Buying 1st Pellets + 1st Burn with my PDVC - Help with minor issues!

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DawgOnKing

DawgOnKing

New Member
Jan 7, 2010
35
NE Ohio
Looking for pellets for my brand new PDVC. Went to Home Depot in hopes of getting the Winter Warmth bags. They only have Eureka bags. Tractor Supply has Summerset and a seperate Home Depot has Freedom Fuel. I have read the threads here that are full of helpful info but am on my iPhone at the moment and can't read up.

I just want to get a few bags to test my unit for the first time, not buying tons today. Which should I get?
 
I test burned 2 bags of the Sommerset's and they seemed pretty darned good to me. I would try some of those. In the past the Eureka's did well for me too. But some have said they are not as good this year. Test burn a few bags of each before the large purchase. Please keep us posted on the brand you choose.

Hope this helps.
jay
 
Like jtakeman said, burn the somersets, I tried the freedom fuel, out of Montana, last year. They were not a bad pellet, but maybe more of a shoulder season pellet (fall/spring). Good luck.
 
Don't buy the Freedom Fuel. Pick either of the other 2 choices.
 
I'd go with the Somersets - low ash, and plenty of heat!
 
If you go with Home Depot, find out if they take Lowes coupons in your area, mine does and they also take the Printable ones as well. I use them when I have to make purchases there, helps out.
 
Sommersets have been the best brand that I have tried for the past three years. I like the constant quality of them.

This year I am burning Rocky Mountains cause at the time of purchase that was all they had and were not getting Sommersets for quite some time:( The Rocky Mountains are a great pellet also.
 
Thank you all for the very quick and helpful responses. I just got home with 5 bags of Sommersets. I'm very excited to use my stove for the first time. It's a rather mild day here in NE Ohio so my results may differ over the next few weeks, but I'm going to give it a go this evening with an initial burn.

I will report back with my settings and results, pictures included.

Thanks again!
 
Dawn, if your close enough call Eric at Kinsman/Brookfield stove, he is a member of the forum and will treat you well. He sells Pro-Pellets and I have had good luck with them.
I'm at Browns stadium section 536
 
Thanks Chuck, I will put that contact in my phone! Go Browns!

UPDATE ON MY FIRST BURN:

All is well thus far! Been burning for just over 3 hours. I installed the unit myself and all duct work was dura-vent + RTV. Used hi-heat duct tape as well for 2 inside connections just to be extra careful. There is a very small visible smoke that looks like it's emitting from around the glass on the front of the unit. My assumption is that it's the manufacturing oils/paint and I'm hoping it goes away in the near future. Any ideas on that?
 
DawgOnKing said:
......There is a very small visible smoke that looks like it's emitting from around the glass on the front of the unit. My assumption is that it's the manufacturing oils/paint and I'm hoping it goes away in the near future. Any ideas on that?
Click to expand...

Could be what you said. Not normally any smoke from combustion from the door, as these are negative draft stoves. If there was a leak around the glass, it would just suck extra air into the firebox and make a lazy flame. Give it some time and see if it goes away.

BTW, does it smell like wood burning, or oil?
 
macman said:
DawgOnKing said:
......There is a very small visible smoke that looks like it's emitting from around the glass on the front of the unit. My assumption is that it's the manufacturing oils/paint and I'm hoping it goes away in the near future. Any ideas on that?
Click to expand...

Could be what you said. Not normally any smoke from combustion from the door, as these are negative draft stoves. If there was a leak around the glass, it would just suck extra air into the firebox and make a lazy flame. Give it some time and see if it goes away.

BTW, does it smell like wood burning, or oil?
Click to expand...

No dark color or wood burning odor. I'm 100% sure the odor in the room is from the oil/paint but the visible smoke leaves me a little uneasy. I can't pinpoint the exact location of the emission either. It is either from around the glass or door seal- definitely not exhaust or pipes.

I shut down the unit about 15 mins ago. Once it cools I'm gonna check the inside of the door/window for any defects. Will also make sure my twist-lock connections (T-cleanout) are secure outside real quick. Will report back soon.
 
DawgOnKing said:
.....It is either from around the glass or door seal- definitely not exhaust or pipes. I shut down the unit about 15 mins ago. Once it cools I'm gonna check the inside of the door/window for any defects. Will also make sure my twist-lock connections (T-cleanout) are secure outside real quick. Will report back soon.
Click to expand...

If you let the stove cool a bit, do the dollar bill test on the door seal. Outside pipe connections don't have to be worried about...only the connections inside.
 
Somersets are one of the best pellets I have used... One thing I have to say is that most everyone's stove is different, Have some fun and try different pellets.
 
ken3698 said:
Somersets are one of the best pellets I have used... One thing I have to say is that most everyone's stove is different, Have some fun and try different pellets.
Click to expand...

Thanks Ken, I will use the rest of the winter season to do just that.
 
macman said:
DawgOnKing said:
.....It is either from around the glass or door seal- definitely not exhaust or pipes. I shut down the unit about 15 mins ago. Once it cools I'm gonna check the inside of the door/window for any defects. Will also make sure my twist-lock connections (T-cleanout) are secure outside real quick. Will report back soon.
Click to expand...

If you let the stove cool a bit, do the dollar bill test on the door seal. Outside pipe connections don't have to be worried about...only the connections inside.
Click to expand...

It passed the dollar bill test. Seems to be a very nice seal with the door. There are some "nylon-type" strings that are stuck to the seal on the inside of the unit from the initial burn. The viewing glass was another story. I tightened all four screws significantly. Approximately a full turn on each. I didn't want to get carried away with the torque, but I tightened them pretty good.

Here are some images. I through in one of the install as well, kinda off topic at this point.

stove1.jpg


stove2.jpg


stove3.jpg


stove4.jpg


Time to light another fire and observe.......
 
Dawg said:
Here are some images. I through in one of the install as well, kinda off topic at this point.

stove3.jpg


Time to light another fire and observe.......
Click to expand...

BTW Dawg, time to get a good surge suppressor on that stove
 
macman said:
Dawg said:
Here are some images. I through in one of the install as well, kinda off topic at this point.

stove3.jpg


Time to light another fire and observe.......
Click to expand...

BTW Dawg, time to get a good surge suppressor on that stove
Click to expand...

I will pick one up tomorrow. ;)

UPDATE:

Second burn is well underway. I sat by the stove during start up and noticed this burn was a lot different than the first. There was no smoke at all during this start-up/burn as opposed to the initial one which produced quite a bit on smoke in the unit prior to full ignition.

I sat in the room until the exhaust fan kicked on and observed no smoke. I left the room and returned after 15 minutes to find no visible smoke and a subtle wood burning aroma in the room, different from what I described above from the initial burn. The smell is actually quite nice.

I will keep checking in on the room every 30 minutes or so for the rest of the eve. I'm hoping the problem has been solved. If so, I'd still like to use this thread to discuss ash removal/cleaning of my new stove.

Thanks to all for you're help. Feel a lot like the new kid at school. You have been a tremendous help to me today. Looking forward to many happy and warm years with my stove(s).
 
sorry came in late on this one. the visible "whitish" smoke is not uncommon early in the first fire in our stoves, usually 3 to 4 hours burning at a midrange will "cure" the stove out and after that the only smells from combustion should eb limited to early in startup as the stove smoulders to lighting. as for leakage around the door or window of virtually any pellet stove , remember the combustion air is pulled through the stove so any door or window leak would allow air in , not smoke out. if consistant constant smoke smell is present check from the exhaust blower out as this would be where negative pressure (suck) turns to positive pressure(blow) allowing smoke to be pushed out of a leak not pulled in.

BTW , great looking hookup (other than the lack of a surge protector, boards are expensive , surge strips are cheap)
and definately hook up with Eric at kinsman/brookfield stoves for some Pro Pellets, warehouse stored. great pellets , excellent person!

above all else though... Welcome to the ESW family!!!
 
stoveguy2esw said:
sorry came in late on this one. the visible "whitish" smoke is not uncommon early in the first fire in our stoves, usually 3 to 4 hours burning at a midrange will "cure" the stove out and after that the only smells from combustion should eb limited to early in startup as the stove smoulders to lighting. as for leakage around the door or window of virtually any pellet stove , remember the combustion air is pulled through the stove so any door or window leak would allow air in , not smoke out. if consistant constant smoke smell is present check from the exhaust blower out as this would be where negative pressure (suck) turns to positive pressure(blow) allowing smoke to be pushed out of a leak not pulled in.

BTW , great looking hookup (other than the lack of a surge protector, boards are expensive , surge strips are cheap)
and definately hook up with Eric at kinsman/brookfield stoves for some Pro Pellets, warehouse stored. great pellets , excellent person!

above all else though... Welcome to the ESW family!!!
Click to expand...

Thanks Mike!

Unfortunately, I'm still noticing a clear smoke being emitted from the front of the stove. It appears to gently rise from the area around the bottom of the window trim/gasket. Despite staring at the area for many minutes, I can't pinpoint the location of the smoke. It rises from the area I mentioned and disappears when is reaches the exhaust air. Once again, I notice a slight oil smell. The wood burn smell described above was gone.

I believe the smoke intensifies with heat as I did not notice it for the initial 15-25 minutes of the burn. Total burn time for the stove is approx. 5 hours. The "whitish" smoke you describe above seems like it may be visible, is that possible?

One more thing...

I spray painted the window trim with a black high-heat rated paint for vanity. I taped the area off very thoroughly before doing so, but maybe some the paint is on the gasket that's visible. Could this be burning off?
 
possibly so , whats the temp rating on the paint? degrees F? 5 total hours also may not have the unit quite completely cooked out , adding the paint would likley add to the cure time as this paint will have to cure out as well. run another long midrange run and see if it attenuates, let me know if it doesnt
 
stoveguy2esw said:
possibly so , whats the temp rating on the paint? degrees F? 5 total hours also may not have the unit quite completely cooked out , adding the paint would likley add to the cure time as this paint will have to cure out as well. run another long midrange run and see if it attenuates, let me know if it doesnt
Click to expand...

Paint is rated to 1000F. I will run her again this evening and report back. Thanks again!
 
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