I have a pellet stove in my weekend vacation home. Last weekend I ran it on speed 4 for the first time for an extended period. Then I noticed the flame being stiffeled. It also was keeping the temp as high as it should have. I have noticed that when it gets warmer outside the temperature either stays the same or increases a bit. It was actually loosing some. Does anyone know why the burn pot might have gotten caked up?
Burn pot gets caked up with ash
- Thread starter ellipup
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Snowy Rivers
Minister of Fire
What make and model of stove ??
Its normal when you run these for some ash to remain in the pot and over time to pile up.
Give us some specifics on the stove and we can go from there.
Draft setting
How clean is the ash traps and the exhaust vents from the firebox out and through exhaustm system.
A partially plugged exhaust will allow less air flow and eventually stifle the fire.
The pots are usually blown clean buy the airflow up through them.
As the flow slows, so does the ability of the fly ash to leave the pot.
Snowy
Its normal when you run these for some ash to remain in the pot and over time to pile up.
Give us some specifics on the stove and we can go from there.
Draft setting
How clean is the ash traps and the exhaust vents from the firebox out and through exhaustm system.
A partially plugged exhaust will allow less air flow and eventually stifle the fire.
The pots are usually blown clean buy the airflow up through them.
As the flow slows, so does the ability of the fly ash to leave the pot.
Snowy
I have an Enviro Empress that was boughtabout 2005-2006. Im not 100% sure which because I bought the house with the stove already here. I clean it about every 2- 21/2 days and have a chimney sweep every summer to give it a good cleaning with that forced air machine. Im very maticulous about how I clean the stove. I shut it. I have all the vacuum tools to get into all the nooks and cranys. I just got here this past Thursday afternoon. I cleaned it this afternoon. I was caked up again, but not quite as much. Is this problematic?
summit
Minister of Fire
Im using stove chow this season. Thats the only thing that is different. Im starting to think that that is the reason for the caking up. I just bought them this season.
burning a MT. Vernon AE have always burned barefoots without an issue. THis is happening to me also this year, and clinkers, that I have never had before.
SmokeyTheBear
Minister of Fire
A bit/lot more information will help a bit.
To both the ellipup and pelletkrzd:
Please describe your venting starting at the stove and going to and including the termination cap.
Please describe exactly how you clean your stove.
To ellipup:
A chimney sweep to clean a pellet stove? There are stories on here about stoves being plugged after they leave.
To both the ellipup and pelletkrzd:
Please describe your venting starting at the stove and going to and including the termination cap.
Please describe exactly how you clean your stove.
To ellipup:
A chimney sweep to clean a pellet stove? There are stories on here about stoves being plugged after they leave.
Smokey---dont think it has anything to do with setup have never had this issue before going on 3rd season and always used barefoots, but here it goes. Mt. Vernon AE freestanding, rear to top vent convertion kit (centers flue pipe behind stove) with cleanout trapdoor, 3 feet of rise, 90 degree elbow thru wall thimble, approximately 2 feet exhaust flue on slight rise (to aid in drafting exhaust if power goes out) terminates with 45 elbow, end cap, and rodent screen (pointed toward ground). Venting is 4inch and no OAK.
Stove particulars---burning barefoots
manual mode
Fuel selection---hardwood pellets
Heat output---H
Altitude---Normal
Flame---minus 5
Fan---normal
Cleaning---annual cleaning myself--includes all of below including full sweep of vent pipe, removal of burn pot to scrape and repaint, scrape and repaint of baffle and heat exchanger. I stuff a tshirt in trap door @ rear of stove, then fill pair of panty hose with cat litter and lay it inside firebox (for moisture that gets past tshirt). Gaskets inspected and replaced if need be. Have not replaced any roping as of yet, seems to be ok.
vaccuum firebox 4-5 days
weekly baffle removed and heat exchanger and exhaust ports cleaned
about every 3/4 to 1 ton---exhaust fan removed, cleaned, as well as ex. ports and exhaust channel that leads to exhaust blower.
exhaust outlet tube cleaned up to point of clean out trapdoor
convection blower / squirrel cage cleaned
any info or ides would b appreciated
Thanks
Stove particulars---burning barefoots
manual mode
Fuel selection---hardwood pellets
Heat output---H
Altitude---Normal
Flame---minus 5
Fan---normal
Cleaning---annual cleaning myself--includes all of below including full sweep of vent pipe, removal of burn pot to scrape and repaint, scrape and repaint of baffle and heat exchanger. I stuff a tshirt in trap door @ rear of stove, then fill pair of panty hose with cat litter and lay it inside firebox (for moisture that gets past tshirt). Gaskets inspected and replaced if need be. Have not replaced any roping as of yet, seems to be ok.
vaccuum firebox 4-5 days
weekly baffle removed and heat exchanger and exhaust ports cleaned
about every 3/4 to 1 ton---exhaust fan removed, cleaned, as well as ex. ports and exhaust channel that leads to exhaust blower.
exhaust outlet tube cleaned up to point of clean out trapdoor
convection blower / squirrel cage cleaned
any info or ides would b appreciated
Thanks
SmokeyTheBear
Minister of Fire
I'm just covering as much ground as I can and while I can remember quite a bit about the setups I read about on here my advanced age sometimes gets in the way.
You might want to back off the fuel feed a bit.
I suspect that you are getting more fuel delivered than you are providing burn air for. Especially if your pellets haven't been exposed to excessive moisture.
You might want to back off the fuel feed a bit.
I suspect that you are getting more fuel delivered than you are providing burn air for. Especially if your pellets haven't been exposed to excessive moisture.
pelletkrzd said:
[quote author="SmokeyTheBear" date="1293567712"]I'm just covering as much ground as I can and while I can remember quite a bit about the setups I read about on here my advanced age sometimes gets in the way.
You might want to back off the fuel feed a bit.
I suspect that you are getting more fuel delivered than you are providing burn air for. Especially if your pellets haven't been exposed to excessive moisture.
[quote author="pelletkrzd" date="1293566385"]Smokey---dont think it has anything to do with setup have never had this issue before going on 3rd season and always used barefoots, but here it goes. Mt. Vernon AE freestanding, rear to top vent convertion kit (centers flue pipe behind stove) with cleanout trapdoor, 3 feet of rise, 90 degree elbow thru wall thimble, approximately 2 feet exhaust flue on slight rise (to aid in drafting exhaust if power goes out) terminates with 45 elbow, end cap, and rodent screen (pointed toward ground). Venting is 4inch and no OAK.
Stove particulars---burning barefoots
manual mode
Fuel selection---hardwood pellets
Heat output---H
Altitude---Normal
Flame---minus 5
Fan---normal
Since the stove is already set at minus 5 for flame height he can't back off any more on the fuel feed. One thing you could do that seems to work for me is change the elevation setting to high. You will get more air this way. Don't change it while the stove is running, I have had it shut the stove down before when doing this.
You might want to back off the fuel feed a bit.
I suspect that you are getting more fuel delivered than you are providing burn air for. Especially if your pellets haven't been exposed to excessive moisture.
[quote author="pelletkrzd" date="1293566385"]Smokey---dont think it has anything to do with setup have never had this issue before going on 3rd season and always used barefoots, but here it goes. Mt. Vernon AE freestanding, rear to top vent convertion kit (centers flue pipe behind stove) with cleanout trapdoor, 3 feet of rise, 90 degree elbow thru wall thimble, approximately 2 feet exhaust flue on slight rise (to aid in drafting exhaust if power goes out) terminates with 45 elbow, end cap, and rodent screen (pointed toward ground). Venting is 4inch and no OAK.
Stove particulars---burning barefoots
manual mode
Fuel selection---hardwood pellets
Heat output---H
Altitude---Normal
Flame---minus 5
Fan---normal
Since the stove is already set at minus 5 for flame height he can't back off any more on the fuel feed. One thing you could do that seems to work for me is change the elevation setting to high. You will get more air this way. Don't change it while the stove is running, I have had it shut the stove down before when doing this.
SmokeyTheBear said:
THanks for info Smokey---just read an earlier post you did this morning about the cubex and you suggested same thing. I have put up a new post inquiring if anybody knows how to adjust feed rate on AE other than by turning down flame height on tstat. THat is the only way I know of adjusting feed rate. I am on -5 already (as far down as it will go). Dont know if there is any other way to decrease feed rate further or not. Also have noticed black soot behind baffle while cleaning is that a sign of too much fuel or not enough air?
Hope my post did not seem sarcastic about the setup and cleaning. I didnt mean it to be----THANKS FOR YOUR ADVICE.
pelletkrzd
SmokeyTheBear
Minister of Fire
You need not worry about how I might feel about any responses made. I fully understand how folks feel when things aren't going as well as they could. Been doing the question and answer routine for decades.
I know that some of the Quads have restrictor plates for fuel feed control and that the control boxes on some can be adjusted other than through control panel selection.
The only other thing I can think of (on the air side) is to pull the burn pot and make certain the air has to go through the pot (plugged holes in the pot, bad pot gasket) and of course there is the one thing you haven't changed (rope gasket) which I'd at least check.
I know that some of the Quads have restrictor plates for fuel feed control and that the control boxes on some can be adjusted other than through control panel selection.
The only other thing I can think of (on the air side) is to pull the burn pot and make certain the air has to go through the pot (plugged holes in the pot, bad pot gasket) and of course there is the one thing you haven't changed (rope gasket) which I'd at least check.
SmokeyTheBear said:
Thanks---will call quad about the restrictor plate and such. As far as burn pot goes have to do daily scrapings now because of ash and clinker build ups (never had to deal with this before this season) holes are checked with mirror and always clear. I replaced fire pot gasket @ close of last season thats ok. As far as rope goes all seems ok some very slight fraying has started but still seems tight. I did dollar bill test end of last season as well.
THANKS again
SmokeyTheBear
Minister of Fire
pelletkrzd said:
When talking to Quad ask about the other settings for burning such as sunflower, softwood etc .... There may be more play in some of those.
Since the stove is already set at minus 5 for flame height he can’t back off any more on the fuel feed. One thing you could do that seems to work for me is change the elevation setting to high. You will get more air this way. Don’t change it while the stove is running, I have had it shut the stove down before when doing this.
SmokeyTheBear said:
Funny you should mention that. I was tinkering with sunflower setting (had read some guys burn on that setting when burning softwoods). Good burn only did it for 2 days so not sure what back of baffle looks like (didnt inspect the soot), still got clinkers. BUT really went through the pellets about 4 bags per day (outside temps 20-30 degrees). I am assuming the feed rate gets adjusted on that setting as well as air intake. Did notice a nice full pot of dancing flames tho and never has burned as hot. I mentioned in an earlier post on diff thread that my wife had a candle on table about 7 feet from stove and the heat from stove caused candle to bend. never had that happen before candle has been their for quite sometime.
SmokeyTheBear
Minister of Fire
JoeS said:
While he may be at the limit on the hardwood setting another selection may actually result in less fuel being fed at the same flame height level which was the reason for asking about the other selections.
Your suggestion about the altitude setting is an excellent one as it speaks to the air side of the equation.
Just stopped by the place where my Enviro pellet stove was purchased to ask about the caking issue. Spoke to Eric who actually frequents this sight, he told me. He agreed that it was an air intake issue. When I got to my place I went to look for the control for the air intake and could not find anything. Went to consult my handy owners manual to find that I do not have an Enviro Empress, I have a Windsor. From what I understand from the manual, the air is controlled by the "slider damper". According to the manual, this "slider damper" is located behind a panel which must be removed by taking two screws out and removing a panel of brick from the back of the inside of the stove. Im not all that comfortable with doing this by myself. I put a call into the guy who services my stove at the end of each season. Havent heard from him yet. Can anyone tell me if Im on the right track??
jtakeman
Minister of Fire
ellipup said:
Yes, You right on the money. You will need a torq T-20 driver to remove the panel. Its only 2 screws to remove the panel. Easy to do. If your fearful? Probably best to unplug the stove. adjust the damper out about 1/4 inch. Repeat until the issue clears itself.
Next time the stove is serviced make sure the tech sets the stove to factory spec(also found in the manual) with a magnehelic gauge.
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