Hi all,
My St Croix seems to be burning well, and I am just wondering if this ash is normal. I am burning Instant Heat hardwood pellets. When I got the stove, I burned 10 bags of Instant Heat (a different batch), then 10 bags of Stove Chow. I then bought the current ton of Instant Heat that I am burning now, and the ash seems heavier and coarser than with the other two batches of pellets. I have recently closed the damper to where the manual calls for, since the installer said to leave the damper wide open. This didn't make sense to me, but I did it until recently. I seem to get more heat out of the stove now. I'm not positive, but I think that this "heavier" ash started showing up after I closed the damper. The flame is still lively, no problems lighting, I think I have sufficient airflow, the stove is very clean.
The ash is mixed gray and black, fluffily, and easy to clean. I would like to know if this is normal, since I have little experience, this being my first pellet stove.
Thanks!
Photo of the ash:
My St Croix seems to be burning well, and I am just wondering if this ash is normal. I am burning Instant Heat hardwood pellets. When I got the stove, I burned 10 bags of Instant Heat (a different batch), then 10 bags of Stove Chow. I then bought the current ton of Instant Heat that I am burning now, and the ash seems heavier and coarser than with the other two batches of pellets. I have recently closed the damper to where the manual calls for, since the installer said to leave the damper wide open. This didn't make sense to me, but I did it until recently. I seem to get more heat out of the stove now. I'm not positive, but I think that this "heavier" ash started showing up after I closed the damper. The flame is still lively, no problems lighting, I think I have sufficient airflow, the stove is very clean.
The ash is mixed gray and black, fluffily, and easy to clean. I would like to know if this is normal, since I have little experience, this being my first pellet stove.
Thanks!
Photo of the ash: