Castle Serenity - lots of ash

[rich2500]

I would have to say then that it's working as designed.

 

[mrbeal]

Got a question. The past few days I've noticed the flame going very low like it's about to go out. I've made no adjustments to it since I got it dialed in and the flame was always about 4-8 inches high. Now the flame can't be seen when it gets low. It hides in the pot till the stove feeds it enough pellets to get it back up high and mighty and then it hides again.

Any reason for the shy flame?

Mine does the same thing, I've attributed it to the thermostat saying it's warm enough. Could be completely unrelated but it seems reasonable. Does it put out consistent heat?

 

[mudeprived]

Mine does the same thing, I've attributed it to the thermostat saying it's warm enough. Could be completely unrelated but it seems reasonable. Does it put out consistent heat?

Yup, pretty steady.

I know it's not accurate but the stove temp is reading 88 degrees, kitchen is a steady 73 and furthest bedroom is 68.

 

[mrbeal]

I tried to take a picture of my stove but was too slow... it's steadily putting our heat but the flames (when I tried the pic) were just barely coming over the burnpot. The room thermometer says 76 and the stove says 85. I think it's just the cycle of the pellets burning... flame gets low so pellets are fed to raise the temp, flame gets high and raises the temp so pellets feed slows. It's just the cycle.

 

[Nvnv]

What power level do you run it on when this happens? If mine is on low it will do this often. On 3 it will for the most part stay mid to high.

 

[mudeprived]

What power level do you run it on when this happens? If mine is on low it will do this often. On 3 it will for the most part stay mid to high.

Level one, blower speed 100, exhaust speed 85, air 1/3 open. I can't do 2-3-4-5 or else we cook ourselves well-done.

 

[Nvnv]

Level one, blower speed 100, exhaust speed 85, air 1/3 open. I can't do 2-3-4-5 or else we cook ourselves well-done.

I think it's normal. Mine does the same thing on 1.

 

[mrbeal]

Mine runs on level 1 almost all of the time. Blower/exhaust 105/80 and the damper about 1/3. I can somewhat adjust the room temp with the blower, higher blower speed = "cooler" room... if you can call 76 cool.

 

[Deezl Smoke]

I think it's normal. Mine does the same thing on 1.

Yep. Both of mine go below the pot lip, then the auger drops pellets and it comes back up. But it appears to be more extreme after the stove has run for 12 hours and the holes in the very bottom of the burn pot have about half of them plugged. Then the inlet air has to come more from the side than directly under the pellets.

The settings should stay were they were before the plug is pulled. That is "if", the settings were confirmed first. If you go into settings and change a setting, it will be blue back grounded. If you just exit settings, the fans will stay there, but the setting was not confirmed or whatever the right word is in computer board land. Once you highlight the setting and it back grounds blue, then adjust it, you have to hit enter to get the back ground back to white with the new setting showing, before you exit.

 

[mudeprived]

Yep. Both of mine go below the pot lip, then the auger drops pellets and it comes back up. But it appears to be more extreme after the stove has run for 12 hours and the holes in the very bottom of the burn pot have about half of them plugged. Then the inlet air has to come more from the side than directly under the pellets.

The settings should stay were they were before the plug is pulled. That is "if", the settings were confirmed first. If you go into settings and change a setting, it will be blue back grounded. If you just exit settings, the fans will stay there, but the setting was not confirmed or whatever the right word is in computer board land. Once you highlight the setting and it back grounds blue, then adjust it, you have to hit enter to get the back ground back to white with the new setting showing, before you exit.

Looks like you nailed it. I woke up this morning and noticed the flame was hiding and it barely made it half way up the chamber when pellets were dropped. I can see the pot is pretty clogged all over and cannot spot any open holes so it seems it's struggling for air.

It kinda looks like dried up smeared mud. I wonder if this is due to the type of pellets or is it normal?

It's the first time I had it running a full 24 hours. Looks like I gotta shut it down and clean it.

 

[Deezl Smoke]

Looks like you nailed it. I woke up this morning and noticed the flame was hiding and it barely made it half way up the chamber when pellets were dropped. I can see the pot is pretty clogged all over and cannot spot any open holes so it seems it's struggling for air.

It kinda looks like dried up smeared mud. I wonder if this is due to the type of pellets or is it normal?

It's the first time I had it running a full 24 hours. Looks like I gotta shut it down and clean it.

You're fine. Even the best pellets will do some of this. Sounds exactly like mine after a 24 hours run. I leave a small harbor freight magnetic led light, a free screwdriver, and a box cutter at my stoves. The light sticks to the side of the stove on the cool shielding, and the cutter and screwdriver set on the pellet lid. I use the screwdriver to rake across the holes to clear them each time the stove is started. The loosened material can just set in the pot and will blow with the ignition of the next start up.



At your next vacuum job, take the pot out and find a drill bit or file that matches the hole size of one of the holes on the outer edge of the pot. These would be the horizontal oriented holes, and drill thru the rest of the holes to break out the hardened carbon buildup. This only needs done occasionally, so not to worry about adding to your maintenance much time or pita.

Something else I have done is to take a counter sink bit and chamfer the holes ever so slightly. A square edge like what comes stock is easier for stuff to build up on than a more rounded edge. A drill bit and counter sink bit can be had for very little money at harbor freight tools or anywhere on amazone etc. I've got my cleaning system down so it is no trouble at all and gets done between loads of laundry early on sunday morning. I am a farmer and was raised on a farm with livestock, so "chores" are just part of my daily life and I would'nt have it any other way.

The light works great for cleaning the stove too, not just raking the burn pot. I brush the ash from the top of the burn chamber and the magnet on the back of the light then sticks the light facing down into the area I have to vacuum. Just dont forget it's there when done. d

 

[mudeprived]

You're fine. Even the best pellets will do some of this. Sounds exactly like mine after a 24 hours run. I leave a small harbor freight magnetic led light, a free screwdriver, and a box cutter at my stoves. The light sticks to the side of the stove on the cool shielding, and the cutter and screwdriver set on the pellet lid. I use the screwdriver to rake across the holes to clear them each time the stove is started. The loosened material can just set in the pot and will blow with the ignition of the next start up.

View attachment 189787

At your next vacuum job, take the pot out and find a drill bit or file that matches the hole size of one of the holes on the outer edge of the pot. These would be the horizontal oriented holes, and drill thru the rest of the holes to break out the hardened carbon buildup. This only needs done occasionally, so not to worry about adding to your maintenance much time or pita.

Something else I have done is to take a counter sink bit and chamfer the holes ever so slightly. A square edge like what comes stock is easier for stuff to build up on than a more rounded edge. A drill bit and counter sink bit can be had for very little money at harbor freight tools or anywhere on amazone etc. I've got my cleaning system down so it is no trouble at all and gets done between loads of laundry early on sunday morning. I am a farmer and was raised on a farm with livestock, so "chores" are just part of my daily life and I would'nt have it any other way.

The light works great for cleaning the stove too, not just raking the burn pot. I brush the ash from the top of the burn chamber and the magnet on the back of the light then sticks the light facing down into the area I have to vacuum. Just dont forget it's there when done. d

I don't mind the cleaning part since I got lots of time on my hands since it's too cold out to be ALWAYS wrenching on the jeeps so a little 10 minute cleaning every day is a nice time killer.

I have one of those folding magnetic led lights that I use sometimes but lately i've been using my little chapstick sized led light. I just hold it in my mouth and clean away.

Thanks for the tip for the vent holes. I will do this next time.

 

[rich2500]

If you get yourself a long handle scraper you can pop the door open while the stove is on and quickly scrape loose that build up in the pot and then it can blow out,shut the door and your good another 24 hrs. A lot of people do this so they don't have to shut the stove down daily.

 

[mudeprived]

If you get yourself a long handle scraper you can pop the door open while the stove is on and quickly scrape loose that build up in the pot and then it can blow out,shut the door and your good another 24 hrs. A lot of people do this so they don't have to shut the stove down daily.

I didn't know you could open the door while it's running. I thought it would auto-shut down.

 

[rich2500]

It will shutdown if you leave the door open too long so you have to do the scrape rather quickly but you have a few seconds to get it done. I never timed it but you have probably atleast 10 secs. Here is my scraper it's a stainless steel spatula that I cut the sides down to make it more narrow it works awesome. Also you will know when you find a real good pellet because you won't get much of that build up in the burn pot.

 

[Deezl Smoke]

I'm too chicken, I admit it. I'm always on the look out for sparks and embers in the shop when putting more wood in the stove, so I just never trust opening the pellet stove door when running.

 

[mudeprived]

I'm too chicken, I admit it. I'm always on the look out for sparks and embers in the shop when putting more wood in the stove, so I just never trust opening the pellet stove door when running.

Makes me a little nervous too because I have carpeting. I do have fire extinguishers around the house though.

 

[rich2500]

When you open the door the flame dies way down because the loss of vacuum so you don't really get any ash flying around. I understand not feeling comfortable doing it at first but I never had any ashes fly out in 11 years of doing it.

 

[Nvnv]

I get way more buildup in the holes when I burn on low. If I'm on 3 the holes stay relatively clear. But like you said you'll get burned out if you leave it on high. I fell asleep on the couch last night with it set on 3 and woke up a few hours later to a 90*+ living room.

 

[rich2500]

90 + deg.

 

[mudeprived]

LOL I had it at 90 a few times.

Just for shi$s and giggles.....here is my routine that seems to work with this stove and my house:

(stove is in living room and temp outside is slightly below freezing)

Fill stove
Clean stove
Fire up stove
wait 45 minutes
start fan in kitchen facing living room
kitchen reaches 75 degrees, living room 85
Open window #1 in living room
Wait one hour
Living room temp reaches 88
Open kitchen door for 15 minutes
Kitchen temp lowers to 72, living room to 78
Close kitchen door, crack open living room window #2 half way
Living room maintains 78 degrees, kitchen 75, guest room 66, master 64

I have the option of starting fan #2 in guest room pointing down the hall towards fan #1. This will bring the guest room to 70 degrees, master to 68 but I like sleeping at 64. Covered and cozy.

What's nice is that I get fresh air pumped into the house all the time and the stove still manages to keep the house warm on setting 1.

 

[Deezl Smoke]

LOL I had it at 90 a few times.

Just for shi$s and giggles.....here is my routine that seems to work with this stove and my house:

(stove is in living room and temp outside is slightly below freezing)

Fill stove
Clean stove
Fire up stove
wait 45 minutes
start fan in kitchen facing living room
kitchen reaches 75 degrees, living room 85
Open window #1 in living room
Wait one hour
Living room temp reaches 88
Open kitchen door for 15 minutes
Kitchen temp lowers to 72, living room to 78
Close kitchen door, crack open living room window #2 half way
Living room maintains 78 degrees, kitchen 75, guest room 66, master 64

I have the option of starting fan #2 in guest room pointing down the hall towards fan #1. This will bring the guest room to 70 degrees, master to 68 but I like sleeping at 64. Covered and cozy.

What's nice is that I get fresh air pumped into the house all the time and the stove still manages to keep the house warm on setting 1.

I can relate to that. Sometimes I have to open a window for a bit as well. And I too really like the fresh air. During the summer my windows stay open a lot. It gets dusty being in farm country with all the harvesting going on, but I can only take so much of the stuffy ac or the stagnate closed up heat. I just need good fresh air to feel good.

 

[Lake Girl]

Pellet stove doesn't keep up that well here but a bit farther north and colder. Windows open all summer here and only would need AC (if we had it) about one week a year when it's hot and no breeze off the lake.

PS: -2F/-19C at the moment!

 

[Deezl Smoke]

Pellet stove doesn't keep up that well here but a bit farther north and colder. Windows open all summer here and only would need AC (if we had it) about one week a year when it's hot and no breeze off the lake.

PS: -2F/-19C at the moment!

See we just had our first freeze of the season this week. 6 weeks late even. Right now it about 34 F. We seldom get into the 20s for more than a few hours. Every now and then we may get a 3-5 day cold spell from the north, but for the most part, we are so close to the Pacific ocean that we are more wet than cold. Which is another thing I like about my pellet stoves, the dry heat dries the wet jackets and hats quite nicely.

 

[Lake Girl]

We stayed at Lincoln City this summer for my overnight view of the Pacific! Windy and cool for July. Hubby did his commercial divers training years ago at Wilmington, CA so the Pacific is not new for him. Would have loved to stay longer but had a wedding to get ready for (meaning Mom had to do dress alterations). Fun while it lasted and my first peek at the Pacific but have seen the Atlantic a couple of times With a daughter in the UK, may get to see the Atlantic from the other side