Think your pellet stove is good?

[guatamican eye fake]

So I visit this site daily more so just to see what stoves are problematic. I've noticed there are repeat offenders that seem so finicky. They have to be cleaned just so, every passage, nook and cranny, and don't forget you can burn this pellet but not that one. I think its asinine what.it supposedly takes to keep some of these brands up and running. If it won't run on its own for weeks just putting pellets in I would be dissatisfied to say the least What I want to know is who has owned a stove for 2 seasons or more and has had no issues, also the model of stove you have. I have a pellet stove manufactured in 2006 and to date the ignighters were replaced , gaskets and now I hear the bearing in exhaust fan, that's it! I know other stoves like this exist.

 

[railfanron]

I have a Harman P43 that I've used for 4 years and burned 12 tons of pellets in that time. It has had zero repairs and burned a dozen or so different kinds of pellets and also cherry pits. They all burned fine and without checking them all with a digital thermometer and a precision scale I would be hard pressed to tell the difference in heat or ash output. The pellets I burn every year are the cheapest I can find at the time and most have been less than 200 per ton. None have been over 215. This years 189.50. I burn it on room temp automatic on a programmable thermostat so the stove shuts completely down many times a day every day. The stove heats my whole house during the shoulder seasons and half the house (2250 sq ft) in the dead of winter. I've run it for as much as 10 days without opening the firebox door. I clean the stove once a month and dump the ash. The exhaust is a 4" stainless one piece liner up my existing chimney and I only cleaned it once after the first season. It hasn't needed it since.
Ron

 

[guatamican eye fake]

I had a feeling I would see a few harmans show up. Im not pushing any single brand, I don't own a harman but I bet its one of the few brands that can boast going a week without cleaning or showing some type of error code

 

[tbear853]

I have a 1992 Vermont Castings #2220 Reliance installed by myself after building my hearth place .... in 1992. It has a red stop button, a green start button, a switch to switch between stove thermostat or wall mount thermostat, and a 270 degree dial for low to high. Weight unloaded is about 375 pounds, it will hold about 48 pounds pellets and run as long as 30 hours on low, it is rated 8,000-40,000 Btu's/hr. There is no "code" display to see.

It vents out through a 3 foot long 3" Dura Vent into a tee and up 15 more feet to a pellet vent cap. Outside air is used for combustion using 2" pipe. Over the years, most years I burned through 3-4 tons. The last couple years I have saved some by using smaller quartz infared heaters for spot heat.

Many times in harsher winters than this she has run for 2 weeks or longer steady with no shut down, just an ash pan dumping every 3-5 days as needed. The window has gotten pretty dark but that's never seemed to affect heat output. I usually run it well under half dial (immagine 7:30 is low, 4:30 is highest) like between 9 and 10:00 o'clock (as high as 10:30-11:00 if really cold like near zero..... tried it at over about 3:00 o'clock once .... about ran us out of the house soon!)

In the first year or so, it choked on some pellets (too fast a feed rate) and I was told it needed a thermocouple when I called and VC sent me one free. I installed it and cleaned the stove, all OK.

A few years later the auger started making a racket and then a screeching and then .... it died. I took a look after moving the stove around, removed auger drive motor (maybe 1/4 rpm gear motor) and auger, found auger was mounted in two originally sealed flange mount ball bearings front to back ... one nearest fire seized up which is what destroyed gear motor drive. Got new gear motor complete and two new auger bearings at W W Grainger in Roanoke. As I reassembled it, I made a shield to totally shield the bearings using some steel exhaust pipe and a steel disc (imagine a steel washer, 2" OD and maybe 5/8" ID) welded like a cup with a hole for the auger, it is sandwitched between auger spiral and bearing race. That was mid to late 1990s.

I think the reason that the auger bearing seized up was maybe a combination of an unshielded bearing and my letting the stove run empty which caused the fans to run and stove to try to stay lit and thus fire's heat made it all the way back through auger. Or maybe some fines got into the bearing? In either case, the shield I made seems to have cured it.

It's rolling the BTUs out as I type. Currently loaded about 50/50 with Statesman Prem Hardwood Pellets and some TSC Prem Hardwood pellets. I tried Lignetics a couple times, very poor. Gonna try some of the Lowe's Pellets soon I think.

I have a spare auger gear motor I bought a few years ago when I thought mine was going out again .... but then I found the noise and it was a simple fix, not the gear motor. I did use a hole saw years ago to cut a hole in front of burn pot underneath to allow easier cleaning and made a plate to cover that hole that secures with two 1/4-20 bolts.

This spring I'll maybe pull the fire box after removing 4 bolts and rebuild (weld) the seam across the front where it cracked a couple years ago ... but it doesn't seem to affect the burn. Will then clean it well again, lube fans, check auger bearings and gear motor. I'll also gently blow dust off control board .... and install all new flue to replace the 25 year old flue that is starting to rot on outside layer. I am currently working on getting a new roof put on the house and my flue goes out a side wall and up through a carport roof. Might reroute it slightly.

In a power outage, there never is smoke in the house as the flue seems to draw well even as the fire slowly ebbs. If power comes back within and hours or so, she takes off OK.

 

[rona]

So I visit this site daily more so just to see what stoves are problematic. I've noticed there are repeat offenders that seem so finicky. They have to be cleaned just so, every passage, nook and cranny, and don't forget you can burn this pellet but not that one. I think its asinine what.it supposedly takes to keep some of these brands up and running. If it won't run on its own for weeks just putting pellets in I would be dissatisfied to say the least What I want to know is who has owned a stove for 2 seasons or more and has had no issues, also the model of stove you have. I have a pellet stove manufactured in 2006 and to date the ignighters were replaced , gaskets and now I hear the bearing in exhaust fan, that's it! I know other stoves like this exist.

I had a feeling I would see a few harmans show up. Im not pushing any single brand, I don't own a harman but I bet its one of the few brands that can boast going a week without cleaning or showing some type of error code

I can go 3 weeks then have to shut down to clean convection tubes and the small holes under the burning pot. Usually I can tell when the fire is looking lazy its time for cleaning. But don't kid yourself bearings can and do go out on a Bixby too. I bought a 120 back when they first came out in 2008 and the bearings sounded a little rough about a month ago when Minn had that early spring weather so I unhooked the wire for convection fan and kept hearing noise so knew the exh fan was also noisy. I ended up pulling both fans out and replaced the bearings on the convection fan which was fairly easy then removed the whole exh assembly to get at the exh fan. this isn't as hard as it looks two allen screws and two wires plus one clamp holding that fesh air hose. But the point was once you have the assembly out of the stove you will notice a small oil tube on the motor. a few drops of lube and it was ready to go. If you wish you can remove the motor and fan and take it to a repair shop where you can get a replacement lots cheaper then buying from a dealer. In my case there was a couple pieces of crude that was loose in the exh housing so cleaned it up did a run on my bench and it ran great. so 20.00 for the two bearings in the convection fan and clean the exh fan and a few drops of oil plus my time and I have a quiet stove again even though it is 9 years old.
Having said that I also have a Harman PC45 the same age and other then having to buy agitators it has been pretty good. But It won't burn corn unless it is below 13% moisture. The Bixby will burn 16% corn all winter.

 

[ohbix]

My Bixby worked great for 5 years. A triac went on the board (yes stove on surge protector); sent it to Blume for repair. In the meantime, got an Enviro M55. Both of these stoves can go for weeks w/out cleaning, scraping or dumping ash. M55 really easy to clean as the entire exhaust pathway can be exposed. W/ a modified coat hanger, I can get into the only enclosed area behind the convection tubes in the Bixby. I toss in various brands of pellets and or pellet/ corn mix and don't change settings. When either stove shuts down, it's because I forgot to feed it...

 

[rich2500]

my Ravelli is a small stove with a small ash pan so it has to be shutdown every 3- 4 days to empty the ash pan ( actually could empty it without shutting down but choose to shut it down and give a quick clean ) that don't mean it's not a good stove it's just I don't need any bigger stove and it's the one that appeals to me,I have yet to find a pellet it won't burn and suspect I never will and I have yet to have a single problem.

 

[bogieb]

This is the 4th season for my P61a. Although I normally clean it every two weeks - it can go about 4 if I need it to (like this last cleaning last weekend). I did replace a door gasket, but that was $12 so I really don't count it as a "problem".

This is my second season with the P43. I bought it used and have put $0 into (except the hopper extension). I clean it every 2 weeks also, unless I need to go longer (like this last cleaning went 4 weeks).

I run chit to middle of the road pellets and haven't found anything that they won't burn. Oh sure, the ThermaGlo's didn't put out much heat, and put out massive ash, but they burned and kept the basement warm.

 

[rich2500]

I had a feeling I would see a few harmans show up. Im not pushing any single brand, I don't own a harman but I bet its one of the few brands that can boast going a week without cleaning or showing some type of error code

doubt that, heck even the $999.00 castle serenity can go a week

 

[Jason845845]

Another vote for Harman p43. Only problem in 2 years was self inflicted, the stove was running like crap because of a dirty sensor. I scrape the burn pot (10 seconds) every day and give it a good cleaning when the ash pan is full, which is about once a month.

 

[guatamican eye fake]

Rich you are right Im sure you can go a week on the serenity. I wonder how many seasons that will last? If there is a serenity owner that has gone multiple seasons without issues that's what I ei want to read.

 

[Deezl Smoke]

doubt that, heck even the $999.00 castle serenity can go a week

Mine go over 2 weeks when needed on low.Even then, I only clean them out of habit. If I had to go 3, I would have no issues. Burning douglas fir pellets.

 

[Deezl Smoke]

I have a 1992 Vermont Castings #2220 Reliance installed by myself after building my hearth place .... in 1992. It has a red stop button, a green start button, a switch to switch between stove thermostat or wall mount thermostat, and a 270 degree dial for low to high. Weight unloaded is about 375 pounds, it will hold about 48 pounds pellets and run as long as 30 hours on low, it is rated 8,000-40,000 Btu's/hr. There is no "code" display to see.

It vents out through a 3 foot long 3" Dura Vent into a tee and up 15 more feet to a pellet vent cap. Outside air is used for combustion using 2" pipe. Over the years, most years I burned through 3-4 tons. The last couple years I have saved some by using smaller quartz infared heaters for spot heat.

Many times in harsher winters than this she has run for 2 weeks or longer steady with no shut down, just an ash pan dumping every 3-5 days as needed. The window has gotten pretty dark but that's never seemed to affect heat output. I usually run it well under half dial (immagine 7:30 is low, 4:30 is highest) like between 9 and 10:00 o'clock (as high as 10:30-11:00 if really cold like near zero..... tried it at over about 3:00 o'clock once .... about ran us out of the house soon!)

In the first year or so, it choked on some pellets (too fast a feed rate) and I was told it needed a thermocouple when I called and VC sent me one free. I installed it and cleaned the stove, all OK.

A few years later the auger started making a racket and then a screeching and then .... it died. I took a look after moving the stove around, removed auger drive motor (maybe 1/4 rpm gear motor) and auger, found auger was mounted in two originally sealed flange mount ball bearings front to back ... one nearest fire seized up which is what destroyed gear motor drive. Got new gear motor complete and two new auger bearings at W W Grainger in Roanoke. As I reassembled it, I made a shield to totally shield the bearings using some steel exhaust pipe and a steel disc (imagine a steel washer, 2" OD and maybe 5/8" ID) welded like a cup with a hole for the auger, it is sandwitched between auger spiral and bearing race. That was mid to late 1990s.

I think the reason that the auger bearing seized up was maybe a combination of an unshielded bearing and my letting the stove run empty which caused the fans to run and stove to try to stay lit and thus fire's heat made it all the way back through auger. Or maybe some fines got into the bearing? In either case, the shield I made seems to have cured it.

It's rolling the BTUs out as I type. Currently loaded about 50/50 with Statesman Prem Hardwood Pellets and some TSC Prem Hardwood pellets. I tried Lignetics a couple times, very poor. Gonna try some of the Lowe's Pellets soon I think.

I have a spare auger gear motor I bought a few years ago when I thought mine was going out again .... but then I found the noise and it was a simple fix, not the gear motor. I did use a hole saw years ago to cut a hole in front of burn pot underneath to allow easier cleaning and made a plate to cover that hole that secures with two 1/4-20 bolts.

This spring I'll maybe pull the fire box after removing 4 bolts and rebuild (weld) the seam across the front where it cracked a couple years ago ... but it doesn't seem to affect the burn. Will then clean it well again, lube fans, check auger bearings and gear motor. I'll also gently blow dust off control board .... and install all new flue to replace the 25 year old flue that is starting to rot on outside layer. I am currently working on getting a new roof put on the house and my flue goes out a side wall and up through a carport roof. Might reroute it slightly.

In a power outage, there never is smoke in the house as the flue seems to draw well even as the fire slowly ebbs. If power comes back within and hours or so, she takes off OK.

Awesome write up. Is it your avitar picture? I'd like to see a full size picture of that. Looks like you did a nice job building the hearth. Maybe have to send it pm or start a new thread about it as I do not know how well this thread's author will receive off topic conversation.

 

[johneh]

I have a Envro ef3 installed 2002
I have replaces 1-combustion fan
1- circulation fan
Both rebuilt and ready for service when needed
Cleaned every Saturday morning . burns
what ever I put in it with out hesitation
Almost plug and play Keeps me warm

 

[rich2500]

Rich you are right Im sure you can go a week on the serenity. I wonder how many seasons that will last? If there is a serenity owner that has gone multiple seasons without issues that's what I ei want to read.

I believe deezl is around 3 yrs with his. I been around here long enough to have read of many people with many different makes of stoves that go for many days between cleanings and very few problems.How long a stove can go between cleanings means nothing about being a good stove but a 10 yr.old stove that has been very reliable does.

 

[FirepotPete]

I think its asinine what.it supposedly takes to keep some of these brands up and running. If it won't run on its own for weeks just putting pellets in I would be dissatisfied to say the least

LOL, I think you should look for a NG Trane or Heil, high efficiency.

 

[guatamican eye fake]

I believe deezl is around 3 yrs with his. I been around here long enough to have read of many people with many different makes of stoves that go for many days between cleanings and very few problems.How long a stove can go between cleanings means nothing about being a good stove but a 10 yr.old stove that has been very reliable does.

Well that's kinda what Im wondering rich. who has experienced the best of both these worlds ? If you've had a stove for ten yrs and minimal issues like some have posted that's sweet.
Lets hear about it

 

[jzm2cc]

I have a 2005 St Croix Prescott, bought used 4 years ago with a bad combustion fan motor (bearings). Put a used motor assembly in it's place and it runs 24/7 when cold out, in shoulder seasons it's allowed to cycle on and off. I pull heat exchanger tube rod once a week, scrape burn pot once per week along with firepot ash rod, dump ash pan once per week. Very easy stove to run and reliable, not sensitive to pellets, throws out very hot air on 3 or 4 of 5 setting (never use #5). I do use leaf blower on exhaust pipe about once every 6-8 weeks.

Less work than my Harman PC45 which needs a daily burn pot scrape to burn well. Use to run a P61a Harman and that could go 4 days with out scrapping burn pot. Both of these are great stoves overall.

 

[Deezl Smoke]

I believe deezl is around 3 yrs with his. I been around here long enough to have read of many people with many different makes of stoves that go for many days between cleanings and very few problems.How long a stove can go between cleanings means nothing about being a good stove but a 10 yr.old stove that has been very reliable does.

I'll be at two years this may. Love the stoves. Just fired up a third one in one of my little work shops. Now watching the sales again at Ace for a forth one.

 

[Deezl Smoke]

Well that's kinda what Im wondering rich. who has experienced the best of both these worlds ? If you've had a stove for ten yrs and minimal issues like some have posted that's sweet.
Lets hear about it

I apologize if I got your intentions wrong. I thought from the title and opening statement that this was more of a negative toward pellet stoves in general. Perhaps you are trying to simply get some positive light in the forum that is otherwise just about problems and complaints?

I think in today's world of turn key everything, there will be fewer and fewer people that understand the theories and mechanisms behind wood or pellets heater. Hence, more problems being faced on forum boards, But I am glad these forums are here. I dont think but about half of the problems listed now days are actually manufacturers problems. I think many are just the operators lack of experience and knowledge of the machinery. Those that come here with an issue, but are willing to work it out, end up being a happy customer. It just those that want instant perfection that yell the loudest. IMO.

 

[guatamican eye fake]

My bad on the communication. I wad trying to get a positive spin. In my circle of friends pellet stoves get a bad rap. Personally I've had a good experience with mine and love the info I get from all you. I know there's die hards out there getting some serious mileage on there stoves which would be good for some to hear about.

 

[Tails1]

If it wasn't for these forums and the knowledge here from "real' people, not just people selling a product, I would not have bought a pellet stove. Far too much innuendo and not enough information from the people who actually make them for me to trust them by default. As far as I am concerned, pellet stoves are a niche market and will remain so unless the marketing platforms the manufacturers currently use change significantly.

 

[guatamican eye fake]

If it wasn't for these forums and the knowledge here from "real' people, not just people selling a product, I would not have bought a pellet stove. Far too much innuendo and not enough information from the people who actually make them for me to trust them by default. As far as I am concerned, pellet stoves are a niche market and will remain so unless the marketing platforms the manufacturers currently use change significantly.

Yep and it seems most of this lays at the feet of the dealers as well. How can someone by a brand new stove and then a week later be appalled at how much pellets there stove is using. Seems like this would be prudent info to nail down. Of course there are those dealers who do the consumer right

 

[tbear853]

Awesome write up. Is it your avitar picture? I'd like to see a full size picture of that. Looks like you did a nice job building the hearth. ... etc ... .

Thanks .... there are several pics in my "media" on this site. Not sure I know how to PM on this site but I'll look again.

 

[Maladjusted]

New Absolute 63... been running for 4 weeks. We're in a shoulder season right now in Virginia... but have some relatively colder days (low 40's and 20's at night) for some short stretches. Burn average has been about 1 bag a day. 3400 sq ft house. 1700 down stays right a 73... upstairs is 68. Scrape Burn Pot prompt comes on around 10 - 12 bags, Empty ash pan has not hit yet... neither has the Full Clean. It runs without a hiccup. Goes completely out when the scheduler drops it back to 63 at night. Fires at 4:30 am and heats the down up quickly (within 30 mins). Blows a shitload of heat. Absolutely love this stove and don't regret the spend at all. Way less mess than the wood stove.

Mal