Sooty window

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DemonGT

Member
Oct 19, 2011
156
Sparta,WI
have alot of soot building up on my window. what would cause this?

IMG_5043.jpg
 
Clogged airwash, inside door on top of glass should be some thin metal brackets held on by screws, remove that and clean the dust out of the crack on top of glass
 
Seems like a lot of ash around the firepot. This might due to a lot of glowing embers flying out of the pot and smoldering, causing your sooty glass. You may have to adjust your damper down (less air)? Mike
 
fire seems brisk

ill try adjusting the damper

could a bad door gasket cause this?
 
It's caused by burning pellets... pretty normal looking to me.
 
In my research, dirty glass is caused by the design of the stove or the pellets burned. My stove glass always gets fogged, as does the glass on most stoves I have seen. The particular brand or batch of the same brand of pellets can make a huge difference. Some stoves seem to burn for quite some time before the glass gets dirty. I want my next stove to have this feature.
 
good to know that is pretty normal, what is the best way to clean it? i have some fireplace cleaner that works good but the fumes burn my eyes
 
DemonGT said:
good to know that is pretty normal, what is the best way to clean it? i have some fireplace cleaner that works good but the fumes burn my eyes

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I use Magic Eraser. A lot of folks actually use ashes to clean their glass. That cleaner is very toxic.
 
If you look you'll notice the area between the airwash brack and the glass is completely filled with ash.

Looks like you are burning on a low setting and going a long time between stove cleanings judging by how much ash has built up inside the stove. Glass needs cleaning every couple days on low settings and probably more like once a week on high.

Normal, clean it. :)
 
I use one of those 4-in sponge brushes that cost about 20 cents. Run it under water, shake it so it's damp and paint the glass. No soot to get off your hands. Do this till clean. May have to rinse the brush again. Then a clean (maybe damp) paper towel. Stubborn stuff (rare for me) add a little ash to the damp paper towel. Then rinse the brush for next time. A couple of these brushes will last a season. And best of all, no chemies.
 
My St Croix stays much cleaner now that I am burning my stock of Doug Fir pellets. The SIH's I had been using are pretty ashy in comparison and, to be fair, I had been using the #1 or2 setting most days.
 
Hello

First - Please tell us what kind of stove you have. Even better if you add it to your signature!

Looks like a Pelpro Bay View Insert with an AccuTron II control. If so does it heat well? I just picked up a Pelpro FS Bay View!

Second, Pellet stoves will soot up more easily on a low heat setting and if it is very mild or warm outside.

If so you must increase the Intake Air and I do know that the Air Intake damper on the Pelpros are very touchy!

So How old is the unit? (See inside lid date stamp)

What kind of wood pellets are you using? Did you do the dollar bill test on the door gasket to check for any air leaks?
 
Low end pellets...and low heat will do this...cheapest way I've found to clean it is using vinegar. Straight for really bad carbon, and 50/50 with water otherwise.
 
Don2222 said:
Hello

First - Please tell us what kind of stove you have. Even better if you add it to your signature!

Looks like a Pelpro Bay View Insert with an AccuTron II control. If so does it heat well? I just picked up a Pelpro FS Bay View!

Second, Pellet stoves will soot up more easily on a low heat setting and if it is very mild or warm outside.

If so you must increase the Intake Air and I do know that the Air Intake damper on the Pelpros are very touchy!

So How old is the unit? (See inside lid date stamp)

What kind of wood pellets are you using? Did you do the dollar bill test on the door gasket to check for any air leaks?

yes, it is a bay view insert, it heats very well. my house is just over 1800SQ feet. the auger seems a bit noisy but other then that we
really like it. the unit is alittle over 4 years old. we just bought this house last spring and the previous owners who built the house new
4 years ago had it installed when the house was built.

have not done the dollar bill test, i am burning indeck energy pellets
 
DemonGT said:
Don2222 said:
Hello

First - Please tell us what kind of stove you have. Even better if you add it to your signature!

Looks like a Pelpro Bay View Insert with an AccuTron II control. If so does it heat well? I just picked up a Pelpro FS Bay View!

Second, Pellet stoves will soot up more easily on a low heat setting and if it is very mild or warm outside.

If so you must increase the Intake Air and I do know that the Air Intake damper on the Pelpros are very touchy!

So How old is the unit? (See inside lid date stamp)

What kind of wood pellets are you using? Did you do the dollar bill test on the door gasket to check for any air leaks?

yes, it is a bay view insert, it heats very well. my house is just over 1800SQ feet. the auger seems a bit noisy but other then that we
really like it. the unit is alittle over 4 years old. we just bought this house last spring and the previous owners who built the house new
4 years ago had it installed when the house was built.

have not done the dollar bill test, i am burning indeck energy pellets

Very nice, glad to hear it heats well. The Bay View I just picked up is 5 years old. The door gasket may need replacing. So close the door on a dollar bill and try to pull it out. If you can pull it out then the door needs to be tighter or the gasket needs to be replaced. Repeat the test for all 4 sides.

Here is the Owner's Manual to see the settings.
http://www.dansons.com/pdfs/manuals/manual-pelpro.pdf

What heat setting and fan speed are you running it?

The Pelpro I picked up worked but had a couple of problems.

1. The shell looked like a piece of crap!
See the painting
https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/83145/

2. The room blower did not always start.
See my $5.00 fix
https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/83103/

Good luck and tell us how your test goes.
 

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recently iv been running it at feed rate 1 and fan speed 1, some times feed rate 2 and fan 2. so lower settings
 
DemonGT said:
recently iv been running it at feed rate 1 and fan speed 1, some times feed rate 2 and fan 2. so lower settings

Hello

Yes, like the other guys said, running on the low setting will cause the window to soot up quickly since there is not enough air movement for the air wash to be more effective.

You should also have the Yearly cleaning done of your blowers.

My Astoria is not the same stove but the same basics apply

Once you get both blowers out you can follow the tips and pics I got on cleaning them here.
You can do it yourself or have it professionally cleaned and lubed.
It will make your blowers last alot longer believe me!

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/

Good luck

P.S. How was the dollar bill test?
If it fails, your model takes a 5/8" rope gasket that can be purchased at Lowes.
Gasket Kit only $8.48
http://www.lowes.com/pd_67093-85334...RL;=/pl__0__s?Ntt=imperial+gasket&facetInfo;=
 

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i have another thread about getting behind the insert, i have not figured out how to get behind it to clean. i emailed pelpro and they said it should just pull out but it dose not.
im pretty sure the previous owner never had it serviced/cleaned
 
Hello DemonGT

One question?

Does the stove blow cool air out before it warms up from a cold start? Does the room blower come on right away?
 
SXIPro said:
A lot of folks actually use ashes to clean their glass.

I'm one of those. Once a week when I clean the stove, I dip a damp rag in the ash bin and clean the glass. Another damp rag cleans up the streaking
 
Don2222 said:
Hello DemonGT

One question?

Does the stove blow cool air out before it warms up from a cold start? Does the room blower come on right away?

yes it dose
 
DemonGT said:
Don2222 said:
Hello DemonGT

One question?

Does the stove blow cool air out before it warms up from a cold start? Does the room blower come on right away?

yes it dose

Thanks, when I went to look at this stove the guy turned it on. My friend said it's blowing cold air that's not so good!!


I talked the guy down $50 and I thought it worked that way.

Anyway, I fixed the room blower.
I just repainted the whole stove and now I am putting stove polish on it. Then I have to replace the door gasket and I can fire it up!


Can't wait! Thanks for the info!!
 
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