Been having trouble staying warm this season

[briansol]

I had my oak installed this summer and I've been hoping for some much better efficiency out of my stove to keep my place warmer and with less oil use than before (rated for 37k btu, but its worthless on high after a few hours (build up-gets lazy) so its only about a 30k stove usable).

But, I've been having a horrible experience this year. I'm burning through pellets like crazy and struggling to keep my place at 65. Even when it hasn't been that cold out!

I kept MF'ing the stove.

Yesterday, for the first time since October-ish, I went out the back sliding door to look at the snow coming down. Just as I grabbed the lock tumbler, I notice I can SEE outside through the door.
Ffffff The slider hasn't been fully closed in 3 months. As I was standing there, I could feel the cold air just seeping in. My slider is such that if its not locked in tight, the seal where the 2 panes meet in the middle don't connect, thus, a 7' tall 3mm opening letting in cold air. It also happens to be a bit of a wind tunnel area which means wind forces air in there.

So, I shut the door proper.
And my house ramped up to 70 in a few hours.
I turned the stove down this morning to medium.


ugh.


That mistake cost me about 40 bags of fuel.

 

[scottvwgti]

Ouch. I had a similar experience but with my window in the mud room. I was shoveling snow on the deck a few weeks back while my 2 1/2 year old daughter was watching me. I realized I could hear her talking to me like she was standing next to me. So I went inside to see the that the window was unlocked. Same thing as you, if it isn't locked tight, it leaves a substantial crack.

....palm smacking forehead....

 

[wwert]

I suggest you also do a good cleaning. There are 6 clean out holes on that stove. You should be able to get it warmer than that. I say that without knowing a thing about your house. Mine kept the upstairs at 75 on setting 1.

 

[John C.]

You CT. guys buy any box store pellets.Sorry to change subject.Hd in hartford area keeps on changing.

 

[briansol]

I've had the whole thing apart many times. all 4 flue passage covers, fans, pipe, and of course the obvious burn area.
my house is a 1400 sq ft modern (built in 1997) split level with 2x6 and r19 dual pane thermo windows, etc.

it seems like every year it does worse though. I used to run it on setting 1 and 2. now its on 4 most the time. maybe its just me wanting to be warmer as I get older and I've lost like 75 lbs since I first got this stove, so I lost a lot of OEM insulation too.

I don't use box store pellets... not worth the $20 savings.

 

[wwert]

I do but you are correct, they keep changing. Not sure where to try next. Guess I'll bite the bullet and go to a specialty store.

 

[John C.]

I do but you are correct, they keep changing. Not sure where to try next. Guess I'll bite the bullet and go to a specialty store.

Bought a ton of prest-o-logs there hot but very ashy. U guys will kill me but i bought 10 bags of Nations Choice and there alot better then the GS,and the prestologs.No stove chow or FSU anywhere I dont think.

 

[briansol]

Bristol just had the green junk at the beginning of the season, haven't seen anything out there in a while though. not worth buying anyway. go to BT

 

[joescho]

That mistake cost me about 40 bags of fuel.

At least it wasn't the equivilant in oil.....

 

[boo boo]

ouch. I hope your stove warms you up now Brian

 

[wwert]

How about the 2 holes behind the ash pan

 

[moey]

I left my insulated hatch cover to my attic open all winter even noticed the draft still didnt bother to check.

 

[IHATEPROPANE]

Bought a ton of prest-o-logs there hot but very ashy. U guys will kill me but i bought 10 bags of Nations Choice and there alot better then the GS,and the prestologs.No stove chow or FSU anywhere I dont think.

Glad you has luck with the Nations Choice...

HD had FSU, AWF, Chow and Nations Choice this year.

I have burned everything but the NC and have been very pleased. Actually burning Chow now instead of my 3 tons of Vermonts

 

[IHATEPROPANE]

I had my oak installed this summer and I've been hoping for some much better efficiency out of my stove to keep my place warmer and with less oil use than before (rated for 37k btu, but its worthless on high after a few hours (build up-gets lazy) so its only about a 30k stove usable).

But, I've been having a horrible experience this year. I'm burning through pellets like crazy and struggling to keep my place at 65. Even when it hasn't been that cold out!

I kept MF'ing the stove.

Yesterday, for the first time since October-ish, I went out the back sliding door to look at the snow coming down. Just as I grabbed the lock tumbler, I notice I can SEE outside through the door.
Ffffff The slider hasn't been fully closed in 3 months. As I was standing there, I could feel the cold air just seeping in. My slider is such that if its not locked in tight, the seal where the 2 panes meet in the middle don't connect, thus, a 7' tall 3mm opening letting in cold air. It also happens to be a bit of a wind tunnel area which means wind forces air in there.

So, I shut the door proper.
And my house ramped up to 70 in a few hours.
I turned the stove down this morning to medium.


ugh.


That mistake cost me about 40 bags of fuel.

I have made much more costly mistakes......

 

[slvrblkk]

I have made much more costly mistakes......

How about it...me too!

 

[briansol]

How about the 2 holes behind the ash pan

Behind where? the ash pan doesn't move....



We've all probably dated... and most of those didn't work, so yes, we've all made more costly mistakes. Being out a couple hundred bucks is nothing compared to wasted time on a horrible human being.

 

[wwert]

Open the side panels. There are latches on each side of ash pan. Unlock and slide it out. 2 round covers on back wall. Real men don't read stove manuals

 

[briansol]

Are you sure that's for the pi40? not the ps40?
I've been through my manual 100 times cover to cover and have never seen that.

the sides open to 2 per side square flu passages, top and bottom. There are no latches. im pointing to the top 1. i clean these every time i clean the pipe. and i can kinda get into them from inside the burn box with my straw tool on the vac and i sniff around for loose stuff at the top every time i clean the ash pan.

I tried to snap a few pics of the back of the stove, but there's nothing but sheet metal coming out in them.


around page 20 is where the cleaning info starts
(broken link removed to http://matchless.info/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Len-Winslow-PI40IICO.pdf)

 

[wwert]

Yes you are right. Didn't realize you had an insert. My humblest apologies