Accentra 52i Just not putting out in cold weather

[Executivedefense]

My Acentra 52i insert was manufactured in May, 2014 and installed In September, 2014. I started running the unit in room temp mode when it was in the 40s outside and it maintained a room temp of 74 degrees with a setting of 75 on the dial and a burn rate of 4. I have an OAK installed. The Accentra is located in a large cathedral great room with 17' ceilings (large ceiling fan is set to low and in reverse) and my home is all open concept with a second floor that has an exposed staircase to the second floor. My total square feet of space to be heated is 2800. The temp probe is on the opposite end of the room approximately 25' away from from the unit at 5 feet off the floor on the wall. Once the outside temp dropped to the low 20s, all bets were off. The unit seems to be blasting away with full flame and room distribution blowers blowing on full mode; however, it can't get the room temp above 65. I just don't get it. Also, unless I put the unit on stove temp at 7 and the feed rate at 6 (maxing everything out) I only get a 3" ash bed. If I set everything at the max rate, I will get the 1" ash bed. I NEVER get unburned pellets in the pan. I religiously clean the entire unit every two weeks as well. I take everything out and vacuum all of the ash out. The only thing I don't do is pull the entire unit out from the fireplace. I already had the tech out and he said that the unit appeared to be operating just fine and then charged me a fee because there was no warranty work to be performed. I just don't know what to do. I really wanted not to use my propane fired central heat system this winter. I am using LG basic and LG premium pellets. I also have the LaCretes as well. I could try just using the La Cretes and see if they make a difference. The unit heats my entire house when the outside temp is in the 30-40s. It keeps the downstairs at 72 and the upstairs at 74 with settings at room temp at 75 and a 4 burn rate. I always leave the blower setting on high. I honestly could care less how many bags of pellets I burn because it is still cheaper than propane. Is something wrong with this stove, or I have I just maxed out the ability of this unit in very cold weather? Any suggestions would really help.

 

[Luv2burnPellets]

It appears to me that the unit is working fine, and maxed out. You have an expansive room with the 17' ceiling and upstairs bedrooms. Is your home tight and well insulated? Do you have a lot of glass in the lower great room?

 

[Jocko1]

52000 btu's is no where near enough heat to heat a house that size with tall ceilings in cold weather. My advice to you is to put it on stove temp mode and max it out. Set your regular heat to what you desire. The majority of your heat will come from the stove. It won't take much energy from your boiler to make up the remaining 3-5 degrees. This may not be a bad thing, if you have baseboard heat you want warm water running through the pipes when it's cold out. One broken pipe will negate any savings from burning pellets. Also my experience is that ceiling fans don't work at all, a good theory, but in reality the only fans that work are table fans in the floor that blow cold air into the room with the stove.

 

[Big papa]

My Acentra 52i insert was manufactured in May, 2014 and installed In September, 2014. I started running the unit in room temp mode when it was in the 40s outside and it maintained a room temp of 74 degrees with a setting of 75 on the dial and a burn rate of 4. I have an OAK installed. The Accentra is located in a large cathedral great room with 17' ceilings (large ceiling fan is set to low and in reverse) and my home is all open concept with a second floor that has an exposed staircase to the second floor. My total square feet of space to be heated is 2800. The temp probe is on the opposite end of the room approximately 25' away from from the unit at 5 feet off the floor on the wall. Once the outside temp dropped to the low 20s, all bets were off. The unit seems to be blasting away with full flame and room distribution blowers blowing on full mode; however, it can't get the room temp above 65. I just don't get it. Also, unless I put the unit on stove temp at 7 and the feed rate at 6 (maxing everything out) I only get a 3" ash bed. If I set everything at the max rate, I will get the 1" ash bed. I NEVER get unburned pellets in the pan. I religiously clean the entire unit every two weeks as well. I take everything out and vacuum all of the ash out. The only thing I don't do is pull the entire unit out from the fireplace. I already had the tech out and he said that the unit appeared to be operating just fine and then charged me a fee because there was no warranty work to be performed. I just don't know what to do. I really wanted not to use my propane fired central heat system this winter. I am using LG basic and LG premium pellets. I also have the LaCretes as well. I could try just using the La Cretes and see if they make a difference. The unit heats my entire house when the outside temp is in the 30-40s. It keeps the downstairs at 72 and the upstairs at 74 with settings at room temp at 75 and a 4 burn rate. I always leave the blower setting on high. I honestly could care less how many bags of pellets I burn because it is still cheaper than propane. Is something wrong with this stove, or I have I just maxed out the ability of this unit in very cold weather? Any suggestions would really help.

Harman accentra 52i is rated to heat 900to2600 sqft under perfect conditions I would say it would struggle to heat that much area especially with such high ceilings.your going to have to supplement in colder wheather some how

 

[Big papa]

Do you have another room that you could install a second stove helping the accentra on colder days?this would help you stay away from propane,even out the heat in the house and you could maybe get away with a used stove or a Cheeper model since it would only be used to supplement

 

[Executivedefense]

My house is only 12 years old and is well insulated. Unfortunately, there are a set of glass French doors on either side of the Accentra and two sets of windows in the same wall of the Accentra just below the ceiling approximately 15' from the floor. I am sure all of this glass does not help. I have already sealed (with plastic shrink wrap) on set of doors and I will most likely do the two sets of windows at the ceiling. Is it OK to set the unit on stove temp at the max #7 and set the feed rate on the max #6? Will this harm the unit? Interestingly enough, at both of these settings, I do get the 1" ash bed. Wouldn't this suggest that the feed rate is set correctly and that the 3" ash bed means that not enough fuel is being pushed into the burn pot? Would a stand alone pellet stove in the basement help? I may just have to supplement with the propane forced hot air unit if it gets too cold out for now. I do not have baseboard hot water so I don't have to worry about frozen pipes. Thank you all for the suggestions. I am new to pellet stoves.

 

[Big papa]

I think the main issue is not a problem with your stove it's the amount of space your trying to heat.although it is good to run your stove on high from time to time I don't think it would be good for it over the long term.i would have your dealer come out and look at things if your interested in a second stove and get a professional opinion on where to place a second stove.

 

[Executivedefense]

What would ne the highest setting you think it would be safe to set it at?

 

[Jocko1]

I max my stove out almost 24/7 when it's below 20 out with no problems. The hotter it runs the more efficient it is.

 

[Luv2burnPellets]

Don't get hung up on the size of the ash bed. In really cold weather, set the unit on stove temp max settings. Setting the federate at max won't hurt the unit. All that glass and the shear volume of heated space is a serious challenge to overcome. You may be resigned to using supplemental heat when it gets really cold out.

 

[Executivedefense]

Thanks for the input. I am going to max it out and forget about it.

 

[Big papa]

What would ne the highest setting you think it would be safe to set it at?

I think the stove would be safe at any setting I'm a new stove owner as well but in my experience running anything at its max for long periods isn't good for longevity.now you running your stove for a few days or most of a week when it's cold not so much a problem.but when your tring to heat 2800sqft with a 2600sqft stove and it's normally running at max at 30 degrees would concern me

 

[Executivedefense]

Big papa, when it is in the 30s I only need to set the stove at 5 and burn rate of 4. It is when the outside temp dropped to the 20s, I needed to max everything out to keep up.

 

[Luv2burnPellets]

A P68 free standing stove in front of the fireplace would be a serious upgrade ( heat wise ) over an insert. Just saying. It would provide all the heat you need. Yes, I know how the 52i is so much better looking.

 

[Big papa]

Yes but OP their house is 2800 sqft and their stove is only rated at 2600sqft it's running on high most of the time yours is not

 

[Peterfield]

A P68 free standing stove in front of the fireplace would be a serious upgrade ( heat wise ) over an insert. Just saying. It would provide all the heat you need. Yes, I know how the 52i is so much better looking.

According to my wife, looks are everything and BTU's are secondary.

 

[Executivedefense]

My wife is the one that said that we could finally get an insert, but she had to pick it out.

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

According to my wife, looks are everything and BTU's are secondary.

Right up until she gets chilled and then you are in big trouble.

 

[Big papa]

My wife has ours set at 75 the only one getting a chill is me when I step outside to cool off

 

[Jocko1]

A P68 free standing stove in front of the fireplace would be a serious upgrade ( heat wise ) over an insert. Just saying. It would provide all the heat you need. Yes, I know how the 52i is so much better looking.

Even a p 68 would probably have to be maxed out in a house that big with that much glass!

 

[Big papa]

Even a p 68 would probably have to be maxed out in a house that big with that much glass!

Yeah I think two stoves strategicly placed would be best for their situation

 

[peirhead]

I suggest you try the ceiling fan on a higher setting and blow the air downwards...close off any upstairs doors to rooms you aren't really using to minimize the air you are trying to heat...seems like you have the worst possible situation for a non radiant type of heater.

 

[Jocko1]

The only thing ceiling fans do is waste electricity. It's very very hard to move warm air.

 

[Ctcarl]

For my p35i on warm days 40s and up or when not home and sleeping at night I use room temp .whem it's cold I use stove mode at 5.5 and that seems to do the job.i always keep my feed rat at 3.8 hope this helps

 

[fire451]

I also have a new Harman 52i,
I keep the feed rate at 3, temperature 70,and the fan at half throttle.my house is 1300 square feet ranch, all rooms stay 71° to 69° even when it got down to 14°the other night. this is my first year with a pellet stove, still feeling things out. but where I had it set, the fire goes up very high sometimes then down very low sometimes, the fan also cycles high and low. so far I am very pleased with this thing. it sounds like you're just trying to heat a little more than it was designed for.