Yearly Clean/Maintenance on Harman Accentra-2

I'm getting ready to call the dealer I bought my stove from, to get annual cleaning. (I admit I was bad and didn't get it cleaned last year). It was installed in 2007 and I had it cleaned in 2008 and 2009. They charged $100 each time. I was not home when they did it.

I found a post in this forum some time ago which I pasted to my email as reference for what SHOULD be done w/ annual maintenance. Since I was never home when they did it, I don't know what they did, but I have serious doubts they did much besides vacuum out the inside. So this year I intend to be home looking over their shoulder (they'll love that). When I call to make the appt do you think I should ask them what they do, exactly (in detail), and see if it compares to the list I got on this forum?

The problem is, I don't remember where I found the post and which specific stove the poster was referencing so I dont' know if all things are relevant. here's a run down of what the poster said should be done for cleaning ---

Clean exhaust vent all the way through to outside air, remove squirrel convection fan and remove lint
Clean fine trap
Remove sand from air intake
Remove igniter and clean the fins
clean the vacuum switch intake baffle
remove the ESP probe and clean it
remove exhaust housing plate and clean the impeller
blow out the airwash system for the glass
wash the glass
remove ash from the property

He said a good technician will also start the stove and make sure it cycles through startup, run it for 20 mins, check the magnehelic pressure w/ a gauge (you're looking for .32 inches of WC) and then monitor the shut down procedure.

The poster said he gets around $245-270 for this. That's why I really doubt my place is doing all this stuff.

I don't know anything about the parts and workings of the stove. I don't do any maintenance on it myself. Can anyone tell me if these maintenance/cleaning procedures are all valid for a Harman Accentra-2? Or should I just run all this stuff by the guy I'm calling and sound stupid if my stove doesn't have certain parts, etc? heh...

Sorry this is so long!

Thanks for the help.

Edit--I did a search and found the original thread...

https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/57638/

newf, I know. I took it for granted they were doing it right because I bought the stove there and they have a good reputation (or so I heard), this is Bernardston Farmer's Supply.
I really want it cleaned right, so hopefully talking with them and being there will help.

Don, my stove did not come with a detailed manual like that, it only has 30 pages total and of that, only a handful are for maintenance, it's not in color, it has a yellow cover (not glossy, is cheaply made). If I was supposed to get a better manual, I never did.

As already mentioned I don't do any maintenance on it myself, i don't have the tools or the know how, I just clean it out w/ a vacuum sometimes.

But thanks you guys for the tips I can pass on to the dealer when they come to service it.

Ok I called and spoke to the owner, Doug, and I read him the list of all the things that were posted here, and he was quick to say that yes each thing is done by his main stove cleanerguy, Matt.

I'll be home when they come on 8/22 this time so I'll be watching and asking the guy as he does each thing, what he's doing (w/ my list in hand). Of course he could lie and I'd have no clue...but at least being there maybe I'll get my $150 worth (price has gone up, but is still reasonable compared to what I've seen here, IF they do what they say they do).

Here's hopin'!

what's accessing the distribution blower require?? I mentioned that and Doug made it sound like no big deal. Do they have to get under the stove or something? Can it be reached from the back?

By the way, like I mentioned, I do have the manual that came w/ the stove, and I just did a search and found a pdf of the Accentra-2 manual, and it's just like mine..about 29-30 pages long, with info on installation, use, etc but not a lot on cleaning/service.

This is not an insert, by the way. Freestanding.

hwdemers said:

in reading all of the replice on this thread i notice no one mentioned the check the magnehelic pressure w/ a gauge. this is one of the most importan aspect of the service call. if they are not doing this then u are probly not getting the most heat for your $$$.

Click to expand...

I mentioned that over the phone and the owner said they check that when they install it but it isn't necessary to check it during cleanings. ??? The guy who came to clean it said the same thing (But I wasn't convinced he knew a lot, he was young and I don't think worked there very long).

ANy thoughts on the truth of that pressure being checked only during install?