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  1. N.E S4 Member

    joined: Nov 28, 2012
    116 posts
    I would like to know what brand of pellet stove you have, the model and how long do you have it running before you shut it down for cleaning?

    Just to help me understand the quality of the stove if it's well build.
    #1

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  2. glenc0322 Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 30, 2011
    555 posts
    long Island NY
    I have a Harman Accentra Insert and i clean it every sunday weather I use it 1 day or 24/7 there are to many variables to list as to when you should clean them and that is not a good bases of the quality of the stove. There are a lot of great stoves on the market. What you should look at is what is being sold in your area incase there is a problem who will service it. how much you need to heat and the space you have. there are also a ton of other things to consider in buying one. I chose mine because it had great reviews and I needed an insert for space. Also I like the way it looked and the store I purchased it from has a very good technical dept.
  3. Woody1911a1 Member

    joined: Sep 23, 2012
    249 posts
    Marblehead , Ma
    yours ? do you own one ?

    also what you're asking doesn't necessarily relate to the stove or it's build quality .
  4. Bioburner Minister of Fire

    joined: Aug 4, 2012
    840 posts
    West central Mn
    I have been going about two weeks using some cheap pellets before a good stove cleaning. Have cleaned the venting once this season having used 2 1/2 tons so far. I do a vent check when cleaning and with no real cooling period the venting is nearly spotless this season. 8foot rise and 3 foot of exit horizontal this stove has had the cleanest venting of any of the stoves I have run. About 15 minutes to brush out the stove. No hidden passages or exaust fan that can't be easily accessed to be cleaned.
  5. Hoot23 Minister of Fire

    joined: Mar 28, 2012
    506 posts
    Alfred, Me
    Harman p61a. I shut it down once a month to clean, give or take a few days. Doesn't matter what pellets m burning. And scrape the pot every 3 days and all is well.
  6. Utilitrack Member

    joined: Oct 14, 2008
    201 posts
    Central ME
    Lopi Leyden-dump ash bin once per week, deep clean every 3 weeks or so, LBT after every ton, glass whenever it needs it, definitely more often when running on low. Built like a tank!
  7. N.E S4 Member

    joined: Nov 28, 2012
    116 posts
    I have an Englander 25PDVC that I use in my basement.

    I only use it in the evening when I get home about 5-6 hours. I clean it daily before I fire it up again. On the weekend I use it from 7AM-10PM. I've ran it 24 hours a few times but I had to shut it down half way into it for cleaning. The burn pot is full of ash it doesn't seem to push forward. I burn Maine's Choice and Team Green.

    I'd like to buy another stove for my living room but a much higher quality stove, 1 that I can keep it running for days.
  8. smoke show Minister of Fire

    joined: Apr 17, 2008
    4,612 posts
    Pittsfield, Wi
    the more seasons I get under my belt the longer the cleaning intervals get...
    schoondog likes this.
  9. smoke show Minister of Fire

    joined: Apr 17, 2008
    4,612 posts
    Pittsfield, Wi
    I also use a pdvc in my basement. I just open the door and scrap the ash forward on the fly. use an old metal spatula for grilling.
    mines an old non ignitor so I prefer not shutting down. I also burn really clean softwoods.
  10. oldmountvernon Minister of Fire

    joined: Oct 27, 2011
    2,157 posts
    SE Mass
    you realize what you just said? :eek:
    P38X2, Brokenwing and smoke show like this.
  11. Woody1911a1 Member

    joined: Sep 23, 2012
    249 posts
    Marblehead , Ma
    hey watch it , this is a family oriented forum ;)
    smoke show likes this.
  12. jtakeman Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 30, 2008
    12,726 posts
    Northwestern CT.
    Enviro Omega(same as the new Maxx M).

    Once a week I do the basic cleaning. But have gone over 40 bags without touching anything but feeding. Every time I fill I pull the heat exchanger cleaning rods.

    I do the full blown cleaning including venting every 50 to 75 bags. 2 tons max if its still really cold.

    I can update this if you want more detail on what is done for basic and full cleanings?
  13. Woody1911a1 Member

    joined: Sep 23, 2012
    249 posts
    Marblehead , Ma
    hey nes4 , there's either something wrong with your stove or you're just doing it wrong . lots of very happy englander owners here .

    myself i've got an enviro/ vistaflame/regency vf100 . mines branded vistaflame . i scrape the pot once per bag and clean every sunday . mine runs 24/7 .

    cheers Woody
  14. Dgopetactical Member

    joined: Nov 22, 2012
    153 posts
    York County, Pa
    I scoop the ash pot out daily on the fly/sometimes a quick shutdown to clean carbon off auger/tube. Every weekend she gets a good vacuuming. Deeper cleaning monthly including exhaust and LBT. I run my stove 24/7
  15. imacman Minister of Fire

    Have gone 60 bags before a full cleaning. That was part of a contest, but could have gone longer....stove was still running fine. Average is 2-3 weeks.

    Burning mostly Greene Teams, with a sprinkling of Somersets during the last cold spell.
  16. DexterDay Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 11, 2010
    9,058 posts
    NE Ohio
    Me to. Used to clean daily. Then weekly. Then monthly. Now..... Once mid season. Once end of season ;)

    Quad burned 47 bags before I cleaned it this year. I will clean it one more time (firebox).

    Fahrenheit is around 30 bags and I am only gonna empty the ash pan as needed. Just one full cleaning end of season.

    Some stoves need daily attn. Some don't. Build quality is in the eye of the beholder?

    What's your budget? What stoves are you looking at? Do you want an Easy stove (operational) or an adjustable stove (do you like to Tinker?)
    smoke show likes this.
  17. 3650 Member

    joined: May 8, 2011
    199 posts
    midwest
    Cumberland 3650......pull pot dumper and heat exchanger rod nce a day, dump ash pan once a week, scrape pot once a week, full blown cleaning twice a year.
  18. aaronnoel Member

    joined: Dec 12, 2010
    177 posts
    southernct
    I have a Harman p68, with good pellets I go a full ton or a little more.
  19. WoodPorn Minister of Fire

    Englander 25 PDVC

    Swipe the pot every bag, shutdown and clean 1x p/wk, complete flue cleaning every ton.
    I can run it for weeks if I wanted to...

    What does the build quality have to do with cleaning??/
  20. Mr. Spock Feeling the Heat

    joined: Jan 2, 2013
    460 posts
    SW MA
    I run into threads every so often that mention this contest. Was it OMV and kingsmanstoves who were involved? I searched but no joy.
  21. oldmountvernon Minister of Fire

    joined: Oct 27, 2011
    2,157 posts
    SE Mass
    Not me, imacman
  22. Mr. Spock Feeling the Heat

    joined: Jan 2, 2013
    460 posts
    SW MA
    I know. Against who? Tried to find the thread but had no luck.
  23. oldmountvernon Minister of Fire

    joined: Oct 27, 2011
    2,157 posts
    SE Mass
    i dunno, anyone? when Jay gets done complaining about the gas price's he will chime in lol
  24. Harvey Schneider Feeling the Heat

    joined: Oct 9, 2012
    467 posts
    Southbury, CT
    The Mt Vernon AE gets a superficial cleaning once a week. Vacuum out the fire box and empty the ash draw. I could easily go twice as long without compromising performance. This routine is while I'm burning about two bags a day. I did a full cleaning after 3 tons of pellets and the combustion blower and passageways were essentially clean. The vent cap screen, at the top of a 25' x 4" vent, was partially blocked and that will have me doing more frequent cleanings. This insert burns really clean and looks beautiful.
    The PDVC gets a superficial cleaning every time I fire it up 2 to 4 times a week. It heats my workshop and is thermostat controlled. Generally burns a bag every time I fire it up. It's a newer installation so it hasn't had a full tear down cleaning since I restored it last summer. Burns dirtier than the AE, but is nevertheless a good stove.
    Just a comment; If I tried to put a PDVC in the main living area, my wife would be screaming at me. The Mt Vernon was worth the price for the domestic tranquility that came with it.
    oldmountvernon likes this.
  25. Aquion New Member

    joined: Oct 7, 2012
    85 posts
    Portland, CT
    Enviro - M55 Cast FPI. I clean it every Sunday for 30 to 45 min. Other than that, I just add pellets.

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