Cycle on/off vs. run 24x7..ish

[Brewder]

This is my 2nd season as a pellet stove owner (Quadra CB1200i). My first season I let the stove cycle on/off multiple times per day... It's very early in the heating season and the stove is running at the near lowest low feed rate, but I found a sweet spot where the stove can run 24x7 and keep the house very comfortable. Of course as it gets colder, I'll need to increase the rate to maintain the same level of warmth. And yes, I shut it down regularly to give it a thorough cleaning.

This question might be like asking car guys "what oil do you run", but I'm curious for these types of units... is it better to let it cycle constantly or just let it rip 24x7 with periodic shutdowns for maintenance? To me, it seems constantly cycling would wear out parts quicker (plus it drives me nuts) but I don't have the experience in this industry to know.

Suggestion for a new Quadra CB1200i owner?

//Brew

 

[Whitenuckler]

This is my 2nd season as a pellet stove owner (Quadra CB1200i). My first season I let the stove cycle on/off multiple times per day... It's very early in the heating season and the stove is running at the near lowest low feed rate, but I found a sweet spot where the stove can run 24x7 and keep the house very comfortable. Of course as it gets colder, I'll need to increase the rate to maintain the same level of warmth. And yes, I shut it down regularly to give it a thorough cleaning.

This question might be like asking car guys "what oil do you run", but I'm curious for these types of units... is it better to let it cycle constantly or just let it rip 24x7 with periodic shutdowns for maintenance? To me, it seems constantly cycling would wear out parts quicker (plus it drives me nuts) but I don't have the experience in this industry to know.

Suggestion for a new Quadra CB1200i owner?

//Brew

I got my install this year in Feb, and it's in the basement, so I started out running 24/7 on low. The basement didn't get too hot, and I rigged up a blower to blow cool air from the floor above into the area in back of my stove. Then as things warmed up, I started using the stove thermostat and my heat pumps. I ran all summer after supper to take the chill off down there where I have a large TV ect. I am still in the that mode now. Later when the temps fall below about -5C I will run the stove more and that circulation fan. I say use both modes and don't worry about it. Whatever you need. I burned about a bag a day running 24/7 on low (P43)

 

[johneh]

I run my stove 24/7, why? Because on the Off/On, you are using the igniter
multiple times a day . Cool down /heat up cycles I just keep the stove set a
a feed rate that keeps the house where I want it . This is how I use my
stove, and the igniter is in its 24th season, never been replaced

 

[mtnbiker727]

I don't want my stove to cycle on and off, because that's just like a forced hot air furnace. hot then cold, then hot, then cold. I want to burn wood because I like constant, consistent heat.

In the "shoulder" seasons I run it for a few hours in the morning to warm up the house, then a few hours in the evening. I run it on room temp-disabled, so the stove will maintain the room temperature by throttling up and down as needed, but never go fully out.

When it's colder, I run it 24/7 in room temp-disabled and stop about once per week (or less) to scrape the burn pot and clean it up, unless there's an unusual amount of ash build-up, then I'll do it more often.

 

[bogieb]

This time of year, indeed most of the heating season, I run my stoves so they shut down when room temp is reached. Even with an older house that isn't very tight, the stoves only run a few times per day - and mostly at night. I literally couldn't run the stoves 24/7 at this time of year without opening windows to not overheat. I do run them both from remote thermostats instead of the room temp probes since I am heating my whole house.

When it gets colder, they will shut down for an hour or so before restarting. In the deep of winter, when they start to cycle back on shortly after shutting down (or even while shutting down), I will switch them over to constant burn and use the feed rate to regulate the temperature.

Both my stoves still have the original igniters and I've been running them for 10-12 years so I don't see wear and tear as a huge problem. Also, igniters are cheap compared to other parts that are getting a massive workout when being run 24/7.

 

[Whitenuckler]

I don't want my stove to cycle on and off, because that's just like a forced hot air furnace. hot then cold, then hot, then cold. I want to burn wood because I like constant, consistent heat.

In the "shoulder" seasons I run it for a few hours in the morning to warm up the house, then a few hours in the evening. I run it on room temp-disabled, so the stove will maintain the room temperature by throttling up and down as needed, but never go fully out.

When it's colder, I run it 24/7 in room temp-disabled and stop about once per week (or less) to scrape the burn pot and clean it up, unless there's an unusual amount of ash build-up, then I'll do it more often.

That is one mode I need to try more Room Temp - disabled. Just in case some people really don't know what we mean, the igniter is put on disabled mode, or off, and then the stove uses the room temperature probe to throttle the fire/pellet feed/heat based on that. However it will not let the fire go out as would normally happen in room temp mode. I did all my 24/7 running in stove mode on low before. It was Feb/March and being in the basement with the cool air blowing in back on the stove from upstairs, I needed a constant heat. I may try that room mode now more now as it's getting cold, but I will still be using my heat pumps upstairs and that circulation fan off. Also might be spending more time in the basement instead of outside so having heat all day would be good. I would shut it off at night. I might even try that today.

 

[Brewder]

This has been a very educational read. The CB1200i is a very manual stove... Manual toggle for fan speed (high/med/low) and manual setting of feed rate.. So all I can really control is the thermostat. I use an Ecobee with remote sensors so it's easy to turn the stove on/off and "trick it" to running 24x7 by placing the temp sensor in my basement and setting the temp to a value it will never reach.

For now in the "shoulder season" we'll just use it as-needed, but for sure I'm going to try running it 24x7 by manually tweaking the feed rate once temps are consistently below 50f... I'll use the heat pump fan to try and move the air around the house.

Thanks everyone for the replies!

 

[mtnbiker727]

That is one mode I need to try more Room Temp - disabled. Just in case some people really don't know what we mean, the igniter is put on disabled mode, or off, and then the stove uses the room temperature probe to throttle the fire/pellet feed/heat based on that. However it will not let the fire go out as would normally happen in room temp mode. I did all my 24/7 running in stove mode on low before. It was Feb/March and being in the basement with the cool air blowing in back on the stove from upstairs, I needed a constant heat. I may try that room mode now more now as it's getting cold, but I will still be using my heat pumps upstairs and that circulation fan off. Also might be spending more time in the basement instead of outside so having heat all day would be good. I would shut it off at night. I might even try that today.

When you read the brochure about your Harman stove, they tell you it'll keep the room within 1 degree of your setting. Room Temp - Disabled is how it does that. It's the only mode I use.

If you use the stove temp setting, the stove will burn at that same setting, regardless of the indoor air temperature. So it might be too hot, or not hot enough.

If you use Room Temp - Auto, then the stove well get blazing hot for it's initial warmup cycle, and then when the room temperature is satisfied, it'll shut completely off and get cold, and then it'll turn back on again and get blazing hot. That's the setting my dealer recommended, but I don't like it.

 

[Whitenuckler]

When you read the brochure about your Harman stove, they tell you it'll keep the room within 1 degree of your setting. Room Temp - Disabled is how it does that. It's the only mode I use.

If you use the stove temp setting, the stove will burn at that same setting, regardless of the indoor air temperature. So it might be too hot, or not hot enough.

If you use Room Temp - Auto, then the stove well get blazing hot for it's initial warmup cycle, and then when the room temperature is satisfied, it'll shut completely off and get cold, and then it'll turn back on again and get blazing hot. That's the setting my dealer recommended, but I don't like it.

I tried the room mode disabled but it was not cold enough yet. The room got too hot. Also, I noticed the room distribution fan is disabled in that mode. It reminded me of my old Stove mode days when I used to put it on disabled when I was testing. Romance mode they called it. I'm back to room mode auto, but looking to upgrade my measurement spot to the center of the room.

 

[mtnbiker727]

I tried the room mode disabled but it was not cold enough yet. The room got too hot. Also, I noticed the room distribution fan is disabled in that mode. It reminded me of my old Stove mode days when I used to put it on disabled when I was testing. Romance mode they called it. I'm back to room mode auto, but looking to upgrade my measurement spot to the center of the room.

Room Temp Disabled will turn the distribution fan on and off depending on if the room is calling for the heat or not. If the room is warm enough, the stove will basically just trickle along keeping itself lit, and giving off ambient heat like an old fashioned wood stove. Then when the room needs more heat, the fan will blow, and the pellet feed will increase if needed.

I have my thermostat wire coiled up at the back of the stove. I just set the dial to whatever temperature it takes to get the desired room temperature. There are other people who have wired them into room thermostats, but I've never wanted to mess with that.

 

[Whitenuckler]

Room Temp Disabled will turn the distribution fan on and off depending on if the room is calling for the heat or not. If the room is warm enough, the stove will basically just trickle along keeping itself lit, and giving off ambient heat like an old fashioned wood stove. Then when the room needs more heat, the fan will blow, and the pellet feed will increase if needed.

I have my thermostat wire coiled up at the back of the stove. I just set the dial to whatever temperature it takes to get the desired room temperature. There are other people who have wired them into room thermostats, but I've never wanted to mess with that.

I just got finished moving my temperature probe to a location away from the top of the stove, to the middle of the room. Room Mode Disabled is working good now. It also helps that it got down to 0C last night. I really like that the distribution blower shuts off when it can. Make it less noisy. I am still watching the temperature regulation. I wish I had done that sooner. Also when I start blowing cold air from my vent system behind the stove, it is not going to care as the probe is not there anymore.
Having your probe coiled up near the distribution blower inlet is better than where I had mine. I put it above the stove in the heat. The manual says to put it in the return air flow.