englander / summers head PDV-c low output

For some reason this year my stove is running 20-25 degrees colder than normal. My normal cleaning is behind the baffle plate, clean the exhaust vent and OAK. It is a VERY noticeable difference from last year to this year. Same pellets, I have also tried splitting bags of pellets between the 2 stoves to verify that they are infact the exact same pellets. I have to run the feed on 6 to equal what used to be 2 on the other stove. Pellet consumption seems to equal what the feed setting is (ie, on #6 the stove burns over twice as much as the other stove on #2).

To me it seems like I almost have a heat transfer issue? Did I forget to clean something?

Dennis

yes on the exhaust fan blades. Where is the convection fan though?

the room air blower? yes that is clean also, I did not have to clean either of the blowers. This stove only has 2.5 tons through it.

yes, it is clean.

I would say the flame has more color too it than normal... and maybe not as spirited as it should be... Thought the exhaust / combustion blower seems to be working fine, and I make it a habit of vacumming the ashes out of the combustion blower tube underneath the wear plate.

rap69ri said:

The burn pot has holes under the wear plate on the right and left sides that is about the size of a nickel. Is that area all built up with ash? It's difficult to clean it without making mods to your vac attachments.

Click to expand...

yes, I clean these along with everything else twice a week. A little trick I have found is to cut a 45 degree vacuum attachment back to 60 or so degree's, that way you can get a seal between the vac and the side plate where the hole is. I also use a thick paper clip to push the ash in the top little holes down to the big hole where the vac is.

I am stumped! The low air adjustment only affects feed rates 1/2 correct?

Sorry... I treat everything like AC... That is the discharge temp difference between 2 identical stoves, Identical setups, identical pellets, Identical flues @ 71 degrees ambient. Thermometer installed in fifth slot from the left. one is ~116 degrees, other runs 130-135 depending on the fire.

if you mean the screen on the outside? It is clean. I have disassembled the the entire OAK.

well guys... I might have missed something I tore the stove completely apart tonight... found nothing. Figured I would brush the flue since it has been awhile. Low and behold I had a combination birds nest / fly ash china wall on the bend to the end cap. I would figure this to make the stove burn hotter... but I might be wrong as it seems its old self again! This explains the low colored fire part atleast!

Thoughts?