Copied from the 55-SHP22L owners manual:
Monthly Ash Removal
The large baffle plate (12-5/8†x 9-3/8â€) that rests above and behind the burn pot (refer to the
section on “Proper Impingement Plate Placement†and the exploded diagram in the rear of this
manual – Illustration 6) should be removed monthly. This can be done by lifting up the plate and
pulling it out. The area behind the plate should then be cleaned thoroughly, and the plate placed
back in the original position.
Use a screwdriver or chisel and break any creosote build-up in the front of the unit, where the
pellets are fed into the burn pot from the Bottom Auger Tube (see Illustration 2). Moisture in the
pellets and resulting build-up in this area can cause the bottom auger to “squeal†or squeak.
Also inspect your flue pipes, and remove ash buildup from the clean-out tee.
Carbon Removal: During normal operation carbon from the combustion of pellet fuel will tend
to build up on the tip of the auger, on the wear plate and sides of the fire pot, and in the mouth of
the feed tube. It is essential that this residue be removed to ensure trouble free operation of the
unit. The frequency with which this carbon must be removed varies with brands of pellets,
depending on moisture content, wood type, foreign material (dirt, etc.) in pellets, and other factors.
To remove this carbon, simply scrape it off using the blade of a flat tipped screwdriver or similar
instrument; also, to remove it from the feed tube, scrape as much as can be easily reached, then
insert an emery board (i.e. fingernail file made from a popsicle stick and sandpaper) between the
feed auger and the feed tube and sand out any residue not removed from scraping alone. Clearing
this carbon residue from the feed tube is essential for proper operation of the feed auger, which is
designed to float freely in the feed tube allowing smooth fuel flow, a lesser possibility of a jam, and
a quieter unit.
Annual Cleaning
The stove and the flue system should be given a complete cleaning at the end of the heating
season. Remove the burn pot assembly, clean it thoroughly, and re-install it (refer to
Illustration 6); this will require new gasket for the burn pot. Be sure to tighten the set screws when
you replace them, but do not over-tighten. In addition to the cleaning mentioned for semi-weekly
and monthly, the Combustion (exhaust) Blower should be removed annually and the blower tube
vacuumed of any ash build-up. Note: There is a Combustion Motor Gasket (Part PU-CMG), which
allows you to remove the motor from the Combustion Blower housing, clean your stove, and
replace the motor and gasket without having to remove the entire Combustion Blower. However, if
you must remove or replace the entire Combustion Blower, a new blower flange gasket (Part # PUCBG)
should be added between the blower flange and the steel exhaust tube.
Soot and Fly ash: Formation and Need for Removal – The products of combustion will contain
small particles of fly ash. The fly ash will collect in the exhaust venting system and restrict the flow
of flue gases. Incomplete combustion, such as occurs during startup, shutdown, or incorrect
operation of the room heater will lead to some soot formation which will collect in the exhaust
venting system. The exhaust venting system should be inspected at least once every year to
determine if cleaning is necessary.
