First post ...Thinking of Avalon Astoria to replace my wood stove.....

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joey70

New Member
Dec 30, 2010
33
Eastern CT
Hi everyone this is my first post here i have been reading the forum for weeks and feel pretty confident to start my new adventure which is to change out my old wood stove and replace with a new pellet stove...but i have a couple of task to overcome before i start my project first being...i dont want to pull out my old wood stove pipe out from the ceiling up that is....ive seen here imacman used a stove pipe adapter to convert at the top from 8 to 4 going down to the stove ...i have a question though i have metalbestos double pipe going from the ceiling out to the roof if i get the adapter what kind of vp pipe do i use from the stove to the adapter does it have to be the same brand as my old metalbesos..am i making sense to anyone...

Also i am picking up a Avalon Astoria in about 2 weeks do i need to vent this stove with and outside air hookup if you don't what do you use behind the stove where the air hookup would go?.....well there it goes my first post and i hope i didn't make it to confusing...im posting some pics of my wood stove where i plan i doing this project...

Thanks in advance for futue comments..... you guys on this forum are a world of information i don't think i would even be ready if is wasn't for all the great post on here.
 

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Joey, PM sent with part numbers & pics.

I recommend using the OAK on any pellet stove. But if you decide not to, there is nothing that has to be done to the back of the stove.
 
Thanks imacman got your pics im going to check these out this week as i have to start geting everything prepped for my soon arrival of my new pellet stove as i go along i know im going to have many questions...thanks a million for responding so quick.......

Have a happy new year....


Joey.....
 
Hello

Good Luck with your new Pellet Stove, I have an Avalon Astoria and really like it, so let us know if you have any more questions.

For Yearly Cleaning Tips for your Avalon Astoria. See these threads with Pics of the Astoria Blowers.

Wood Pellet Stove Yearly Cleaning - Convection Blower
https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/60351/

Wood Pellet Stove Yearly Cleaning - Exhaust Blower
https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/60251/

Hope this helps. Lets see some pics when you get yours please?? :)
 

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Just had my first pellet stove installed and it is an avalon. I am very happy with it. Ours is heating 3600 sq feet with 9 foot ceilings and a 2 story foyer. It does the job down to about 20 degrees outsite (keeping the house around 70). Only real issue I have had with it is that the sheet metal on the hopper was humming from the convection fan when the hopper gets empty and the fan is on high. Has an easy solution, keep the hopper full. In the off season I'll fix it.

We love the stove and it works great.
 
quickrch said:
Only real issue I have had with it is that the sheet metal on the hopper was humming from the convection fan when the hopper gets empty and the fan is on high. Has an easy solution, keep the hopper full. In the off season I'll fix it.

quickrch, it's possible that the convection fan blower is out of balance. There is usually a little metal "clip" attached to one of the fins to balance it, but I guess it's possible it came off during shipping or cleaning.
 
Hey guys so i got my stove pipe adapters this week i had to order them on line as none of the dealers had the one i needed so this week i will be buying my pellet stove and i went looking at other stoves let me tell you the more time i have to look at other stoves the more i pull my hair i am 90% that i want the avalon astoria but after going to one dealer that swears harman is the best thing since slice bread ..he was showing me the p68 that thing was puting out alot of heat ....and then i went to a dealer not far from there and he was a enviro guy he was trying to push the cast m55 which looks nice very quiet but he had it on 5 and it didnt seem to be blowing out to hard compare to the harman...imac or donn does the avalon on high really push?

my dealer wants 3299 for the avalon astoria is that a good price i dont have too many dealers that sell avalon near me in the north east ct area...what do you guys think as i must make a decsion very soon....i just want to make the right choice.
 
Nothing wrong with the Harman P61....it is a heating monster, but remember that comes at a price (the stove price, and it uses a LOT of pellets to produce a lot of heat).

The Enviro M55 is getting good reviews, but you seem to think it doesn't put out a lot of air.

Hard to tell you how much air the Astoria pushes out....I thought you had seen one running in person. I heated about 2000 sq. ft with mine, and never had it set above medium except for once when it was below zero here for a few days....then I had it on 1st high setting (first red light)....NEVER ran it on High for any extended time period.

It's a solid stove, easy to work on, and pretty simple design. The HUGE hopper was a big plus for me. Heat wise, it doesn't have the P61's BTU capacity, if you need all that.
 
thanks imac i did see one this week but they had it on a skytech therm the lights were on med and i asked the kid if he could put it on high so i could hear the blower on high and feel it... but he said it was on high not sure if he new what i was talking about...so i left it at that...on the avalon i read the manual says you can adjust the fan speed on the blower separate from the heat settings is that right...i know some stoves you cant adjust the blower as it works with the stove temp...like i said earlier im favoring the avalon for sure ...i love the look and its capacity of the hopper, its just those last minutes doubts before final purchase im pretty sure its common.i would like to know about the pricing though if i can do better or if thats the going price...
 
Another quick question can anybody tell me if there were any changes to the avalon astoria between 2008 and current models... i know someone who has a 2008 date model and my be able to get cheaper than getting a newer one....Thanks in advance for anyones input.....
 
I have owned 2 astoria's and run both of the using the inside air. No issues at all, keep the exhaust clean just like the stove and you will be fine!
 
joey70 said:
...on the avalon i read the manual says you can adjust the fan speed on the blower separate from the heat settings is that right...

Yes, the heat & blower settings can be set separately, but just like the Englander stoves and others, my recommendation is to keep the blower set AT LEAST as high as the heat setting, or higher.
 
I have had my Astoria since Nov of 09. I love it. Its easy to work on and really heats well. The huge hopper and huge ash drawer means allows me to service it much less then I ever imagined. My house layout prohibits the air from the stove to really move. Thats my only frustration I am heating 1100 sqf (1500 when done with the remodel) And i can't push the air out to the furthest room in my house. This is not the stoves fault its just the way my house is layed out. Its quiet effeicient and does pretty well with any pellet, not to picky. My stove dealer did not install a OAK which is something I would like to revisit. I purchased a englander 25pdv from craigslist to supplement in me room that stays cold. Compared I like the top feed system of the avalon stoves. If you have any questions don't be afraid to PM me.
 
quickrch said:
Just had my first pellet stove installed and it is an avalon. I am very happy with it. Ours is heating 3600 sq feet with 9 foot ceilings and a 2 story foyer. It does the job down to about 20 degrees outsite (keeping the house around 70). Only real issue I have had with it is that the sheet metal on the hopper was humming from the convection fan when the hopper gets empty and the fan is on high. Has an easy solution, keep the hopper full. In the off season I'll fix it.

We love the stove and it works great.

My Avalon Newport had the exact same problem. I made the dealer replace the blower under warranty. It sounded like a popcorn was stuck inside the squirrel cage. The fan was not concentric on the shafts and the thing vibrated horribly.

Oddly enough, the vibration did not lead to any rumbling noises, just this constant annoying ticking noise. The new blower is much better.

One thing that ticked me off.

"MADE IN ESTONIA"

WTF???
 
Well sorry for not posting sooner but had a little delay just had my knee replaced and was recovering from the surgery..so i didnt get to finish install till yesterday but better late than never.... so here it is the pic of my new Avalon...this this heats up let me tell you last not i left it on 3rd seting and my house was 77 had to lower it ...

So now i have to play with the settings to find out whats just right one queston i have is Donn what is the best setting to leave the restrictor rod on i left it on 1 last night everthing seems fine but glass looked kind of dirty for just being on a couple of hrs should the rod be on like 2 or 3 and what is the primary purpose of the rod for more heat or What...i also didnt get a chance to install the oak but going to run it like this for the remaining season if it needs it i will istall in the summer no rush for that...

I am also going to install thermostat this weekend ..well guys thanks for all the advice...right now just want to know about that Rod so i can get that out of my mind...i also got rid of the flapper chute as it was installed just unscrewed and it fell right out didnt want any chances of having any jams...so far happy camper
 

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joey70 said:
Well sorry for not posting sooner but had a little delay just had my knee replaced and was recovering from the surgery..so i didnt get to finish install till yesterday but better late than never.... so here it is the pic of my new Avalon...this this heats up let me tell you last not i left it on 3rd setting and my house was 77 had to lower it ...

So now i have to play with the settings to find out whats just right one question i have is Don what is the best setting to leave the restrictor rod on i left it on 1 last night everthing seems fine but glass looked kind of dirty for just being on a couple of hrs should the rod be on like 2 or 3 and what is the primary purpose of the rod for more heat or What...i also didnt get a chance to install the oak but going to run it like this for the remaining season if it needs it i will istall in the summer no rush for that...

I am also going to install thermostat this weekend ..well guys thanks for all the advice...right now just want to know about that Rod so i can get that out of my mind...i also got rid of the flapper chute as it was installed just unscrewed and it fell right out didnt want any chances of having any jams...so far happy camper

Hi Joey

Very nice pic. Looks great!!!

Yes, I keep the restrictor anywhere from 1.5 to 2.5 to get a nice V fire like the manual states.


I did some research and in Southern NH it was a good choice for me also. I had it for one season already and found it took only 3 tons to heat my house for the entire winter. So I just bought 3 tons of Logik-e premium hardwood pellets made in Canada for the next year.

The tough part was figuring out what fan speed and heat settings to use so I made a chart from my experience. Hope this helps in making your own chart grin

The following chart is a guide for heating the whole house (Split Entry) with the stove installed in the center of the basement with 2 registers with a convection fan and a doorway fan in the doorway to the basement.
Pellet Stove Heat Setting, with the Air Restrictor on 2 and the Convection Fan on 6 (Highest)
Wind Speed +or-5 MPH >>
5 10 20
Outside Temp +or-5 Degrees
v v Astoria Heat Setting (1-6) Astoria Heat Setting (1-6) Astoria Heat Setting (1-6)
0 4 5 6
10 3 4 5
20 2 3 4
30 1 2 3

Example1: Early Saturday morning on 01-30-2010, The wind speed was 20 MPH and outside temperature was 4 degrees. the chart says 6 for the heat setting. At that time, we had it set to 5 when we were asleep and 6 when we woke up for more warmth and comfort!!

Example2:
02-07-2010 at 2 pm, the temperature was 27 degrees F, and the Wind Speed was 9 MPH. Therefore, the chart above puts the heat setting between 3 and 2 (slightly closer to 2) We have it set to 3 for comfort although 2 would be adaquate!!

Here is more info I compiled about the Astoria on my computer
http://24.34.84.89:8080/trhproj.nsf...42e1a03a71224912852575f4000e74cb?OpenDocument

Good Luck
Don
 
Perfect Thanks...i will keep it on 1.5 for now see how that goes Donn what about the glass is that normal while its is not dirty to the point where i cant see through just a little hazy.....what about a thermostat any recommedations....
 
joey70 said:
Perfect Thanks...i will keep it on 1.5 for now see how that goes Don what about the glass is that normal while its is not dirty to the point where i cant see through just a little hazy.....what about a thermostat any recommedations....

Hi Joey

The glass does get a little hazy on heat setting 2 or 3 and really dirty on heat setting 1. I am not sure the air wash is working as good as it should. Maybe you can get more information on that.

As far as the thermostat we recommend one made for a pellet stove with a "Swing Temp" setting like the skytech.

Any millivolt thermostat will work. However since Pellet Stoves take time to turn off and then turn back on, unlike gas and oil appliances, it is recommended to get a thermostat with a “Swing Temp†setting like a Skytech

Info from Skytech Manual Page 5 >> http://tinyurl.com/2wcu4ho
The thermo-transmitter operates the fireplace system whenever the
ROOM TEMPERATURE varies a certain number of degrees from the
SET TEMPERATURE. This variation is called the �SWING� or
TEMPERATURE DIFFERENTIAL. The normal operating cycle of a
fireplace system may be 2-4 times per hour depending on how well
the room or home is insulated from the cold or drafts. A smaller
�swing number� increases the number of cycles so the room
temperature is more constant. A larger �swing number� decreases the
number of cycles, which saves energy, in most cases. The factory
setting for the �swing number� is 2. This represents a temperature
variation of +/- 2 0 F (1 0C ) between SET temperature and ROOM
temperature which determines when the fireplace will be activate. The
�SWING� number values are:
1= +/- 1 0 F (.5 0C ), 2= +/- 2 0 F (1 0C ), 3 = +/-3 0 F (1.6 0C ).

MANUAL CHECK OF �SWING� OR TEMPERATURE DIFFERENTIAL
The operation of the factory set �THERMO SWING� can be checked by adjusting the SET TEMP 2 0 F above or below the room temperature.
This will cause the system to turn ON or OFF. Normally the system will only respond to temperature changes every two minutes. Manually
changing the SET temperature will activate the system in less than 10 seconds. If the �SWING� is changed, then a new room temperature
differential will respond. Factory setting of SWING temperature is 2 0 F.
OPERATIONAL NOTE: TO CONSERVE BATTERY POWER, CHANGES IN TEMPERATURE ARE ONLY RECORDED EVERY TWO
MINUTES. Additionally, to prevent repeated thermo-cycling of the gas appliance, the sensing unit in the transmitter will only activate the
remote receiver when the temperature change exceeds 2 0 F (1 0C ) above or below the SET (desired) temperature. However, if the
�SWING� setting has been changed from the factory setting (2 0 F /10C ), then thermo-cycling will activate at the new setting of the �SWING�
number.
MANUAL CHECK OF THERMO OPERATION
The operation of the Thermo setting can be checked on demand by adjusting the SET temperature 2 0 F above or below the room
temperature, which will cause the system to turn ON or OFF, respectively. Normally, however, the system will only respond to temperature
changes every two minutes. NOTE: if �SWING� number has been changed, then activation will occur at the new �SWING� setting.
When the gas fireplace system is activated, a FLAME icon will display on the LCD screen indicating a signal has been sent from the
transmitter.
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
 
Great thanks Don sorry for the extra n my typing skills are not that great...Great info will look into shytech tstat saw one at the stove dealer for 249.00 but way over priced looks like i can get the same one online for 100 dollars cheaper those dealers are always looking to make double the profit......
 
Hi Guys today i starting smelling that woodburning smell in the house so i waited till it got dark took my flashlight around the whole stove and found smoke coming from the ash pan then i noticed the trap door is not fully closed and smoke is coming from the ashpan is the trap door adjustable is the trap door suppose to close all the way because mine doesnt close all the way theres like a 1/8 of an inch gap im waiting for the stove to cool down so i can take a better look.....
 
Hello Joey

Take a picture and post it before you change anything so we can see and comment please?

Thanks
 
Joey.... IIRC, there was a small gap like that on my Astoria too. If the if the ash slide is all the way in and you can close the door, then that's it.

As for the ash pan...make sure you slide it straight back when closing it.....it IS possible to slide it in crooked. But there still shouldn't be any smoke from the pan.....the combustion blower makes the ash pan a negative pressure area.
 
My slide looks just like that too.
 
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