MT Vernon runs constantly - Should it?

Mt Vernon AE's are designed to ramp down to low when reaching desired temp.

Far as I'm concerned it will prolong ingnitor life.

If you want it to cycle more try a manual setting higher then low.

I made it 3 yrs on first igniter. Changed igniter ran on manual last year. Igniter worked for about 1 week at start of this year. Then died. Upgraded burn pot and igniter. Think I may go back to Auto mode. Does anyone know the pellet usage comparison for auto to manual?

I always figured there wouldn't be much difference between hogging down pellets on manual medium(cycling more) or idling along on low. For my setup.(just an example)

In Auto mode, it is supposed to get to within 2 degrees of the set point, then ramp down to low. This is kinda like the stove manufacturers high/low mode. I run mine in auto and set it for 2 degrees higher than I actually want so it reaches my desired set point. I feel doing this keeps my home at a steady even temp. In manual mode it will reach temp then shut down until the temp drops back down to the offset temp, then the stove works harder to again get back up to temp. I feel I am saving on ignitors as well as the even temps, and I am still only burning 1 bag per day all season, same as when on manual, so I am not wasting any more fuel either way. The stoves are made to run so I am not worried about the motors. Most stoves run in this way.

EarlyMan said:

Hi All -

First Season with the MT Vernon. We've been running it for a couple weeks now. Temp is set to 70 degrees on Auto. It runs constantly, 24/7. The T'stat reads AUTO:LOW and it's always a degree or so from the set temp. Shouldn't it run at a higher flame setting/feed rate until it hits the set point and then shut off (like our oil furnace does?) What kind of wear and tear should I expect if it never shuts off?

EarlyMan

Click to expand...

I have mine running on automatic right now and its actually not running much/short cycling. set at 75.

If your running constantly set at 70 this time of the year, you must have a big a$$ house or not much insulation?

Seems to me your pellet cosumption will be alot per day come dead of winter?

smoke show said:

EarlyMan said:

Hi All -

First Season with the MT Vernon. We've been running it for a couple weeks now. Temp is set to 70 degrees on Auto. It runs constantly, 24/7. The T'stat reads AUTO:LOW and it's always a degree or so from the set temp. Shouldn't it run at a higher flame setting/feed rate until it hits the set point and then shut off (like our oil furnace does?) What kind of wear and tear should I expect if it never shuts off?

EarlyMan

Click to expand...

I have mine running on automatic right now and its actually not running much/short cycling. set at 75.

If your running constantly set at 70 this time of the year, you must have a big a$$ house or not much insulation?

Seems to me your pellet cosumption will be alot per day come dead of winter?

Click to expand...

There's some good sized houses in EarlyMan's part of Maine.

A lot of windows is an issue as they are the second major heat loss in a house the first heat loss in the house is usually air infiltration. It is possible that there is more heat loss through air infiltration than all of the other heat losses in a house.

Lots of things to consider.

Mine rarely comes of off low running on auto. heating 2000 sq ft 2 story. 1000 sq ft 1st floor and 1000 sq ft 2nd floor. 3.5 tons/season.

And it will hit the set temp running on low, untill the real cold sets in.

EarlyMan said:

SmokeyTheBear said:

smoke show said:

EarlyMan said:

Hi All -

First Season with the MT Vernon. We've been running it for a couple weeks now. Temp is set to 70 degrees on Auto. It runs constantly, 24/7. The T'stat reads AUTO:LOW and it's always a degree or so from the set temp. Shouldn't it run at a higher flame setting/feed rate until it hits the set point and then shut off (like our oil furnace does?) What kind of wear and tear should I expect if it never shuts off?

EarlyMan

Click to expand...

I have mine running on automatic right now and its actually not running much/short cycling. set at 75.

If your running constantly set at 70 this time of the year, you must have a big a$$ house or not much insulation?

Seems to me your pellet cosumption will be alot per day come dead of winter?

Click to expand...

There's some good sized houses in EarlyMan's part of Maine.

Click to expand...

You are right; however, ours isn't one of them. It's less than 2000 sq. ft. It was built 10 years ago, so it's well insulated. We have a lot of windows and a cathedral ceiling directly above the stove, so that doesn't help anything. The dealer I bought mine from has the same stove in his house and he said that he runs his on auto during the shoulder season, but runs it on manual/low all winter long.

Now I'm not sure if I should switch to manual when it gets really cold, or if I should keep it on auto all the time. What do others think about this?

EarlyMan

Click to expand...

I run mine on auto all season long, it works very well for me