I have a Harmon xxv and within the last 2 weeks my glass is getting very dirty with black soot. I am burning okanagans. I did a very thorough cleaning after my 2nd ton this year. I have a fresh air intake. I was wonder if that could be adjusted. I think there is too much air getting in chamber.
Lazy fire and black soot on glass
- Thread starter Kevin25
- Start date
-
Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.
We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.
We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
- Status
Bioburner
Moderator
opposite of that is it needs more air to clean up the burn. Something is still dirty and not letting the stove breath properly. Go over everything again. How clean is the venting and termination cap?
.
The venting is clean I disconnected from the back of the stove and pushed a brush through. I cleaned the combustion fan. I vacuumed out the fines from the feed section of the stove. I noticed on the fresh air intake there are numbers on the face plate. I have it on 2. Do you know what these numbers are. I just started burning okanagans and this is when this problem started.
Hoot23
Minister of Fire
My stove did that with Vermont's. After I ran through those I switched pellets and glass stays clean. Vermont's and Green Team are the only pellets that black out my glass.
Bioburner
Moderator
Hopefully someone with more intimate knowledge on the xxv will chime in a the air intake with #s is greek to me. I would check and make sure the fines box is on properly and securely as this has been an issue getting it back on right and tight. Or the pellets are just not happy burning in that stove.
A guy at work has the XXV, and the same problem burning the Okies. My suggestion is to turn down the feed rate to like 2 and see if that makes a difference. It worked for me. So far he hasn't listened to me, so I can't tell you it worked for him! It won't hurt anything trying it. Please let me know so I can either yell at him for not listening, and if it doesn't work, it will be our little secret.
Bioburner
Moderator
I turned the feed rate down to 2 also but we burn corn blend. No more black soot and heavy ash, just a nice light brown ash and no heavy buildup on the door. PC45 is a bit differant. Only thing you have to loose is a sooty stove.
Harvey Schneider
Minister of Fire
If you haven't changed anything in that period of time and it just started burning dirty on it's own, it has to be an air problem. The fire is burning too rich (ie the fuel to air ratio has too much fuel for the amount of air). The soot is basically unburned fuel, left over because there wasn't enough air for it to burn completely.
In addition to restrictions in the air intake and venting, you have to consider that there might be an air leak letting air into the firebox after the firepot. Air entering above the firepot will reduce the amount of air going through the firepot and result in a sooty flame. The dollar bill test of the door seals would be a good place to start.
I would experiment with the intake. Is there a knob, wheel, disk, lever that can be moved with respect to those numbers? If there is, try increasing the setting and see what happens. You can always put it back if you are unhappy with the results.
It's usually the most obvious, right? So you cleaned it up and switched pellets.
If you can get your hands on a couple of bags of pellets you know the stove likes, that will help narrow it down.
If you can get your hands on a couple of bags of pellets you know the stove likes, that will help narrow it down.
OK, the guy from work with the exact same stove, same pellets and same issue with soot finally listened to me, and he reports that all is well. Turned the feed rate down to 2 and no more soot.....
Harvey Schneider
Minister of Fire
Is that really an adequate solution? You're saying that you are willing to only run your stove at low feed. What happens when it gets really cold and you can't burn at full throttle?
On a Harman, you turn the thermostat up, not the feed rate, if you want more heat.
Harvey Schneider
Minister of Fire
On any stove feed rate controls how fast heat is generated, thermostat determines when to stop generating heat. They are not the same thing.
Harvey Schneider
Minister of Fire
Got it. Thermostat isn't just a thermostat. Adaptive algorithm.
I cleaned a section of the stove where fines build up. There is a compartment below the hopper where the pellets are fed. It was clogged with some pellets also. I also turned feed rate down to 2. It is burning a lot better. I got the platinum Okies this year. They definitely burn different with very little ash. I can go 2 - 3 weeks without emptying the ash pan and I burn 2 bags a day. Thanks for all your help.
Bioburner
Moderator
When has a clean stove ever been a bad thing. So many posts that in the end something was forgot in the process.
- Status
Similar threads
