Enviro Empress Pellet Stove

[The Coopers]

My husband and I found a 2006 Enviro Empress on CL that someone listed for free, as long as you came and picked it up. Previous owners claimed that the stove is in a working condition and that it had some parts replaced. They did provide us with the info on replacement parts but I do not have that in front of me right now.

My husband and I emailed them right away and went following day to look at the stove.

Guys, I don’t think they ever cleaned the stove. Not only that, the glass on the door was missing.

Long story short, we decided to take the stove and we spent much of the weekend cleaning it up. Amazing what a good cleanup will do to a stove.

Thanks to this great board, I was able to find out that there was a recall on the door for the stove and my husband called our local dealer to find out if there was a way to get the replacement door. We are awaiting a call back. Since the stove was free, we are willing to pay for a new door should the dealer come back and say it’s a no-go. The pellet stove will be our secondary heat source for the upstairs of the house so more likely, it will not be used 24/7 over the winter.

But, I do have a question. As we were vacuuming and scrubbing the stove down, we did notice some moderate rust. There was so much ash and dirt that the rust wasn’t even visible.

We took many parts apart as we could and are trying to figure out best way to get rid of some of the rust.

Also, the hopper is full of pallets. Should we even attempt to empty the hopper?

Any tips would be appreciated.

Not only did they give the stove away for free, they also provide us with some pipes and a hearth for the stove.

 

[Bioburner]

Good luck on the free venture. Suck all the pellets out and start fresh. If the old owners did not service the stove who knows what kind of demons may be awaiting in the hopper of old pellets. Check out the auger assembly as old pellets can absorb moisture and rust the auger and hopper badly. A blast of compressed air of all the fans and motors will help evict good share of dust bunnies. A cheap spot sand blaster from Harbor freight for around $20 and a bg of silica sand $5 can brighten up most light to moderate rust quickly.

 

[The Coopers]

Thank you!
I am anxious to see what the dealer will come back with. Will post an update as soon as we hear something and I am sure we might have more questions about the stove.

 

[stovelark]

Hello- a 2006 unit will need some TLC. I know you're waiting for the door, did you take the sides off and clean the motors individually?? Definitely take out old pellets, I'd take the auger cover off too, clear it all out as well. Parts are readily available for that stove, time and patience, maybe some new parts (the worst being the motherboard), she will come back to life and give heat. Good luck with it, our 2008 model has ran flawlessly, however I did update to the new motherboard and the improved Exhaust blower (EF161A) for the Empress Insert we have. If cleaned and set up properly, Enviros are great heaters.

 

[Bioburner]

Don2222 just went through a Enviro and probably can help.

 

[stovelark]

Any service questions I think and hope I can help out on, I have serviced, cleaned and have sold Enviros for years. For a good cleaning, get some little noodle brushes, a good shop vac with filter and go through the stove completely. Make sure you remove the cast bricks inside (two retaining strips on inside sides), clean and make sure ash pan is secure. Clean and check each motor for smoothness, if possible and you feel comfortable doing so, put power to each part individually with a fused power line and leads. Take off any surface rust and paint accordingly. For the hopper, I'd dump the pellets and clean the auger assembly. Seal up any pellet dust leaks getting down into the rear of the stove (if any, that can get into the motors and/or auger motor with silicone). That unit will have an older Motherboard, its been upgraded and is available for the stove. Hopefully you get the updated door with the airwash holes on top and bottom, the glass will stay cleaner. After its going, adjust the air damper (internally to the back of the stove) and you'll be set. Good luck with it.

 

[The Coopers]

Thank you, everyone!
Stovelark-Thanks for all the tips. We removed as much as we could and we inspecting/cleaning everything we can.
We did remove the cast bricks inside but do tell me if the middle cast brick does not come out?? We tried taking the middle one out too and that thing won't budge. We don't want to force it out in fear we might break something but the side pieces did come out pretty easy.

 

[Don2222]

Don2222 just went through a Enviro and probably can help.

Yes, I did.

Just get a set of wire wheels for an electric drill from you local hardware store. This is the best way to knock down most of the rust. Then pickup a can of Acetone to clean off the rest of the dirt and rust with a rag. For the firebox get a can of VHS Very High Temp Flame proof spray paint from your local auto parts store and paint the fire box and back plates. It is alot of work but your stove will look like showroom new when you are done!

 

[The Coopers]

Update on the door!
We heard back from the dealer and unfortunately, Enviro does not want to honor the door recall and therefore, the door won't be replaced. The dealer quoted us at $300 to replace the door. Considering the stove was free, I don't think its a bad price.

 

[Bioburner]

And how much to replace just the glass? Still have no idea if the stove I going to run or just turn into a money pit.

 

[Don2222]

Hello
I am working on Lopi Yankee Bay right now. After cleaning and painting black I added some pizaz to the iron brick backing and grill. What do you think?
Click pic to enlarge.

 

[stovelark]

300 for a new door assy sounds ok, it will work better than the original. As for the center brick, its just stuck or rusted in place. Take a hammer and screw driver to it, she'll come out. Forgot to tell you before, make sure you clean the Proof of fire switch in the exhaust housing, its right above the exhaust blower. Very important for that to get cleaned each year. There's going to be a ton of fly ash up in the burn tube area as well, get that area clean so she can breathe well. I hope you get the stove running without more expenditures. As Don was saying too, after a good cleaning, protect the metal inside with a good painting. Good luck with it..

 

[The Coopers]

And how much to replace just the glass? Still have no idea if the stove I going to run or just turn into a money pit.

To get the glass replaced is about $150 or so.

Hello
I am working on Lopi Yankee Bay right now. After cleaning and painting black I added some pizaz to the iron brick backing and grill. What do you think?
Click pic to enlarge.

Don, that looks really nice! What exactly did you do to the brick?

300 for a new door assy sounds ok, it will work better than the original. As for the center brick, its just stuck or rusted in place. Take a hammer and screw driver to it, she'll come out. Forgot to tell you before, make sure you clean the Proof of fire switch in the exhaust housing, its right above the exhaust blower. Very important for that to get cleaned each year. There's going to be a ton of fly ash up in the burn tube area as well, get that area clean so she can breathe well. I hope you get the stove running without more expenditures. As Don was saying too, after a good cleaning, protect the metal inside with a good painting. Good luck with it..

We spent another good two hours last evening cleaning the stove. We managed to get all the pellets out and luckily, the auger is in good shape. Managed to get most of the rust off too. thanks for the tip on the center plate. We will attempt to take it off tonight.

 

[Don2222]

Don, that looks really nice! What exactly did you do to the brick?

See links with pics below:

You can do the same. Just clean up the brick plates. Use a wire wheel on your drill and then wipe down with Acetone on a rag.

Wire wheel set - from Harbor Freight or local hardware store
http://www.harborfreight.com/wire-wheelcup-brush-assorted-set-6-pc-60475.html
Acetone from Home Depot or Local Hardware store
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Klean-Strip-1-Pint-Acetone-PA12270/203713859

Then use High Temp VHS Flame proof flat white and paint the whole plate and let dry overnight
Mask between the bricks
Then paint High temp Stove Bright Surf Sand

VHS Flame Proof Flat White - Usually the local Auto Parts store has it.
http://www.amazon.com/VHT-SP101-FlameProof-Coating-White/dp/B000CPJLGC

Masking tape - got it at local auto parts store - Pep Boys
http://iscsupplies.com/index.php/ad...es-masking-tapes/3-4-orange-masking-tape.html

Stove Bright Color Surf Sand for brick
http://www.amazon.com/Bright-TI-8158-Temperature-Operating-Aerosol/dp/B008748B3E

Easy peasy!

 

[The Coopers]

Don,
Thanks for the info and links. Very helpful.

 

[Don2222]

Welcome.

 

[The Coopers]

Well, its up and running! Installation happened yesterday.
Still finalizing things but you get the idea.
I need to upload before/after picture of the stove so that you can see what condition it was in when we picked it up.
We also ended up changing the location of the stove and ended up getting rid of the Quadrafire gas stove that was supposed to go in the basement and installed the pellet stove instead. No regrets whatsoever!

 

[Townandcountry]

Beautiful story! Are you still happy with it a few years later?