55-SHP10 burn pot question

[cdodge04]

Hey guys,
I attached some photos of my burn pot after bruning 30-40 pounds of pellets. Seems to be a lot of ash in my burn pot, doesn't seem to be flying out into the sides. I have a couple clinkers in there too as you guys can see. I'm burning Corinth pellets, my stove was manufactured 10/08. I have it at the factory settings for those three buttons across the bottom...6-4-1. I recently bumped it down to 5-4-1, just to slow the rate at which my pellets are kicking out as I seem to be burning a 40 lb bag of pellets in 15-18 hours.

I've also got a quick question about the outside combustion air as well. I have read different views on the stove, some people say that pulling the air from outside is needed while others say that its not always the case that sometimes its better to pull air from inside the house. I have read something about the air being too cold outside or something along those lines...anyone have any input on that?

thanks for the info guys,
Chad

 

[pelletizer]

I see no pics? Not sure what settings you are burning but I don't think anyone gets more than 24 hours out of 40 lbs of pellets with these stoves.
I get a lot of ash in the front of my burn pot too and sometimes some clinkers. I did read about someone with a englander stove quickly opening and closing the door and brushing the ashes aside after about 8 hours of burn time. my stove was factory at 6-4-1 as well I bumped up the low burn air to 5 and will test next burn at 6-6-1 may end up with 5-6-1 in the end.

 

[cdodge04]

Hmmm...well I suppose it would help if I went ahead and attached the photos like I said I would....let me get at that now haha.

 

[pelletizer]

hmmm not sure being my first year too but looks like a little to much ash maybe more air is needed to puff some of those ashes over the edges?
lets see if any other englander pellet heads post.

 

[kdp7462]

Hi
The amount of ash seems to be normal from my viewpoint. I have an 06 PDV, which is the 2200 sq. foot model. I've burned it just about 2 full seasons, and at least once a day I just hit the off button and let the fire die down and then scrape the burn pot with an old spatula and dump it off to the side. Works well, takes less than 5 min from start to finsh.

Hey dodge, where abouts in Belfast are ya? I grew up in searsport and my parents live in Swanville...I love it up that way.

 

[rap69ri]

That is a lot of ash for 1 bag being burned. There are 2 possible reasons for this, pellet brand or air flow. If you're burning on low, setting 1 or 2, you will need to adjust the LFF and LBA settings for different qualities of pellets. I believe I read on this forum that the Corinth brand were high ash, but you may to search to be sure.

As for the Outside Air Kit, if you look at your stove manual I believe Englander says it's mandatory for your stove.

 

[cdodge04]

Thanks for the replies guys. Maybe Mike will come around and see the thread, he can pop in with his 2 cents as well.

I adjusted the low fuel feed down to 5, but didn't like the outcome of that much...I put it back up to 6. I'll try bumping the LBA up a notch and see what that does.

As for the outside air, the book does state that it is mandatory. I know I read a couple threads about it being too cold or something though...and it was in relation to someone operating a PDVC.


kdp7462 - I just moved over to the east side of Belfast, I'm just over the bridge and up 141 toward Swanville. My office is actually in Swanville by the store.



-Chad

 

[staplebox]

From my experience I'd say that is a bit more ash then I am used to. It looks like the ash is half way up the lower auger. I shut it down once per day and dump the burn plate, reload pellets. I also believe the outside air is mandatory. There is a big difference in ash between pellets, just like a difference in heat. Try another brand if you can get a bag or two to test. You could also play with the three trim settings. It's not rocket science, just keep a close on on the changes and remember where you started. Eventually you'll zero in on what works. Have fun.

 

[stoveguy2esw]

Hey guys,
I attached some photos of my burn pot after bruning 30-40 pounds of pellets. Seems to be a lot of ash in my burn pot, doesn't seem to be flying out into the sides. I have a couple clinkers in there too as you guys can see. I'm burning Corinth pellets, my stove was manufactured 10/08. I have it at the factory settings for those three buttons across the bottom...6-4-1. I recently bumped it down to 5-4-1, just to slow the rate at which my pellets are kicking out as I seem to be burning a 40 lb bag of pellets in 15-18 hours.

I've also got a quick question about the outside combustion air as well. I have read different views on the stove, some people say that pulling the air from outside is needed while others say that its not always the case that sometimes its better to pull air from inside the house. I have read something about the air being too cold outside or something along those lines...anyone have any input on that?

thanks for the info guys,
Chad

hi chad,
for starters that is a bit much ash. lets see if we can dial that back some, first , get that oak kit installed mandatory isnt a word we use lightly. here's why, if you are running with house air these things are happening 1. you are pulling about a quarter of a room full of air out of the house per minute, this air must be replaced or a high amount on negative pressure will result. this means that every little leak in your house will be magnified as air is sucked in by the vacuum created by the removal of air. pulling outside air means your house is notattacked by these leaks as you arent pulling this air out. now take that a step further, as air warms up it expands this creates Positive pressure which pushes against the same leaks so your house stays warmer in places not near to the stove as cold air doesnt get pulled in.

2. the stove will burn cleaner negative pressure over time will reduce the amount of available oxygen pulled through the fire. this results in a dirtier stove and lower heat output. it also soots pipes and can cause sooting on the outside of the house on exterior walls near the exhaust.

3. and most important, if the unit has run long enough to reduce pressure in the house and a power failure occurs the neagtive pressure could overcome the natural draft of the vertical in the flue and cause the unit to back vent through theintake causing smoke in the house. we at ESW try to avoid smoke intrusion as its simply not pleasant.

that said , lets look at the consumption rates , they are a bit fast look at the low fuel feed button , when you press it you get a 6 in the blower speed , lower that setting to 4 and see if that doesnt move you to about aq 24 hour burn. as for the ash buildup , increase the low burn air to 9 and see if this doesnt help that some for ya.

 

[pegdot]

I believe that I'm the lazy sod who posted about sneaking the door open and removing ash with the stove running. I do it twice a day, first thing in the morning and again right before bed when I top off the hopper. I use a long handle metal spatula. The trick is to get most of the ash out while leaving enough burning pellets right in front of the auger to keep your fire going.

The amount of ash looks pretty normal to me with some pellets. Right now I'm burning some that are ashy and my pot looks very similar to yours after a bag. Funny, while these pellets seem to produce a lot of ash it doesn't make any clinkers. I don't like clinkers but honestly....they are easier to flip out of the pot than fine ash. :wow:

 

[cdodge04]

Made the changes to my stove last night, I stayed up until around 1 watching it. Went to bed with the stove set on 2-4 and the settings on the bottom at 4-9-1. Definitely fixed my ash problem as I have next to no ash in the burn pot this morning...on the other hand I had next to no heat coming out of the stove. I'm going to try changing the lower settings to 5-9-1 tonight and see if that puts out a little bit more heat...What do you guys think?

If only I could get more heat out of the stove with less ash and use less pellets haha! Hmm....If only I could heat my house for the entire winter with the leaves on my front lawn!

 

[rap69ri]

CDodge04,

You'll need to play with these settings to get it where you want it, (need it to be). Whenever I try a new brand changes usually need to be made to these settings to get a good burn.

God luck

 

[pelletizer]

Pegdot I executed your door open sneak remove ash procedure tonight and it works well, Thx.
I am now at 5-6-1 we will see how it goes

 

[sydney1963]

Wow! I have that same model stove and have never seen anything like that yet. Do you have and outside air kit installed?

 

[cdodge04]

I do I do.

 

[sydney1963]

Do you scoop out your burn pot 1 time per day? I do. Even if it's burning you can open it up for a few seconds and scrape it out to the side areas.

 

[pelletizer]

Pegdot is the expert on this procedure but I do it when ever I think there is to much ash, stove keeps burning with door open too, try it.

 

[rap69ri]

I do the same thing, scrape in the am and the pm. It's too bad that the burnpot doesn't blow the ashes out like a Whitfield.

 

[pelletizer]

Peg dot says she tops off her hopper before bed? I did not know the hopper lid could be opened while the stove was running?
If so how long do you have while it runs before a vacuum loss code or shut down or what ever?

What is the longest run any of you gone with hopper top offs and ash scoop outs?

 

[sydney1963]

Open it up and dump em in. Close the hopper, no probs. I have talked to people who leave it open for 20 mins. or so and no problems.

 

[rap69ri]

I have never shut it off to fill'er up. It's usually not open for more than 5 minutes so I have no idea when/if it would actually turn off. Englander needs to cover their backside so they put that in the manual for those folks that are common sense challenged.

 

[Panhandler]

Do you scoop out your burn pot 1 time per day? I do. Even if it's burning you can open it up for a few seconds and scrape it out to the side areas.

If a person isn't comfortable opening the door while burning and to prevent smoke in the house, while trying to improve efficiency, just hit the "OFF" button. Within about 3 minutes the flame goes down. Open the door and clean the burn pot, throw in a small handful of pellets and some starter and light it. Hit the start button and give the pellets about 30 seconds to catch and close the door. I do this about 4:30 am before work and then again in the evening. Takes less than 5 minutes total.

 

[pegdot]

I've never timed it but I'm guessing that the longest I've ever had the door open was a minute while I chipped carbon off the auger tube. Scooping the ash out only takes a few seconds. Opening the hopper lid is about the same, I only have it open long enough to dump a bucket of pellets in. You just need to be SURE that you close the hopper since running the stove with it open can allow the fire to burn up into the hopper and set your house on fire....CLOSE THE LID! ;-)

 

[orangecrushcj7]

Hmmm...well I suppose it would help if I went ahead and attached the photos like I said I would....let me get at that now haha.

That, pictured on the left is a clinker? I just thought that was just a clump of ash. I always pictured a clinker was rock hard... almost like a piece of coal. I've had those things before... do they break apart really easily, sometimes while trying to pick them up. similar to when you get a clump of sugar in the sugar bowl in humid weather?

 

[cdodge04]

Thanks for the replies guys. I don't typically open the front door on the unit when its going, I do fill the hopper while it's going. I didn't realize that you could open up the front door and not have it smoke back. I generally haven't been running the stove for longer then a 10-16 hour period. I typically start it around 5-530 when I get home from work and let it go until 7-7:30 in the morning. That being said, I usually clean the stove out when I get home from work right before I start it up.

I've been messing with the settings like Mike said, and I have yet to really find a setting I like. Right now I'm operating somewhere in the 5-7-1 area. I tried the 4-9-1 but the stove didn't seem to put out anywhere near as much heat, sitting in the same room as the stove and the room only seemed to be around 64-66 degrees.

I've also been experimenting with my OAK. I unhooked it and ran the pipe inside the house to try and compare it to running it outside. I couldn't see a lot of difference between the two. I didn't however get to really experiment with the different combinations of 5-7-1 to 6-4-1 with the OAK on vs off.

-Chad