ESP Probe

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DANCUN1973

DANCUN1973

New Member
Jan 29, 2015
12
peabody ma.
I'm having a problem with my Harman P43. I have replaced the ESP probe just about every year for last 2 years. It keeps going bad on me. I get 3 blinks on the status light. I clean the stove as directed. Today I had a fire in the direct vent. Luckily I was home smelled it then went out side and threw some water up in the pipe and it went out. Any ideas?
 
Have you cleaned your exhaust pipes lately? ESP's should last numerous years. Going thru one per season is not right. Having a fire in your vent is way wrong also. Not even sure how that can happen.

Post some pics of your set up nd give more details please.
 
bags said:
Have you cleaned your exhaust pipes lately? ESP's should last numerous years. Going thru one per season is not right. Having a fire in your vent is way wrong also. Not even sure how that can happen.

Post some pics of your set up nd give more details please.
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I cleaned the stove about 3 weeks ago with shop vac with Hepa filter. I cleaned the chimney out side the house beginning season. I burnt about 40 bags. I thought at first I might have damaged the esp probe last time I cleaned it from out side. Thought maybe I had hit it . I replaced it 3 times last 4 years something up. I buy good pellets clean fire . I am noticing shiny black on the walls stove inside. Not sure what is going on. I have never taken apart the direct vent that the chimney pipe goes thru.
 
Shiny black probably means cresote, thus the chimney fire. Not having a cleanout T and using a 90 degree elbow is not helping the situation as it plugs up quickly. Id be using a leaf blowet to suck out ash on a weekly basis with that exhaust set up.

So more than likely ash is restricting exhaust system, or restricted inlet, moist pellets, or slow turning exhaust fan.
 
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Those two back to back 90's are not helping you much. Not an ideal situation being so tight and restrictive. Have you taken those apart to see if they are clear? They could be full of ash and stuff unless you can get the vac up into them. What brand pellets are you burning? The ESP's are not as delicate as many let on. They do need to be cleaned and handled with respect but I imagine it takes a good hit to mess one up.

You are definitely going thru ESP's like water. Too many in a short time. Maybe check in the 90's for build up and such. Welcome by the way. Others will chime in with some suggestions too.
 
Should I have someone come out change the setup? Would I put the leaf blower up to the exhaust where the blower fan disconnects and blow it thru?
 
bags said:
Those two back to back 90's are not helping you much. Not an ideal situation being so tight and restrictive. Have you taken those apart to see if they are clear? They could be full of ash and stuff unless you can get the vac up into them. What brand pellets are you burning? The ESP's are not as delicate as many let on. They do need to be cleaned and handled with respect but I imagine it takes a good hit to mess one up.

You are definitely going thru ESP's like water. Too many in a short time. Maybe check in the 90's for build up and such. Welcome by the way. Others will chime in with some suggestions too.
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Or possibly the restricted vent with double 90's might be heating the probes and burning them up some how. Not sure just a stab in the dark with that. I'd put a clean out T as JZM said.
 
Thank you for your help. I really appreciate it. I think I'm going to take everything apart and clean it out. I was using a dryer vent cleaning tool . I was pushing it thru the exhaust and cleaning the pipe on the outside.

Thank you
 
My guess is that the exhaust is building up and possibly somewhat or mainly clogged up at the 90's. It has to be restricting the exhaust as it is almost trying to blow out right into a brick wall if you follow me here. My direct vent goes straight out with almost no restriction.
 
DANCUN1973 said:
Thank you for your help. I really appreciate it. I think I'm going to take everything apart and clean it out. I was using a dryer vent cleaning tool . I was pushing it thru the exhaust and cleaning the pipe on the outside.

Thank you
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You might have just pushed a bunch of ash and junk right down into the restricted area of your vent. I'd take it apart and check to see it is clear. Let us know what you find.
 
Thanks guys I'll have to take it apart and inspect a clean it. The guy who installed it put silicon on all the connections of pipe. Is that regular silicon or something special ?

Thank you
 
With stove off, and door open, i go outside pull vent off exhaust pipe and put inlet of leaf blower on exhaust pipe. Amazing how much ash gets sucked out and its quick and easy so i do it often.

Some folks push ash from the outside and end up with impacted colons (plugged up pipes).
 
Use a hi temp silicone caulk, the most common is good to 500 deg f carried in most building supply stores, Ace hardware, etc. You can wrap the outside of the joints with silicone fusing tape, again available at most building supply stores.
I found some 2 in wide tape at Amazon that makes it easier to use than the 1 in carried in most stores.
 
How dirty are the fins on your combustion fan? You may need to clean them as well.
 
I second checking the combustion fan. i don't doubt that the venting is a likely cause, but I had similar issues with my stove until I realized how much build up there was behind my combustion fan.
 
Had a couple of stoves that were having esp issues and found that the stoves power outlets not properly wired. Check for polarity being correct. The stove hooked to a good surge protector or better yet a good UPS. Many of the better ones have a circuit ground and polarity analysis.
 
This very simple device and under $7. Other brands out there too.
 

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I have the P43 with two 90's and maybe 6-7" rise (at an angle with 10-12" between 90's), and a 2' horizontal section that goes out the wall. I don't get any creosote or very much soot in the exhaust at all regardless of whether it was the late Hastings or the current P43.

With such a short run, your exhaust blower should keep your pipe fairly clean, I would think (sure, the setup could be better, but that in and of itself shouldn't be a problem IMHO). The part I would be concerned about is the creosote (which is probably related to the ESP issue) - and others have chimed in on possible causes, so will sit on the sidelines.
 
Well I got someone to come out and look at the stove. He said there was ash build up in the 90s of the exhaust. He replaced the esp probe and told me to clean the 90s after every ton. I cleaned and scraped all the creosote last night on the walls of the stove. I noticed today that the walls are shiny hope it is not still not creating creosote. The glass is still clear. I'm burning clean fire Pacific Blend. Hopefully I won't have any more problems. Thanks for all the help guys.
 
A brush and the leaf blower trick are a stoves best friends
 
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