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.