Dirty glass. Normal? Timber Ridge 49-TRCPM

[Chodey83]

I have no experience with pellet stoves as this is my first home and first pellet stove purchased. I usually clean out my stove daily.

I don't mind shutting it down daily and cleaning out the ash and taking care of the soot build up on the glass.

My question is, how much soot should build up? I've seen posts about people cleaning theirs weekly or even as much as every two weeks. On my stove the air deflector hits a particular spot of the glass, mainly the lower portion and middle of the glass. This stays clear throughout a 24 hour period. As for the rest of the glass (sides and top of window pane), they need daily cleaning. The buildup is so bad that it completely covers the glass and looks dirty. Is this normal buildup since the air deflector doesn't hit these parts or is it just one of the many problems I've been having with this stove?

Cheers!

 

[SidecarFlip]

They all get dirty, fact of a solid fuel stove. The amount (and color or opacity) depemds a lot on how hard you run it. Lower heat ranges allow the glass to get dirty faster...and darker, higher heat ranges (and higher firebox temps) and the glass will stay cleaner and/or a lighter color. Mine gets dark quick when the stove is in the lower half of the HR settings, 3/4 of the way up in HR, the glass gets less dirty and takes on a light brown color, like a bread crust, but it's still dirty, just ;less. Wide open and it stays relatively clear because the deposits are burning off.

The glass is only for asthetics, nothing more.

Me. I don't need to 'see' the fire anyway. I can feel the heat, good enough IMO.

I believe most problems/issues are caused by over cautious owners, open it up and let cook, it's a stove.

 

[joed2323]

No issues let her burn.... Or clean it off like me.. Guess it makes the old lady feel warmth knowing she can see the fire

 

[Chodey83]

I appreciate it! I've had so many problems with this stove since I purchased it, I wasn't sure if it was just normal buildup or yet another problem.

 

[joed2323]

I appreciate it! I've had so many problems with this stove since I purchased it, I wasn't sure if it was just normal buildup or yet another problem.

See I've been keeping my stove clean daily since i don't run a Harman, but I knew this when I bought my stove. I even have the wife trained to shut the stove down when it gets too hot and vacuum out the stove it really isn't that hard its just another choir, don't sweat it just clean the glass like me if it bothers you or let her rip like some have suggested

 

[SidecarFlip]

Keep in mind that most issues with feeding and excessive soot come about when a stove is run in the lower heat ranges. Most every unit is most efficient and the least amount of trouble when run 'balls to the wall. These things are designed to run balls out. Thats how I run mine, wide open and let the T'stat modulate it. IOW, it's idling or pedal to the metal. Nothing in between. I learned years ago not to 'baby' a stove and/or attempt to control the heat output manually with the control pad.

Much better to use a remote T'stat and let it rip.

 

[joed2323]

Keep in mind that most issues with feeding and excessive soot come about when a stove is run in the lower heat ranges. Most every unit is most efficient and the least amount of trouble when run 'balls to the wall. These things are designed to run balls out. Thats how I run mine, wide open and let the T'stat modulate it. IOW, it's idling or pedal to the metal. Nothing in between. I learned years ago not to 'baby' a stove and/or attempt to control the heat output manually with the control pad.

Much better to use a remote T'stat and let it rip.

Good point. I've noticed when I run my stove 75% or more she cranks and warms us out of the house and things don't look so black but when I keep it around 50% or less things change... But I've been experimenting with 3 diff brands so I can't say in my case that's 100% true

 

[Lake Girl]

...My question is, how much soot should build up?

Black soot or tan ash? Post a pic ...

 

[woodmakesheat]

So I get about 2" of sooty glass on the sides and 2" on the top. Sometimes a little streak near the middle of the glass will appear if ash & tiny pellet pieces blocks some of the airwash air. I don't worry about it, it's better at staying clean than my woodstove was.

I usually clean the glass when I do my weekly ash drawer empty and now vacuum since I decided to buy an ash vacuum (seems to make cleanup much easier.) I do scrape the pot during the weekly cleaning, though there's usually very little there after I take the pot out and dump it.

Last week I didn't even bother to clean the glass and it hasn't gotten any worse - 10 days is no worse than the 3rd day. I run it on a thermostat in high-low mode now that it's cold day and night (ran on/off through mid November). I like the high/low as it works as described above - it burns a nice healthy fire @ 7-9 setting, then idles down whilst the bower keeps throwing heat contained in the thermal mass of the stove for about 1/2 hour which helps maintain the house temperature as it idles.

 

[SidecarFlip]

So I get about 2" of sooty glass on the sides and 2" on the top. Sometimes a little streak near the middle of the glass will appear if ash & tiny pellet pieces blocks some of the airwash air. I don't worry about it, it's better at staying clean than my woodstove was.

I usually clean the glass when I do my weekly ash drawer empty and now vacuum since I decided to buy an ash vacuum (seems to make cleanup much easier.) I do scrape the pot during the weekly cleaning, though there's usually very little there after I take the pot out and dump it.

Last week I didn't even bother to clean the glass and it hasn't gotten any worse - 10 days is no worse than the 3rd day. I run it on a thermostat in high-low mode now that it's cold day and night (ran on/off through mid November). I like the high/low as it works as described above - it burns a nice healthy fire @ 7-9 setting, then idles down whilst the bower keeps throwing heat contained in the thermal mass of the stove for about 1/2 hour which helps maintain the house temperature as it idles.

Ditto minus any scraping. 9 and 1 with a 14 second ramp time between HR's.

 

[RAVinMetrowest]

I can quickly open the door of my insert when running and do a quick interim wipe with a dry paper towel if needed. Use care as all surfaces are very hot. This gives me a jump on keeping the glass clean at lower settings.

 

[TimfromMA]

My stove is on thermostat and will shut down on its own from time to time. I will often use these off periods to do a quick cleaning including the glass.

 

[Indiana]

Chodey,

I have the same stove. Right now with temps barely in the 30's, I run on a heat range of 2 or 3. Within 24 hrs of cleaning the glass it is mostly black with soot die to the lower heat range settings. When it's cold and I run at 7/8, the glass only gets light ashy 2" around the edge. I have been running my cpm for 5 seasons now. After a season or 2 you get to know your stove and how it responds to different pellets and temps. Most will agree that a poorly performing stove is due to operator error. Keep it clean. Air is the key. I clean my cpm every Sunday. Once a month I clean the flue. Last January I ran 25 days straight without cleaning. I was running on 8 constantly. When the ash started to flow over the air wash I gave it a complete cleaning. I am a firm believer that this is the sleeper of the pellet stove market. Like an automobile, the cpm will tell you what's wrong. You will learn what to listen for. Of course the ESW support is top notch.