Enviro Empress - Lazy Flame - Pellets building up in Pot

[richkorn]

My father-in-law has an Empress, this is his 2nd season with it and it has been running great until yesterday. Now it has a lazy flame and he says the pellets are building up in the burn pot. I can't go help him because I am in CT and he is in VT.

This is what he told me:

It was professionally cleaned this past summer and running fine until *yesterday* before he cleaned out the burn pot & firebox of ash including some sort of cleanouts behind some panels in the firebox. He said he also took off the rear panels and blew some compressed air back there to blow it out. Now it runs like crap.

I told him the possibilities are:
1. Dirty stove
2. Stove not getting enough air anymore (clogged air intake)
3. Exhaust clogged
4. Not maintaining neg pressure (ash pan not secured etc.)

He is shutting it down and re-checking everything right now.

It does not have an OAK and prior to yesterday ran great without it, so that is not an issue in this case.

What do you guys think?

Thanks!

 

[richkorn]

PROBLEM SOLVED!

He forgot to latch the ash pan closed....duh.

 

[livefreeordie]

Does he have any problems with the doors rattleing and vibrating? my stove is driving me nuts, i have to leave the doors open all the time.

 

[The Radiator]

Does he have any problems with the doors rattleing and vibrating? my stove is driving me nuts, i have to leave the doors open all the time.

I know what you are talking about. I try to keep my doors closed all the time. I finally found a spot that the doors were not rattling and tightened that little spring clip on the inside of the door. After that I try to leave it alone. All you need is 1/4" nut-driver. Check the door hinge pins often too. They seem to have a way of backing out on my stove.

 

[richkorn]

He hasn't complained of any rattles.