OOOOOOOK
Our Whitfield Prodigy 2 that has a 24" direct vent system had a vent fire this morning.
I usually run the stove on low all the time and this morning decided to bump the thing up on number 2 to warm the house a little faster.
I went in to the computer room /office to have my coffee and surf the net a while, and came out for a second cup and noticed that the stove sounded different.
I went to investigate and then noticed a smell that was unusual, suspecting a motor going away I investigated further.
There was smoke coming off of the Pipes inner surface which was extremely hot and nomally is barely warm to the touch.
I ran outside and the vent elbo was smoking hot.
Shut the fuel off during the first inspection.
I got heavy gloves and then removed the elbo and inspected the pipe, YEAH BUDDY the normal little fuzzy sooty coating had lit off and waas glowing red hot.
I removed the inner wall thimble and inspected the insulation and the wall board and things were very warm but no issues.
I had ASSUMED that the nut shells did not produce creosote, but they do leave a slightly oily residue when burning on LOW HEAT.
I am glad that the pipe is so short, as a long tall pipe would have had a considerable draft and may have been tougher to deal with.
We had to run to Portland for a few hours and I relit the stove after we returned home and all seems fine.
I am thinking installing a surface mount temp sensor on the outer jacket of the pipe and connect this in with the feed motor circuit to avert another incident.
I am also thinking that I will need to clean the pipe more often, possibly every two weeks instead of monthly.
Just a word to the wise, dont ever think that a pellet stove can't havae a flue fire, THEY CAN.
Snowy
Our Whitfield Prodigy 2 that has a 24" direct vent system had a vent fire this morning.
I usually run the stove on low all the time and this morning decided to bump the thing up on number 2 to warm the house a little faster.
I went in to the computer room /office to have my coffee and surf the net a while, and came out for a second cup and noticed that the stove sounded different.
I went to investigate and then noticed a smell that was unusual, suspecting a motor going away I investigated further.
There was smoke coming off of the Pipes inner surface which was extremely hot and nomally is barely warm to the touch.
I ran outside and the vent elbo was smoking hot.
Shut the fuel off during the first inspection.
I got heavy gloves and then removed the elbo and inspected the pipe, YEAH BUDDY the normal little fuzzy sooty coating had lit off and waas glowing red hot.
I removed the inner wall thimble and inspected the insulation and the wall board and things were very warm but no issues.
I had ASSUMED that the nut shells did not produce creosote, but they do leave a slightly oily residue when burning on LOW HEAT.
I am glad that the pipe is so short, as a long tall pipe would have had a considerable draft and may have been tougher to deal with.
We had to run to Portland for a few hours and I relit the stove after we returned home and all seems fine.
I am thinking installing a surface mount temp sensor on the outer jacket of the pipe and connect this in with the feed motor circuit to avert another incident.
I am also thinking that I will need to clean the pipe more often, possibly every two weeks instead of monthly.
Just a word to the wise, dont ever think that a pellet stove can't havae a flue fire, THEY CAN.
Snowy