I bought my Englander last year, and used about 60 - 70 bags over the season. Our standard running time during the Dec. - Mar. period is 'on' at 5:30 AM or so, shut down around noon (depending on outside temps), re-start around late afternoon, and run until bedtime, usually 11:30PM or a little earlier weekdays, later weekends. So, with a setting of 1 1 almost 90% of the time, we get comfortable heat in the livingroom/kitchen using a minimum of pellets.
This practise does, however, require the ignitor to heat up 2 - 3 times every day. Twice last year, and 4 times this year, it failed to heat up after the 'on' button was pressed. I've resorted to standing in front of the stove and waiting until I see the little red 'dot' (tip of ignitor glowing) and some sparks before going back to bed or leaving the stove, and this year, I wait until I see flame before trusting it. Once, I waited until the pellets had fed for about 10 minutes, noticed no red ignition spot, then pushed the 'on' button again. Big mistake. That started the start-up cycle over, and by the time the pellets ignited, I had a massive over-fire going, and had to shut down and clean it all up. Now, if I don't see the dot within 5 minutes, I push 'off', wait till the stove shuts off, then scoop out all the pellets and start over.
I've tried different ways to push the 'on' button, like holding it in for a second or 2, and pushing it harder, and notice that it goes in first, then there is a 'click' when it is released....a relay from the control board? Has anyone had a similar experience? How many on cycles should I expect from the Englander ignitor, and is this occasional non-performance a sign of impending failure?
Other than a stuck auger motor last year, which I fixed, this is really the only issue from my 25 pdvc that I have.
This practise does, however, require the ignitor to heat up 2 - 3 times every day. Twice last year, and 4 times this year, it failed to heat up after the 'on' button was pressed. I've resorted to standing in front of the stove and waiting until I see the little red 'dot' (tip of ignitor glowing) and some sparks before going back to bed or leaving the stove, and this year, I wait until I see flame before trusting it. Once, I waited until the pellets had fed for about 10 minutes, noticed no red ignition spot, then pushed the 'on' button again. Big mistake. That started the start-up cycle over, and by the time the pellets ignited, I had a massive over-fire going, and had to shut down and clean it all up. Now, if I don't see the dot within 5 minutes, I push 'off', wait till the stove shuts off, then scoop out all the pellets and start over.
I've tried different ways to push the 'on' button, like holding it in for a second or 2, and pushing it harder, and notice that it goes in first, then there is a 'click' when it is released....a relay from the control board? Has anyone had a similar experience? How many on cycles should I expect from the Englander ignitor, and is this occasional non-performance a sign of impending failure?
Other than a stuck auger motor last year, which I fixed, this is really the only issue from my 25 pdvc that I have.
