Been running the Quad Mt. Vernon for a few days and have some more questions...

[PelletGirl]

I've also been reading up here as well and need some more info...

- What exactly is a lazy flame? We have it set on auto and the flame height and blower speed seem to vary while it's on. Sometimes it hits the top and sometimes much lower. Sparks fly at times as well.

- I've read that the EVL says use 4" if over 15 ft. However, our manual has a chart which takes elevation into consideration and EVL can go as high as 26 ft at a low elevation and still use 3". I'm wondering how much difference there would be with 4" as we have 3" and are in the 3 or 4 section of the chart.

- Our OAK is installed on the outside thimble with the vent pipe (thimble has a hole for each). Is this too close? The OAK is in the lower corner and the exhaust comes straight out about 8"-10".

Still waiting for the installer to come back to fix the venting so if I have some info before then I can hopefully bring it up to be fixed while he's here. Thanks!

 

[John Fortier]

Sorry I cant help you on issues..but..folks here love to see photos..worth 1,000 words..plus this is a nice bump!

 

[john193]

When the stove is running unhinge the door latch. That will be enough to break the seal and you will see what a lazy flame looks like. You can further open the door without issue.

If you are within the graph for your pipe you will be fine. I run 3 inch with an 18 foot rise.

 

[PelletGirl]

Thank you. Our dealer called Quadrafire and they told him 3" was fine but I want to be certain.

What about the OAK? Is there a problem having it on the same thimble as the vent termination?

 

[kappel15]

No problem being on the same thimble, as long as the oak is lower.

 

[PelletGirl]

Thank you - so much for me to learn.

I also have a question about the flame - it seems to be higher on the right side, especially when it is low/medium. When it is high it is more even. Is there a problem - something I can fix or adjust to make it more even? We have the logs in the stove and I don't know if it affects the flame pattern.

 

[kappel15]

Just one of the quirks of the Quad stoves. My Sante Fe and AE do the same thing. Which is a good thing since the thermocouple is on that side.

 

[DMKNLD]

Kap et al:

I noticed when I changed out my old ceramic fire pot a couple seasons back after it cracked, that the new steel pot had a different configuration of air hole locations, including the one under and near the thermo- couple, where the old style fire pot didn't have a hole there.

I'm going to guess that Quad re-designed it that way to redirect the flame towards the thermo-couple, perhaps to mitigate some of the old dreaded CSS - cold start syndrome ?

 

[PelletGirl]

Good to know - thank you! Just a nervous new owner - the stove wasn't cheap and I just want to make sure all is as it should be. Just have to get the installer back to fix the smokey smell. Hopefully he's coming tomorrow.

Thanks again everyone - you are all so helpful.

 

[DMKNLD]

You are so welcome Pellet Girl !! Knowledge is power !! When your installer shows up, as they say here in Maine, be 'loaded for bear' and keep him to task.

 

[kappel15]

The new hole design was for better air flow. You can still get the CSS. With a corn mix, I am still getting those with a clean pot. When winter hits, I will toss a handful of pellets in cleaned pot at nite to make sure it fires the first time.

 

[DMKNLD]

The new hole design was for better air flow. You can still get the CSS. With a corn mix, I am still getting those with a clean pot. When winter hits, I will toss a handful of pellets in cleaned pot at nite to make sure it fires the first time.

Interesting, Kap. My 1st gen Castile CSS issues resolved after replacing the fire pot as well as the old grey style control box. I replaced both at the same time, so not sure which of the two, or a combo of both, fixed it. I'm guessing the new style control board providing more initial pellet drop and the increased combustion blower speed during pellet ignition probably helped my stove the most.

Not being familiar with burning corn / pellet mix, does using the +10% pellet feed control board setting option affect your CSS issue at all ? Or is the initial pellet drop the same on the +10% setting as the standard setting ?

Sorry PelletGirl, didn't intend to hijack your thread....

 

[PelletGirl]

Interesting, Kap. My 1st gen Castile CSS issues resolved after replacing the fire pot as well as the old grey style control box. I replaced both at the same time, so not sure which of the two, or a combo of both, fixed it. I'm guessing the new style control board providing more initial pellet drop and the increased combustion blower speed during pellet ignition probably helped my stove the most.

Not being familiar with burning corn / pellet mix, does using the +10% pellet feed control board setting option affect your CSS issue at all ? Or is the initial pellet drop the same on the +10% setting as the standard setting ?

Sorry PelletGirl, didn't intend to hijack your thread....

No worries! I can't help much since I'm new so if someone else can help you, that's great. We all want the stoves burning their best, right?

 

[PelletGirl]

So they came today and put new silicone on vent pipe. Said there was a hole/gap between the stove and adaptor. Hopefully that was the issue and we won't have the smoke smell anymore. They told us to keep the stove off for 24 hrs to let the silicone set. We shall see...

 

[kappel15]

Interesting, Kap. My 1st gen Castile CSS issues resolved after replacing the fire pot as well as the old grey style control box. I replaced both at the same time, so not sure which of the two, or a combo of both, fixed it. I'm guessing the new style control board providing more initial pellet drop and the increased combustion blower speed during pellet ignition probably helped my stove the most.

Not being familiar with burning corn / pellet mix, does using the +10% pellet feed control board setting option affect your CSS issue at all ? Or is the initial pellet drop the same on the +10% setting as the standard setting ?

Sorry PelletGirl, didn't intend to hijack your thread....

I have just been having a few CSS's with a clean pot. Seems once you have some ash in there, it starts right up. Best thing for the CSS for me burning a mix is to throw a handful of pellets in pot before start-up. But I am also pushing the limit with corn moisture. 17.9% Well, maybe over the limit. LOL

 

[Wilbur Feral]

So they came today and put new silicone on vent pipe. Said there was a hole/gap between the stove and adaptor. Hopefully that was the issue and we won't have the smoke smell anymore. They told us to keep the stove off for 24 hrs to let the silicone set. We shall see...

Agree with 24 hr cure. But test as soon as that's up, and don't settle for a smoky house.

 

[PelletGirl]

Agree with 24 hr cure. But test as soon as that's up, and don't settle for a smoky house.

We are counting down the minutes. Even though we've only had the stove one week, we really missed not having it on. Not to mention, this is my last concern about the stove/install so I want it resolved so I can just enjoy it!