P61A Won't Light

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Oct 26, 2018
3
Maine
I have a 4 year old P61A. We love the stove. Up until about 6 months ago we never had any issues with it. I take really good care to keep it clean. Towards the end of last heating season it started filling the burn pot with pellets but wouldn't light. I cleaned EVERYTHING and it still wouldn't fire so I relied the igniter. Worked great for about a month. Then in Aprilnof last hear it did the same thing again. We were basically done with the heating season so I just shut it off. At the beginning of this heating season I again cleaned EVERYTHING but it still wouldn't fire. Soni delved the igniter again. It was working great for about two weeks. This morning I came downstairs and again found the burn pot full of unburned pellets. Scraped everything down, unplugged the stove and tried again. Nothing. It wont fire. I have a hard time believing it's the igniter again. I mean 3 ignites go bad the quickly? Does anyone have any suggestions as to something else that may be causing this issue? Could the board be going bad? I'm so frustrated with this stove right now. Thanks.
 
Is any part of the non-protected wiring pulled out of the burn pot area? are you using an OEM igniter?
Here are Harman's igniter replacement instructions.
 

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Bobcat has a good idea on the wiring.

Check the entire length of the air intake; OAK if you have one, plus all the way back under the burn pot to make there isn't a build up of ash blocking the flow of air (not just seeping the ash out of the front - get your fingers way back in back). Are the holes in the pot clean? Sorry if you have already checked these things. When people say they "clean", sometimes they don't know about these areas.
 
The only thing I can add to what has been said is to reiterate using an oem igniter when replacing the igniter. Several people have tried the aftermarket ones and got exceptionally short usage times out of them. One of our regulars on the forum tried an aftermarket one and it did pretty much what yours has done, he might have gotten a month out of it.
 
I agree about the aftermarket igniter. Pay $35 last year and only lasted 2 months. Paid $75 for an oem and it's been fine ever since. Asian knockoffs can drive you nuts
 
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