Burn pot ash issue

[Amfranks]

Hi there. I have had my pellet stove for a few years now with no issue. I bought it off Craigslist, so I never received a manual. The only brand name listed on the stove is Country Stoves. This year I have noticed that the burn pot is accumulating a lot of ash, and it is turning into a rock-like formation. I used to be able to go a few days before cleaning out the inside, but this year, if I run it on setting 3 or higher (5 settings) I have to clean out this rocklike ash clump everyday. It affects the look of the flame, and instead of a small clean and quick flame, the ash causes the flame to get large and loosely burning, which concerns me for fire safety reasons. I've never had this issue so I'm not sure where to start. We always use hard wood pellets. The photos I've attached are from this morning after using the stove on 4 overnight. Again, using the stove on this setting for this length of time was never an issue in the past.

 

[rona]

Lots of difference in pellet quality from year to year even with the same company as they may have changed suppliers of raw product. Might be wise to try other brands of pellets.

 

[Cedarjunki]

Im curious, what brand pellets are you burning? Have you changed brands this year? When a bag states hardwood that doesnt exactly mean they are a good or the best pellet.. softwood pellets burn great as well and sometimes better than hardwood. But thats a whole seperate discussion.
Most importantly, when was the last time the complete stove and venting got a thorough cleaning? How many tons have been thru it since it was cleaned?

 

[Amfranks]

Lots of difference in pellet quality from year to year even with the same company as they may have changed suppliers of raw product. Might be wise to try other brands of pellets.

We were considering this but just didn't know where to start! Although they are hardwood pellets, it is a different brand. Could that be the culprit?

 

[Amfranks]

Im curious, what brand pellets are you burning? Have you changed brands this year? When a bag states hardwood that doesnt exactly mean they are a good or the best pellet.. softwood pellets burn great as well and sometimes better than hardwood. But thats a whole seperate discussion.
Most importantly, when was the last time the complete stove and venting got a thorough cleaning? How many tons have been thru it since it was cleaned?

Are using tractor supply company premium hardwood pellets. We have not used this brand before, so I was curious as to if this was the issue, but my father also uses this brand and when I told him about my issue, he was not having the same issue. He does have a different stove, so maybe it's the way the pellets are affecting my stove? I'm not sure. The stove DOES need a thorough cleaning. This year we have cleaned out the inside and burn pot areas and the exhaust pipe, but that's it. I was also thinking maybe it needs to be more thoroughly cleaned?

 

[Cedarjunki]

Are using tractor supply company premium hardwood pellets. We have not used this brand before, so I was curious as to if this was the issue, but my father also uses this brand and when I told him about my issue, he was not having the same issue. He does have a different stove, so maybe it's the way the pellets are affecting my stove? I'm not sure. The stove DOES need a thorough cleaning. This year we have cleaned out the inside and burn pot areas and the exhaust pipe, but that's it. I was also thinking maybe it needs to be more thoroughly cleaned?

Post the upc label and we can determine the actaul brand.

 

[Amfranks]

Post the upc label and we can determine the actaul brand.

This is the only info on the stove I can see

 

[DneprDave]

My stove does exactly that same thing when it needs to be cleaned. I clean it with the leaf blower after every ton. I just did the leaf blower trick this weekend after getting the hard ash build up, it's burning nice and clean now.

 

[Amfranks]

My stove does exactly that same thing when it needs to be cleaned. I clean it with the leaf blower after every ton. I just did the leaf blower trick this weekend after getting the hard ash build up, it's burning nice and clean now.

Could you share your cleaning technique with me?

 

[Cedarjunki]

This is the only info on the stove I can see

Ok so you have a winslow ps40. Now you know what stove it so you should be able to download a manual for it.
Bit i meant the upc on the bags of the tsc pellets.. they use many brands of pellets and some are good and some are just bad..

And i do agree with dave about the need for a good cleaning

 

[Cedarjunki]

Could you share your cleaning technique with me?

Go on youtube and type in leaf blower trick. Watch a couple videos

 

[Amfranks]

Ok so you have a winslow ps40. Now you know what stove it so you should be able to download a manual for it.
Bit i meant the upc on the bags of the tsc pellets.. they use many brands of pellets and some are good and some are just bad..

And i do agree with dave about the need for a good cleaning

Oh my fault! Here's the pellet upc....

 

[Bioburner]

Could be your gaskets are leaking too and not getting the air through the pot as it should. Aging stove. Good share of stove problems relate to poor or in need of a very good cleaning.
Good luck

 

[Cedarjunki]

Oh my fault! Here's the pellet upc....

Those are repackaged lignetics.. never burned them but alot of people love em

 

[Amfranks]

Could be your gaskets are leaking too and not getting the air through the pot as it should. Aging stove. Good share of stove problems relate to poor or in need of a very good cleaning.
Good luck

Am I able to thoroughly clean this myself (as a pellet stove novice) or should I hire a company out?

 

[Amfranks]

Those are repackaged lignetics.. never burned them but alot of people love em

We have used lignetics before with no issue so I guess the next thing would be the thorough cleaning.

 

[Bioburner]

I would see what the manual says for cleaning. It may require the removal of the exhaust fan too.

 

[Deezl Smoke]

Show a picture of the empty burn pot. I bet the holes are half blocked and smaller than they need to be. When you remove the burn pot, take a drill bit set and find one that fits snug into one of the cleanest holes. Then put it in a cordless drill and clean all the holes. You should see no, or very, very few silver metal shavings. But the holes should be fresh and clean and the same size.

 

[DneprDave]

The first time I cleaned my stove, I took it apart and brushed and vacuumed everything. Since I found out about the leaf blower trick, it's all the cleaning I do, other than a weekly vacuuming of the burn pot and ash drawer.

I use a cheap electric leaf blower, I took the guard off of the suction side and place this over the top of the exhaust vent on the roof. The cap of my exhaust vent comes off easily and has a flat metal plate that fits the suction of the leaf blower perfectly. Some people use PVC pipe fittings to make an adaptor for the leaf blower to their exhaust vent, I didn't have to.

My roof is not steep and is easy to access with a ladder. I just put the suction of the leaf blower over the vent and turn it on, being sure to leave the door on the stove open.
Point the blower end of the leaf blower downwind and turn it on. I always get an initial thick cloud of ash and soot which slowly clears up as I run the leaf blower. I run the blower about 10 or 15 minutes, until no more ash comes out. then I put the vent cap back on and I'm done.

 

[Stovensen]

The Winslow PS40 is the stove I would consider if I were to upgrade the Quest Plus. The freestanding PS 40 is shaped perfectly for a corner install like the one we have, and the PS40 is improved on so many areas compared to the old Whitfield: Ideally circular shaped burn pot made of cast iron, deep cleaning is easy through the ash clean-out ports. I really like this stove. Unfortunately they are not marketed over here, but if they were, I would anytime choose it over the Italian made pellet stoves that dominate the market here.
And the PS40 has the more reliable low limit snap switch as Proof of Fire ( POF ).
To the OP, Amfranks: You'll need some litterature on your PS40. The owners installation manual has detailed instructions on how do a deep clean ( needed after every 1 ton burned ). The leaf blower trick is a good supplement to the deep cleaning process, and cleaning the holes in the burn pot with a drill bit, also suggested above, will further improve the air flow.
Link to owners/installation manual:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/r2iqhp138nf400x/Lennox_Hearth_Winslow_Stove_Installation_775228M.pdf?dl=0

Quick start guide, if you just can't wait:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/l6istxpdz...low_PS40_Quick_Start_Guide_506033-38.pdf?dl=0

Original PS40 brochure:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/cafqj9nrgsguzvx/Lennox_Hearth_Winslow_Brochure_785210M.pdf?dl=0

PS40 Diagnostic Tool:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/exa5u8ojvwgp5yk/Winslow_Diagnostic_Tool.pdf?dl=0

Good luck and take care. Keep us posted