Dirty burn? More smoke than usual

skydmark1 · Nov 8, 2011

Hello everyone,

This is my fourth season burning pellets. The previous three seasons I've noticed that I only get visible smoke out my vent kit when the stove first starts up then it pretty well goes away, not much smell outside either. This year I almost always have visible smoke and I can smell the smoke from anywhere in my yard. I'm burning a new pellet right now, Green Supreme from Lowe's and they burn nice and hot with a low ash. They do however burn faster I noticed, and with the stove down on low they will sometimes almost burn out before more pellets are pushed into the burn pot. Could this be the reason for my smoke? Is my stove burning dirty? Should I try adjusting my air at all?

My stove is an england stove works model #55shp10 (the small one) Last season I replaced the top auger motor with a replacement from Gleason Avery, I replaced the exhaust blower gasket and before I started this season I replaced the window gasket.

Thanks for any help !!!

SmokeyTheBear · Nov 8, 2011

skydmark1 said:
Hello everyone,

This is my fourth season burning pellets. The previous three seasons I've noticed that I only get visible smoke out my vent kit when the stove first starts up then it pretty well goes away, not much smell outside either. This year I almost always have visible smoke and I can smell the smoke from anywhere in my yard. I'm burning a new pellet right now, Green Supreme from Lowe's and they burn nice and hot with a low ash. They do however burn faster I noticed, and with the stove down on low they will sometimes almost burn out before more pellets are pushed into the burn pot. Could this be the reason for my smoke? Is my stove burning dirty? Should I try adjusting my air at all?

My stove is an england stove works model #55shp10 (the small one) Last season I replaced the top auger motor with a replacement from Gleason Avery, I replaced the exhaust blower gasket and before I started this season I replaced the window gasket.

Thanks for any help

When you replaced the exhaust blower gasket did you clean the cavity the blower fan sits in? How much crud was in there?

How about the impeller on that blower and the area between the impeller and the mounting plate did you clean that?

Have you introduced a leaf blower (vacuum mode) to your stoves vent system after doing your normal vent and stove cleaning?

How is the burn pot gasket?

Is the area around and in front of your igniter free of ash this includes between the igniter and the air tube it is inside of?

skydmark1 · Nov 8, 2011

I cleaned the exhaust blower area thoroughly when I changed that gasket, it actually wasn't too bad considering I'd burnt about 10 tons before doing this. The igniter area is clean, we regularly clean with a shop vac to suck out anything that might work its way into that hole. As far as the burn pot gasket, I'll admit that it has not been changed ever. Do you think this would make a big difference?

I guess my real question is, does my stove need work/maintenance or is this a product of the mixed pellets I'm burning?

SmokeyTheBear · Nov 8, 2011

If you are burning on low and your pellets are basically burning so fast that the fire dies down almost to the point of going out and the new pellet are just making it to the fire it is like continuous ignition cycles are occurring and that will generate a lot more smoke.

You have the choice of reducing the air going to the pellets or increasing the pellet feed to provide a steady fire.

Gasket issues tend to rob the fire of air it needs and if severe enough cause a smoldering burn.

stoveguy2esw · Nov 8, 2011

post the manufacture date of the unit so i can give you default settings for the board , its possible someone may inadvertantly adjusted one and this could cause the unit to burn diferently if you post the date of the unit i'll reply with the defaults

homer1 · Nov 8, 2011

SmokeyTheBear said:
If you are burning on low and your pellets are basically burning so fast that the fire dies down almost to the point of going out and the new pellet are just making it to the fire it is like continuous ignition cycles are occurring and that will generate a lot more smoke.

You have the choice of reducing the air going to the pellets or increasing the pellet feed to provide a steady fire.

Gasket issues tend to rob the fire of air it needs and if severe enough cause a smoldering burn.

so on a england stove 25-pdvc made in 2010 set at 4-4-1 and top on 1-5
and is continuous ignition cycle you would set at 4-3-1 to used the same # of pellets but stop the smoke ???

skydmark1 · Nov 9, 2011

My stove's manufacturing date is - 2/08 and I believe the defaults should be 6-4-1 which is what it is currently set at. So if I move to 6-3-1 or 7-4-1 it should improve? Also, just threw in a bag of my Green Team to see if that makes a difference.

Panhandler · Nov 9, 2011

SmokeyTheBear said:
If you are burning on low and your pellets are basically burning so fast that the fire dies down almost to the point of going out and the new pellet are just making it to the fire it is like continuous ignition cycles are occurring and that will generate a lot more smoke.

You have the choice of reducing the air going to the pellets or increasing the pellet feed to provide a steady fire.

Gasket issues tend to rob the fire of air it needs and if severe enough cause a smoldering burn.

The only time I can smell smoke from my PDVC is when burning on 1 with the slide gate in the hopper too far closed. Adding to this, longer pellets can reduce the feed. Opening this will increase the feed which should help as Smokey suggested.

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Dirty burn? More smoke than usual

skydmark1

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SmokeyTheBear

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skydmark1

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SmokeyTheBear

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stoveguy2esw

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homer1

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skydmark1

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Panhandler

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