My ash smells like gas.

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arcticcat1

arcticcat1

Member
Nov 6, 2009
53
Eastern Me.
I'm still fairly new to the pellet burning seen but about three weeks ago I started a ton of Maines Choice.I want to start by saying although they have a little more ash than average,the heat that they are putting out more than makes up for it but when I run the shop-vac to suck up excess ash during weekly light cleanings Ive noticed a light petroleum odor.The smell is very light and it does not concern me(it kinda smells like my clothes after a long day of snowmobiling)I'm just woundering if anyone else has noticed this.They are a good pellet and I would buy them again,I'm just curious!
 
lol ya I have a similar problem... my girlfriend advises me to stop drinking cheap beer.

BUTT seriously folks... (snerk) Do you use a starter gel to light your stove? Do your pellets smell like they have an additive like kerosene or wax? Sometimes pellet producers will add stuff like that to improve burning or as a binding agent.
 
[quote author="Mr Fixit" date="1263017583"]lol ya I have a similar problem... my girlfriend advises me to stop drinking cheap beer.

BUTT seriously folks... (snerk) Do you use a starter gel to light your stove? Do your pellets smell like they have an additive like kerosene or wax? Sometimes pellet producers will add stuff like that to improve burning or as a binding agent. nop!They light on time &dont; smell,only notice the odor when I vaccume the ashes.You've burned a few HOSS what have you noticed?Anything?
 
I totally misread your thread title - thought it said "My ass smells like gas". I didn't know what to expect when I opened this thread up! :lol:
 
Could be too much fiber in your pellets. Try switching to a "hardwood" pellet. They're a little rough on the auger but far less gassy.

On a side note, you wouldn't happen to be the guy adding used motor oil to his pellets....would you????
 
here comes the funnies! They will be coming out of the wood work.

I burned the maine choices and my ash smelled fine.(this may be the only sain answer you get.)
 
Krooser said he wouldn't "bother" us for a while after his 1,000 post, I think he is sittin on his hands and rockin back and forth right now !! :lol:

Schoondog
 
schoondog said:
Krooser said he wouldn't "bother" us for a while after his 1,000 post, I think he is sittin on his hands and rockin back and forth right now !! :lol:

Schoondog
Click to expand...

When he lets go, Its going to be a Dusie'!
 
jtakeman said:
schoondog said:
Krooser said he wouldn't "bother" us for a while after his 1,000 post, I think he is sittin on his hands and rockin back and forth right now !! :lol:

Schoondog
Click to expand...

When he lets go, Its going to be a Dusie'!
Click to expand...

Yep-- no way he can quit cold turkey for long...this place is too addicting ;-)
 
;-P OMG, I gotta keep this one at the top!
 
My pellets smell like wood. (hard wood) and my ash smells like ash, though I don't get that close. Bad for lungs. So where does that get me? bump
 
LOL glosta & doocrew- too funny!
 
I start the day out with hard wood (pellets, of course). :cheese:
 
Thanks for the input boys.You guys are funny!
If anybody out there knows what im kluckin about Please tell me about it searouslyIf not I must be crazyBUT I DONT THINK SO!!
 
Haven't noticed anything like that. I would guess the smell is coming from your vac, maybe got a little oil spilled on it some time? Or storing it next to your chainsaw, or a can of gas? All I can think of.
 
hossthehermit said:
Haven't noticed anything like that. I would guess the smell is coming from your vac, maybe got a little oil spilled on it some time? Or storing it next to your chainsaw, or a can of gas? All I can think of.
Click to expand...
X2 sounds like the only logical answer.
 
X3 on the shop vac, I have vacuumed out 2 tons worth of Maine Choice and I haven't noticed anything.
 
Sorry dude, didn't mean to not answer the question. Maybe where ever you bought the pellets had a little spill of 2 stroke oil or whatever that spilled into or near the pellets you happened to buy ? Did you buy them from a farm type store that may have stored them near another type of fuel?

Schoondog
 
Are you drawing combustion air from outside? Perhaps the air intake is sucking fumes in from outside ie your sled or a snowblower?
 
must...not...make...joke... awww what the heck!

I guess the beeno in the hopper didn't help?
 
cat900 said:
I'm still fairly new to the pellet burning seen but about three weeks ago I started a ton of Maines Choice.I want to start by saying although they have a little more ash than average,the heat that they are putting out more than makes up for it but when I run the shop-vac to suck up excess ash during weekly light cleanings Ive noticed a light petroleum odor.The smell is very light and it does not concern me(it kinda smells like my clothes after a long day of snowmobiling)I'm just woundering if anyone else has noticed this.They are a good pellet and I would buy them again,I'm just curious!
Click to expand...

So, cat, how did this turn out?
 
Hoss,I just finished up the last of the Maines Choice last Wednesday and continued to get the same odor up until the last cleaning.I have since started a ton of NEWP,vacuumed Sunday and the odor was gone.I haven't used the shop vac for anything but my stove so the only thing I can think of is that these pellets must have gotten contaminated at the factory.
 
cat900 said:
Thanks for the input boys.You guys are funny!
If anybody out there knows what im kluckin about Please tell me about it searouslyIf not I must be crazyBUT I DONT THINK SO!!
Click to expand...

I don't notice any smell from the ash, but when I initially stacked the bags in my garage there was an obvious stong solvent smell. I used some Windex or Fantastic and wiped down each of the 18 bags I was given. I noticed that the printing on some of the bags was faded and even runny looking. Wiping them took care of most of the smell so they went to the basement.
Mike -
 
Dr_Drum said:
cat900 said:
Thanks for the input boys.You guys are funny!
If anybody out there knows what im kluckin about Please tell me about it searouslyIf not I must be crazyBUT I DONT THINK SO!!
Click to expand...

I don't notice any smell from the ash, but when I initially stacked the bags in my garage there was an obvious stong solvent smell. I used some Windex or Fantastic and wiped down each of the 18 bags I was given. I noticed that the printing on some of the bags was faded and even runny looking. Wiping them took care of most of the smell so they went to the basement.
Mike -
Click to expand...

Well, that to me sounds definitely like either transport or storage at the retailer. The 3 ton I got were delivered on 3 different Fridays in August, by the same dealer. No smell, no runny ink.
 
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