Is it a pain to work on a corner installed pellet stove?

[ian105]

Planning my hearth pad for my harman accentra install. After going through a cleaning of it in the shop...how world would I work on the back of this thing....
IE vac out the fines, or motor replacemnet if I go with a 7" clearance? (spec is 6.25) Does it have to get discod from the venting?

Looking for thoughts from someone that has lived with one installed like this.....do you wish you would have done it different?

To keep access it seems like I'm going to end up with a wood-stove size hearth pad.
Approx 43" out from each corner, 61 on the front diagonal.
That would give me around a 43 inch depth when squared off.

Experience welcomed....

 

[MikeNH]

Mines a corner install. P series so I'm not sure if it's a close enough comparision, but I can leave it connected while servicing the back of it. I've found myself in an unnatural position once or twice, though it was doable. I can get to the fines box, remove blowers, auger motor, auger.

 

[ian105]

are you at minimum clearances? If so Ill check that out for a comparison.
Does your back panel split in half to come off as well?
I assume you accessed by going over the top of the stove vs the side?

 

[MikeNH]

are you at minimum clearances? If so Ill check that out for a comparison.
Does your back panel split in half to come off as well?
I assume you accessed by going over the top of the stove vs the side?

I'm about an inch over minimum but for me, min is 13 inches from rear corner of firebox to wall. I installed heat shields though, cause I didn't like how hot the wall felt. The P series has two lower panels ( split left and right) that provide access to blowers. There are two more panels up higher that expose the rest of the rest of the stove. I can access the blowers from the side and auger motor from the top.

 

[ian105]

thanks. Minimum on the accentra is 6.25. That confirms that is likely to tight to be able to work on anything from the side.
Going to trace the stovetop onto cardboard and mach it up with a 12" clearance to see what it looks like. Dealing with angles is really deceiving on paper.

 

[MikeNH]

thanks. Minimum on the accentra is 6.25. That confirms that is likely to tight to be able to work on anything from the side.
Going to trace the stovetop onto cardboard and mach it up with a 12" clearance to see what it looks like. Dealing with angles is really deceiving on paper.

Yup...a cardboard template is a good idea to give some sense of depth. The area I have to get my arm into the bottom sides is about 12 inches across. Sounds like yours will be tighter

 

[MikeinRI]

Plenty of room.

 

[Phoenix Hatchling]

I have an Accentra that is a corner install. Never had a problem and I work on it from the side. I would imagine that if anything were to be torn apart or replaced though, I would probably have the company that installed it fix it, but I can access blowers fines box and motors just fine.

 

[tsmith]

My Accentra is a corner install with the minimum clearances and it is not too bad to work on, hardest part for me is removing the ESP for cleaning and reinstalling it.

 

[pastera]

Two corner installs and I don't normally have any issues.
The Traditions stove is a pain to work on without moving it but not necessary.

 

[twodogs02]

XXV corner install with minimum clearance and top vent option installed. I can pull the fine box easily, the blower motor requires a lot of choice words. The top vent option restrict access from the top of the stove. When I do a big cleaning I have to move it out further as I can't get my shoulders deep enough to pull the blower. Would I do it again, probably!

 

[Utilitrack]

Corner mount here as well. I have not had to replace blowers, but have to lay on the top and hang upside down to clean them. Good times!

 

[ian105]

That is exactly what I was envisioning. Flashback to replacing the blower motor under the dash of my car, upside down, no room to work, everything in the way. I don't have any reason I cant bring it out from the corner farther. Sounds that if I do this, it will just make my life easier in the future. I'm thinking 12 on each side. Got my template made last night, didn't get around to laying it on the floor.