carbon too) and for the amount that I can see in your photos ( not a lot, we have had people with the whole stove lined with it), I would think a really good hot burn would melt that off. If it's carbon get out the scraper. If the stove is loaded more than I can see in the photos don't do the hot burn trick. Just my suggestion. I've had small amounts on my burn pot from certain pellets in a low burn and itr was totally gone after a really hot burn. I don't buy those pellets anymore for shoulder season burning.
 
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alternativeheat said:
If it's creosote ( I've seen black carbon too) and for the amount that I can see in your photos ( not a lot, we have had people with the whole stove lined with it), I would think a really good hot burn would melt that off. If it's carbon get out the scraper. If the stove is loaded more than I can see in the photos don't do the hot burn trick. Just my suggestion. I've had small amounts on my burn pot from certain pellets in a low burn and itr was totally gone after a really hot burn. I don't buy those pellets anymore for shoulder season burning.
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The only area with the creosote is pictured, right behind the burn pot.

My thought was dirty pellets and continued lower burn temps with the weather having been warmer than usual but wanted some other thoughts.

Thanks!
 
Bigjim13 said:
The only area with the creosote is pictured, right behind the burn pot.

My thought was dirty pellets and continued lower burn temps with the weather having been warmer than usual but wanted some other thoughts.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I edited my post to include that I'm not convinced or at least not sure it is creosote. Creosote has a couple of consistencies it can take on. 1 being tacky goo, the other a super hard and glassy looking shiny glaze. Yours doesn't really look like either one but it's just a photo so I don't want to commit LOL !
 
alternativeheat said:
I edited my post to include that I'm not convinced or at least not sure it is creosote. Creosote has a couple of consistencies it can take on. 1 being tacky goo, the other a super hard and glassy looking shiny glaze. Yours doesn't really look like either one but it's just a photo so I don't want to commit LOL !
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It was a bit goo like when I first opened the door to scrape the burn pot. Last week when I cleaned it scraped right off with ease.
 
Bigjim13 said:
It was a bit goo like when I first opened the door to scrape the burn pot. Last week when I cleaned it scraped right off with ease.
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Hmmm.
Well, I don't know the answer to your gasket question. Maybe bioburner will get in on this eventually, he may have more input than myself.
 
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alternativeheat said:
Hmmm.
Well, I don't know the answer to your gasket question. Maybe bioburner will get in on this eventually, he may have more input than myself.
Click to expand...
Going to run it on higher heat for a wile and see what happens.

Thanks!
 
Yu didn't happen to bake any sweet potatoes in there right after a cleaning did you? I'm totally serious - if you bake the potatoes (foil wrapped) when there isn't any ash covering the metal, then turn the stove off, the sugars that out-gassed will do that. Thought I had creosote last spring - until I figured out what it was from. Took several fires to burn it off. And, it started off gooey, then turned hard enough for me to scrape off

I'm guessing that isn't the issue, but you never know . . .
 
bogieb said:
Yu didn't happen to bake any sweet potatoes in there right after a cleaning did you? I'm totally serious - if you bake the potatoes (foil wrapped) when there isn't any ash covering the metal, then turn the stove off, the sugars that out-gassed will do that. Thought I had creosote last spring - until I figured out what it was from. Took several fires to burn it off. And, it started off gooey, then turned hard enough for me to scrape off

I'm guessing that isn't the issue, but you never know . . .
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Nope haven't been cooking potatoes on my stove! Lol
 
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Bigjim13 said:
Nope haven't been cooking potatoes on my stove! Lol
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In it Jim, the p61 bakes a mean baked potato LOL ! I don't eat sweet potatoes so I wouldn't know about the sugar mess I guess.
 
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alternativeheat said:
In it Jim, the p61 bakes a mean baked potato LOL ! I don't eat sweet potatoes so I wouldn't know about the sugar mess I guess.
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I've been brainstorming other uses for my stove, this might work!
 
Bigjim13 said:
I've been brainstorming other uses for my stove, this might work!
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It works. loosely roll them up in foil bring the stove down on a medium to lower burn, place the potatoes on the side shelf inside the stove. takes 20-25 minutes and they come out perfect. You might as well join the club, I think Bogie and I about all around here who do it. Or no one admits to it LOL!
 
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Bigjim13 said:
Nope haven't been cooking potatoes on my stove! Lol
Click to expand...
Not on - in - on the "shelves" to either side of the burn pot.

Bigjim13 said:
I've been brainstorming other uses for my stove, this might work!
Click to expand...

Wash the taters and while still damp, wrap them in heavy duty foil. Put them in the stove (while it is running - doesn't have to be a high flame, but continuous) and let go for about an hour (less if they are smaller). Remove with tongs, unwrap (careful, they are HOT), and the skins will slide right off. Ready to use.

You do want a slight amount of ashes on the "shelves", but doesn't have to be much. Just enough that if any juices run out they mix with the ash, not right onto the metal.
 
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alternativeheat said:
It works. loosely roll them up in foil bring the stove down on a medium to lower burn, place the potatoes on the side shelf inside the stove. takes 20-25 minutes and they come out perfect. You might as well join the club, I think Bogie and I about all around here who do it. Or no one admits to it LOL!
Click to expand...

Mine usually go for longer, but I usually get the big, honkin-sized sweet taters. Haven't cooked regular potatoes though, so those probably take less time.
 
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Some day I'm gonna bake up some stew meet in that sucker !
 
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bogieb said:
Mine usually go for longer, but I usually get the big, honkin-sized sweet taters. Haven't cooked regular potatoes though, so those probably take less time.
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Well, we just stab them periodically, it could be 35 mins or so. What I know is I turn them couple of times and they come out great. Depends on the potato too, we tend to do reds. A russet might take longer and more heat.
 
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So did that goo melt off or burn on with the higher heat level ?
 
alternativeheat said:
So did that goo melt off or burn on with the higher heat level ?
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I ran on 75* for about an hour and it started to burn off and turn to ash. I'm still not 100% it's creosote either but it looks like I'm going to have to deal with it this season. Serves me right for going with untested HD crap shoot pellets-dirty and ashy to say the least.

Thanks for your help and the pointers on cooking potatoes!
 
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I do my taters by after a good cleaning a good coating of Veg oil, a good poking with fork and a sprinkling of Mrs Dash. Turn after half hour or so to let oil and spices soak into tater.
Low short term fires with some pellets and corn will create that sort of mess. I have seen most of my stoves do it except the Elena with the almost full burn chamber lined with fancy firebrick. Spring and fall burns seem to make the most stove and venting mess. Like a car and short trips not getting the engine etc to full temps.
Play with a laser temp gun and one will find all sorts of temp differentials.
 
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Bigjim13 said:
I ran on 75* for about an hour and it started to burn off and turn to ash. I'm still not 100% it's creosote either but it looks like I'm going to have to deal with it this season. Serves me right for going with untested HD crap shoot pellets-dirty and ashy to say the least.

Thanks for your help and the pointers on cooking potatoes!
Click to expand...
If you have some of those pellets left over after this rather warm winter ( thus far) and you buy a good new stash next year , maybe mix these in as you burn the new ones to get rid of these. I've done that with crap pellets in the past and it level the playing field pretty well actually. Or just burn hotter than you like on those warm days. I've had a few lousy batches of pellets, I will never buy in quantity though till I know what they burn like, so they are easy to mix in. If you have 4 tons of crap it's a little harder to do that of course.
 
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alternativeheat said:
If you have some of those pellets left over after this rather warm winter ( thus far) and you buy a good new stash next year , maybe mix these in as you burn the new ones to get rid of these. I've done that with crap pellets in the past and it level the playing field pretty well actually. Or just burn hotter than you like on those warm days. I've had a few lousy batches of pellets, I will never buy in quantity though till I know what they burn like, so they are easy to mix in. If you have 4 tons of crap it's a little harder to do that of course.
Click to expand...
Normally I don't buy pellets in bulk I don't know. This year I was behind the 8 ball with work and life getting on the way. I took the easy HD route instead of shopping around.

As the saying goes, you get what you pay for!

Thanks!
 
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I agree above and the warmer weather, low burns, and cheap pellets are all three contributing here. I burn low and slow a lot but I will also ramp it up in the mornings awhile to burn stuff off and clear some ash etc. Low burns are going to create more ash and dirtier glass no matter what pellets are used though.

Thanks for the baked potato refresher too. This KY Hillbilly is doing some ghetto prepped pellet stove foil taters this evening. I was intrigued last year but had forgotten about it. I can't wait for the wife to chime in on watching me throw'em in the stove. She sits front row and will be there when I do. LOL! Now what else to go with?.............
 
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Throw some sliced onions and peppers around some precooked brats or sausages sealed in a foil. Don't need all that much cook time.
Basically steaming the veggies and infusing the brat with the flavors. A little olive oil to help keep from sticking.
 
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