End of Season Clean - Professional or DIY?

[timalabim]

This is my first year of pelletship.

Dealer quoted $169.00 to do annual service this spring, not counting cleaning the flue, which they installed, but won't clean.

So I'm thinking I might as well do it myself. I'm pretty handy, but just wondering if there is something that won't be obvious that needs to be done that I wouldn't think of.

I figure I'll pull both blowers and take them up to my workshop to clean/lube. Vac out the stove.

I'll fill in the bottom end of the flue with fiberglass insulation til next season when I'll seal it back to the stove (no tee).

Chimney sweep doing my other two flues already in July, so I'll have them do the stovepipe as well.

 

[Cincinnati Kid]

Wow. My dealer just came out today and completely cleaned my P-38 Harman including 30 feet of pipe going up the chimney for $125.00. They did have a special of $25.00 off for cleaning in April.

 

[MassPellet]

My first season with my new stove, and I think I'll pay the "special" spring price of $169 to see how to clean it correctly. Then in future years do it myself.

 

[nosaudioil]

IMHO the really special part is how a pellet stove dealer can get one to pay $169.00 for performing a maintenance task that any pellet stove operator should be able to accomplish themselves. Get to know your stove intimately, it pays.

 

[Xena]

IMHO the really special part is
how a pellet stove dealer can get one to pay $169.00 for performing a maintenance
task that any pellet stove operator should be able to accomplish themselves.
Get to know your stove intimately, it pays.

+1! It is not that difficult to clean these stoves. Lots of good
help here on the forum if you look around.

 

[abrucerd]

I was a little intimidated before cleaning the stove myself this year, but I'm glad I did. I was able to easily take apart the pipes and clean out all the ash, but I also found a lot of corrosion at the top of my chimney.

Had I not cleaned the stove myself, I would have never noticed that. PLUS, I had a "professional" come clean my stove last year and he didn't go onto the roof so he never knew about it either!

Moral of the story (as stated above), get intimate with your stove.

Mmm... that's hot.

 

[nailed_nailer]

I have a buddy help me lift and drag my stove outside to my front lawn for the annual spring cleaning.

There I completely take it apart. Using a combination of compressed air and vacuuming I clean everything.
The compressed air really cleans out all of that fly ash that collects in the deep corners.

I re-assemble it and bring it back inside ready to use in the fall.


While the stove is out of the way I run my cleaning brush up and down the vertical vent. That way it also is ready for next year.

Some talk about spraying the firebox with a light oil to prevent humidity caused corrosion I have not needed to on my stove.

I say save your $$$ and do it yourself. It's not that hard and you will learn a lot about how your stove works as well.

---Nailer---

 

[timalabim]

thanks for the replies. I think I'll definetly do it myself.

 

[rex66]

Cincy Kid,

Here is the Harman link on how to clean your stove. It really is easy and will save you money and help you get more familiar with your stove should you desire to do so.

(broken link removed to http://www.harmanstoves.com/maintenance/P38&P61CleaningGuide;.htm)

I actually do this every week or two save the disconnect. I think it keeps my P61A running smooth and efficient all winter. Where it tells you to use a hammer and screwdriver on tough deposits in the burn pot, I have found that using a 2 inch putty knife works much better. I even use it in place of the tool Harman gives you. Make sure you use a 2 inch as I started with a 1 inch and found the 2 inch really clears the carbon deposits much faster.



Cheers

 

[richkorn]

My first season with my new stove, and I think I'll pay the "special" spring price of $169 to see how to clean it correctly. Then in future years do it myself.

That's what I did (just to see what they do) and I discovered that the stove guy didn't do anything that I couldn't do myself. I'm going to get a pellet brush with 25' of rod and service it myself for now on.

 

[natnyer]

If you can't clean the stove yourself why bother having it? I bought a pellet stove to save money on heat. If oil prices are lower i will buy oil. If pellet prices are cheaper I will buy pellets. For 169.00 you can buy alot of oil or pellets. It's not rocket science clean where the soot is lol. Do it yourself and just use common sense.

 

[stoveguy2esw]

cleaning a pellet stove is not that complecated, most manuals will lay out how they intend this to be done. cleaning a pellet vent is quite easy as well , i have a brush system that was designed origionally for dryer vents, works fantastic for my pellet pipe. follow your manufacturers instructions , see if they have a "help line" such as we at ESW have , call them if you have questions. also dont forget many folks in here have that stove as well and im sure would be happy to instruct you on "tricks of the trade" so to speak.ask questions if you arent sure.

be advised before starting , some makes and models have certain gaskets which may require replacement if the component they seal (such as the combustion blower) is removed. good gasket maintenance is important,but often overlooked. dont forget to inspect all gaskets and replace if wear is shown or if they are scheduled to be replaced on a seasonal basis. above all , plan to allow for plenty of time to do the work and take your time, an annual cleaning is only once in a year no need to rush it, especially the first time. once you are familiar with the task it will go faster.

 

[BreckP23Newbie]

Do It Yourself And Save that Money, You Need to Be Able to repair anything that might break on it anyway in the future and you wont be a slave to those ridiculious maintenance prices IMHO..........

You Should learn how to replace the auger, combustion, convection, Motherboard, Gaskets that are required for yearly maintenance, buy a 3 pack.

You Will Appreciate the feeling of DIY....

 

[malibuman00]

My dealer quoted $199.00 before July and $249.00 after July for yearly service on the stove. I have already empty the tee on the pipe and cleaned out the ash. If I decide to clean the stove my self I will invest in a good brush to clean the pipe, I have 5 ft of vertical. My only question is what is involved in cleaning the exhaust blower. The manual states yearly or as needed, but requires no lubrication. It also states by: Qualified service tech, and doesn't state how to do this. When I remove the back brick I can see the exhaust fan and I just hold the vacuum in the exhaust port, which I do monthly. Is there anything else I should be doing? Quad Santa Fe.