Cannot access my prior account so starting afresh. Member since 2012 or 2013, Harman Accentra since then, always Hamers Hot Ones pellets.
Well, for the past year, I've seemed to have beat down (for now) my ongoing problem -- slow ignition, or sometimes no ignition at all. Last winter I had the ignitor changed, again, this one works well. More aggressive cleaning before every fire (5hr to 14hr burns): scape out burn pot, poke out the air holes, clean the glass. Deeper cleaning every 10 fires with vacuuming, ash dumping, etc. Now getting light-off in 6-8 minutes!
But, I smell deep, dark trouble.
To clean the air holes, I use a small, 90-degree pick, max diameter of the yip 3/32". Most of the time, the tip bottoms out, nice metallic 'click', metal on metal. Recently, experiencing some not bottoming out, sticking partway in, no click -- something gumming up. BTW, always on the side holes, not the bottom holes. So far, stove igniting fine but I'd rather have a solution for 100% clearing. Also BTW, at the ten-fire cleaning, as the burnpot is really cleaned at that point, I spray Rutland Creosote Remover (and, now the end of augur tube is staying nice, little/no scraping there needed).
So, question: how to get and keep those holes clear? Google search and a search here is not telling me much. I do not want to resort to drilling (what I I remove metal and change air/fuel ratio?) and even my new cordless angle drill unlikely to get deep in that burnpot. Maybe a tiny brush but this more than just ash, I presume. And I've never removed the burnpot myself, I guess I could not ask how, prefer to clean in situ.
Well, for the past year, I've seemed to have beat down (for now) my ongoing problem -- slow ignition, or sometimes no ignition at all. Last winter I had the ignitor changed, again, this one works well. More aggressive cleaning before every fire (5hr to 14hr burns): scape out burn pot, poke out the air holes, clean the glass. Deeper cleaning every 10 fires with vacuuming, ash dumping, etc. Now getting light-off in 6-8 minutes!
But, I smell deep, dark trouble.
To clean the air holes, I use a small, 90-degree pick, max diameter of the yip 3/32". Most of the time, the tip bottoms out, nice metallic 'click', metal on metal. Recently, experiencing some not bottoming out, sticking partway in, no click -- something gumming up. BTW, always on the side holes, not the bottom holes. So far, stove igniting fine but I'd rather have a solution for 100% clearing. Also BTW, at the ten-fire cleaning, as the burnpot is really cleaned at that point, I spray Rutland Creosote Remover (and, now the end of augur tube is staying nice, little/no scraping there needed).So, question: how to get and keep those holes clear? Google search and a search here is not telling me much. I do not want to resort to drilling (what I I remove metal and change air/fuel ratio?) and even my new cordless angle drill unlikely to get deep in that burnpot. Maybe a tiny brush but this more than just ash, I presume. And I've never removed the burnpot myself, I guess I could not ask how, prefer to clean in situ.
