height of the run and motor problems?

[pellet0708]

We installed 3" icc pellet vent straight up (after a 90 out of the stove) about 13'. Our owners manual stated you could go 15' before gonig to 4" pipe and also stated that though the 90 cleanout tee counted as 3 feet, each three feet of vertical feet could be counted as only 1 foot. So we feel it is well within reulations for 3" pipe.
Only problem we have had is we have gone through two exhause motors. They don't quit but they were very noisy. This may have happened regardless of the installation but just wondering if they are working too hard. We get an excellant natural draft from this set up and with many power outages have never had smoke in the house.

 

[jtakeman]

Need more info.

Stove make and Model.

Motor manufactor.

But most likely your working it to hard! Might have to bite the bullet and upgrade to the 4" vent.

I'm no expert, So lets see what the pro's say.

jay

 

[Delta-T]

also, how many tons have you burned and how frequently do you check the venting for ash build up. if you notice bunches of ash in the venting or on the fan blades when you replace that motor it's likely that its at least contributing to the problem

 

[pellet0708]

No oak... don't believe in them... but that's a discussion for another board. All installation is per owners manual including no oak which is only required for mobile homes. My friend did attach and oak to hers and has had more problems than we have.

Only have 1/4 ton on this new motor and when the old one was pulled out it was clean. blades just seemed out of balance. Have been cleaning religiously to prevent problems and oddly enough AFTER we clean the stove it appear to be noisier. Perhaps stirs things up somewhere. It will die down and be quiet sometimes then out of the blue starts getting louder and louder.

Small amt. (few teaspoons) of ash came out of clean out T after 1 ton and pipe looked good all the way up.

 

[hearthtools]

you still are not telling us what kind of stove you have?

 

[MCPO]

No oak... don't believe in them...

.

I find it odd that you are adamantly opposed to an OAK but would install a borderline (at best) sized exhaust vent.
My advice is to increase the exhaust vent AND go with the OAK.

 

[pellet0708]

Just didn't want to get into an OAK discussion which has been done. It is an easy excuse to use whenever someone has problems with their stove. If it were that important the manufacturer would not make it optional.

I would think the oak would effect the combustion air more than the exhaust and we don't want to mess with that. Perfect flame in color, height and heat output. My friend who does have the oak on the same stove (osburn 45) has a lot of trouble regulating the flame and gets tons of dark soot on glass. We have very light soot on glass over time. I think the air intake is not a problem. Havent had any problems with drafts either so we're good.

I also mentioned the great draft we get because I think that would be an indication that the vent pipe was adequate. ?? Motor shouldnt be working that hard with a straight up pipe but I did ask the question.
I really believe it is a sub-par exhaust motor but was open to ideas. Also it is sometimes rectifies itself after a few hours of burn so wondered it if had something to do with getting the stove up to temp. Just looking for ideas.

 

[jtakeman]

Were not trying to argue with you, Just trying to help.

Try another motor! If it only last's a short time. 3 strikes= Add OAK and Increase vent size.

Pretty simple!

Wish you had answered the Make and model of stove and the blower manufactor.

Might have givin us some clues.

later!

 

[pellet0708]

no offense taken. I'm just trying to move beyond the oak argument and maybe hear from people with similar vent runs etc... I've seen some pretty extreme runs with lots of twists and turns. I was sure a straight up vent would be fine.
I did state I have an Osburn 45, they only make 2 models and I couldn't tell you the exhaust manufacturer.
Thanks for the interest.

 

[MCPO]

I always thought stove rumbling was caused by draft problems. Could it be starving for air?

 

[MCPO]

If your vent goes directly outside you could try a horizontal vent straight thru to see if this eliminates the rumble. It could help determine if your 13 ft long 3" verticle run is somehow restricting the exhaust.

 

[pellet0708]

Thanks, going to try that. A rumble does describe it well.

 

[charles u farley]

Mine also rumbles. Advance-2 with 23' long 4" flex liner, no OAK. I need to get some different tubing for my new Magnehelic and establish a baseline, then I will try adjusting airflow to cure it. Probably next season.

 

[pkitfox]

Mine also rumbles. Advance-2 with 23' long 4" flex liner, no OAK. I need to get some different tubing for my new Magnehelic and establish a baseline, then I will try adjusting airflow to cure it. Probably next season.

As long as your altitude is less than 3000 feet, your venting meets the manufacturer's requirements In fact, the example given in the owners manual for the Osburn Hybrid-45 MF (this your model?), is an installation with 12' vertical, 2 feet horizontal, and a T or elbow. The EVL would appear higher than yours, by your description. The manual states in that case, 3" vent is allowed. Your manual recommends 4" with EVL of greater than 15 feet, or 7 feet if the altitude is greater than 3000'. I may be wrong (learn me), but it appears to me, your installation meets the requirement for 3" pipe.

Does the damper have any affect on the noise? Could you possibly be cleaning the fan blades too vigorously (bending blades)? If not, maybe it is just cheap fan construction.

 

[pellet0708]

That's how I read the owners manual. We are way under the required.
Damper setting can make it louder or quieter. (more open = louder) We run it mostly closed as keep it on a low feed setting.
On two real windy occasions, we have had back draft which has shut the stove off (pressure switch) Starts way back up but starting to wonder if it damages the blades.

 

[MCPO]

That's how I read the owners manual. We are way under the required.
Damper setting can make it louder or quieter. (more open = louder) We run it mostly closed as keep it on a low feed setting.
On two real windy occasions, we have had back draft which has shut the stove off (pressure switch) Starts way back up but starting to wonder if it damages the blades.

It`s hard to believe the blades are so chintzy that the wind or back draft could damage them. However, over the past year I`ve read a few stories about blades breaking and being damaged so i guess anything is possible.
The ones on my 4 yr old Harman seem quite sturdy and I always give them a good brushing without worrying about bending them.

 

[pellet0708]

No, these blades are pretty thin. I clean them gently with a paint brush. Probably just a cheap assembly. Live and learn!

 

[Lousyweather]

No oak... don't believe in them...

.

I find it odd that you are adamantly opposed to an OAK but would install a borderline (at best) sized exhaust vent.
My advice is to increase the exhaust vent AND go with the OAK.

ditto

 

[jtakeman]

No oak... don't believe in them...

.

I find it odd that you are adamantly opposed to an OAK but would install a borderline (at best) sized exhaust vent.
My advice is to increase the exhaust vent AND go with the OAK.

ditto

Kind of a no brainer! I say ditto too