It's the one thing I have not vacuumed out in a bit....so I am going to start there. BUT I am wondering if the motor can go bad on the combustion blower. Or at least have this tingy high pitched constant noise because of age. It's the original and I got my winslow in 2006. Interestingly, it started when the stove ran out of pellets. I opened it up and banged out the pot on the ash drawer and all of a sudden the running fan took on this obnoxious sound! Any. thoughts would be much appreciated. Smokey or Delta T - you still around? Last you advised me was 2015! I've had a good run....