Harman P38 problem -new member

[Hogweed]

Hello,
New guy here in Pa...
Yesterday I cleaned my burn pot (stove was running, hot) and manually placed a handful of pellets in when I was done. The smoke in the firebox was gathering but instead of clearing when the flame ignited there was a small explosion!
There was some dust that blew out at the bottom of the upper door but there is no apparent damage.
Since then I cannot get the stove to burn as it seems no air is blowing up through the burn pot.
Stove is manual light and ‘runs’ (meaning I can hear the exhaust blower running) but it will just burn the pellets I put in the pot to start it and not feed more.
As I said it seems like the air flow up through the burn pot isn’t happening.
Any help trying to figure out what I broke with the explosion would be appreciated.
Thank you for your time
G

 

[zrock]

Sounds like one of your proof of fire snap disks are not working telling the stove their is a fire happening. You can easily jumper them and see if they are working or not. I have a different stove but always keep a set handy as it seems like a common thing

 

[Hogweed]

Sounds like one of your proof of fire snap disks are not working telling the stove their is a fire happening. You can easily jumper them and see if they are working or not. I have a different stove but always keep a set handy as it seems like a common thing

I thank you for your reply. I don’t know what it the snap disc is or where it might be located. Any information about that would be great.

 

[Hogweed]

I thank you for your reply. I don’t know what it the snap disc is or where it might be located. Any information about that would be great.

I tried jumping what appears to be a vacuum switch to no avail. I do not see the snap disc anywhere in the back of the unit

 

[zrock]

You will need to look in your manual or look online for location and test procedure

Sent from my SM-G950W using Tapatalk

 

[Mt Bob]

Sounds like dirty stove and or flue.Major clean time,also check air inlet.

 

[jzm2cc]

As Bob said, time for complete cleaning. Suspect exhaust sensing probe (ESP) is covered in thick ash. Without it sensing temperature increase during lighting it won't feed pellets.

Note there aren't snap disks on this stove, ESP is critical part of stove operation.

 

[SWelsch]

No expert here but whenever the electronics aren't right unplug, wait 10, try it again. Good luck

 

[Hogweed]

Thank you. I started with the temp probe expecting it to be encrusted but it was fairly clean. I cleaned the exhaust area behind the ash pan; this area was pretty bad so I was expecting it to maybe work after I put it back together but it didn’t

 

[mikkeeh]

The explosion at startup is not that unusual..My guess is some ash got blown in deeper, and is blocking some airflow. I’d do a deep clean.....us a leaf blower if you have one. Because it worked fine before this event I wouldn’t suspect a snap disc. Try a good cleaning first.

 

[Hogweed]

Sounds like dirty stove and or flue.Major clean time,also check air inlet.

Well I must admit....i removed the clean out and the flu was 90% blocked....cleaned it out and it is now working fine.
Thank you for your responses and have a great day!

 

[MCPO]

Well I must admit....i removed the clean out and the flu was 90% blocked....cleaned it out and it is now working fine.
Thank you for your responses and have a great day!

Great !
I often throw a handful of pellets onto the burning pellets (P38 stove) to quickly get it hotter on startup and it never ever explodes. A small flame always gently emerges out of the pile of pellets .
My guess is your vent isn`t up to par allowing excessive volatile gases to accumulate.

 

[Hogweed]

Great !
I often throw a handful of pellets onto the burning pellets (P38 stove) to quickly get it hotter on startup and it never ever explodes. A small flame always gently emerges out of the pile of pellets .
My guess is your vent isn`t up to par allowing excessive volatile gases to accumulate.

I do that too because I like to watch the smoke build and then disappear when the flame ignites.
Once I cleaned the chimney it was perfect.