Leaf Blower options & adapters

[BGStG1aholic]

Hello, new guy here and new to the pellet world. Been running an old avalon900 a friend gave me for a few months and have a new harman xxv on the way. I'm a wood stove guy who is now hooked on pellets and I figure I need the right tools to keep my stoves running smooth.

It looks like I need an electric leafblower,- off to home depot tomorrow to try to find one and figure out the proper adapter for the pipe - a few questions please...

-which leaf blowers are recommended for this - do some work better than others? How much "suckage" horsepower is needed, will a cheapo blower work as well as a bigger one?

-any easy adapter tricks to hook it to the pipe? I can picture myself wandering around the hardware dept. for hours waiting for something to catch my eye. Knowing what works easily is half the chore. I'll be buying the leaf blower strictly for this task at hand, no leaves will be harmed.

Any tips or suggestions on what to buy or how to fab. a simple adapter is appreciated, Thanks

 

[P38X2]

I use this (broken link removed) it's cheap and has plenty of suction. You'll need a 4" to 3" PVC reducer. Go to the plumbing aisle, open the box and take the section of the suck tube out that attaches to the blower and find this piece. (The blower is at the other end of this tube)


Couple wraps with DT and yer good.

ETA- If you have shrubs in your yard that get trimmed with an electric trimmer, this unit does a very good job of sucking up the trimmings. Saves me a LOT of time. As a leaf blower, it's also fairly impressive for an electric unit.

 

[bill3rail]

What about using a sawdust vacuum? They may have a large CFM rating, and should clean out stove in about two seconds...

Bill

 

[Snowy Rivers]

Most good electric leaf blowers will do the job, but be sure the one you get allows you to access the suction side of the unit.

Any PVC OR ABS plastic adapter that will fit somewhat snug over the OD of the vent pipe will work.

Duct tape or Gorilla tape works great to secure the adapter into the suction end of the tool if need be.

A word to the wise.

These stoves usually have a pressure/vacuum diaphram switch inside the mechanical cabinet somewhere.

These units are delicate and can be damaged by over pressure/vacuum, and it's a good idea to unhook the little rubber hose from the switch while doing the major SUCK.

Be sure to do all the cleaning of the fire box/ ash baffles and such prior to the suck.

Leave the stove door open to allow the most air possible to flow.

Keep all baffles and such in place before doing the suck, to ensure the massive airflow goes through all the nooks and crannies and carries away the loose fly ash that collects where you can't get at it.

Many stoves have places deep inside that there is no way to access to manually clear the ash, and the high volume/velocity of the big suck will gitterdone.

Be sure to reconnect the rubber hose when you finish.

No real need to spend a huge $$$$ as a basic one from such places as ACE Hdware will do fine

Snowy

 

[Bioburner]

The one I posted to your other post was $38 after wandering over to the plumbing dept to get the fittings. Now being passed around to do 6 stoves so its getting a real world test this second season. Menards had the leaf vac on sale. Probably been a better deal than getting a ash vac.

 

[Snowy Rivers]

The leaf blower/sucker will move far more air at a higher velocity.

We actually use our blower to blow leaves and a few days ago used it to blow snow off the deck

 

[DneprDave]

My leaf blower has a 6" suction. I cut a 3" hole in a piece of cardboard, taped the cardboard adaptor over the leaf blower suction and put it over the pellet stove exhaust.

It worked great.

Dave

 

[moey]

I just wrapped a towel around the joint then I hooked it up worked fine although a little awkward have to hold the leaf blower and towel on it.

 

[ironpony]

rubber fernco in the plumbing dept. come in all size combos, attaches with hose clamps.

 

[BGStG1aholic]

These stoves usually have a pressure/vacuum diaphram switch inside the mechanical cabinet somewhere.

These units are delicate and can be damaged by over pressure/vacuum, and it's a good idea to unhook the little rubber hose from the switch while doing the major SUCK.

just checked my(1990 Avalon900-PS) control box(cabinet?) on the back. Took the cover off and nothing there except the elec. wires coming in for the controls. No rubber vacuum hose anywhere to be seen, is it possibly elsewhere or maybe mine does'nt have one cause it's pretty old (1990 model)????

I'd hate to do the blower trick thinking I'm helping my stove but ruin something while doing it

 

[chken]

I use this (broken link removed) it's cheap and has plenty of suction. You'll need a 4" to 3" PVC reducer. Go to the plumbing aisle, open the box and take the section of the suck tube out that attaches to the blower and find this piece. (The blower is at the other end of this tube)
View attachment 127260

Couple wraps with DT and yer good.

ETA- If you have shrubs in your yard that get trimmed with an electric trimmer, this unit does a very good job of sucking up the trimmings. Saves me a LOT of time. As a leaf blower, it's also fairly impressive for an electric unit.

I use the exact same Homelite blower. It is often only $39. Instead of a PVC 4" to 3" reducer, I use a rubber adapter 4" to 3".

 

[Bioburner]

Won't be connected to control board but hose would be connected to somewhere on the firebox or close to the exhaust fan then lead into the switch hopefully.

 

[RKS130]

Won't be connected to control board but hose would be connected to somewhere on the firebox or close to the exhaust fan then lead into the switch hopefully.

any idea where the tube will be on a Harman Accentra FS?

 

[BGStG1aholic]

Won't be connected to control board but hose would be connected to somewhere on the firebox or close to the exhaust fan then lead into the switch hopefully.

Thanks bio, took off the side panel(exhaust side) of the stove and there it was - the diaphram with elec wires leading out and a vacuum hose feeding it signals. Or supposedly feeding it. Where the hose hooks to the top of the box (the exhaust fan is attached to) the hose's support that keeps it suspended over where it hooks into the top of the box had come loose and the hose had fallen under it's own weight and crimped the end where it fits on and looks like the heat was getting to it . The metal nipple it hooks onto looks as though it may have a crack around the base of it unless it is maybe a 2piece Kinda weird, do these wear out and crack from the heat? I would'nt think so? I've got enough hose to cut the end off and hook it back up & come up with a creative wire-tie suspension for the hose. If the nipple is cracked maybe some JBweld is in order as it's base is riveted onto the unit and does'nt look to be replaceable.

What exactly does this hose control?

Possibly the root of my cold start-up problem?

Thanks for all the tips, I'm learning a lot lately here

 

[wsar10]

Sorry for a noob question.......
Can somebody post a link to the thread that describes this mod, and how it works ??

 

[Bioburner]

Thanks bio, took off the side panel(exhaust side) of the stove and there it was - the diaphram with elec wires leading out and a vacuum hose feeding it signals. Or supposedly feeding it. Where the hose hooks to the top of the box (the exhaust fan is attached to) the hose's support that keeps it suspended over where it hooks into the top of the box had come loose and the hose had fallen under it's own weight and crimped the end where it fits on and looks like the heat was getting to it . The metal nipple it hooks onto looks as though it may have a crack around the base of it unless it is maybe a 2piece Kinda weird, do these wear out and crack from the heat? I would'nt think so? I've got enough hose to cut the end off and hook it back up & come up with a creative wire-tie suspension for the hose. If the nipple is cracked maybe some JBweld is in order as it's base is riveted onto the unit and does'nt look to be replaceable.

What exactly does this hose control?

Possibly the root of my cold start-up problem?

Thanks for all the tips, I'm learning a lot lately here

The hose that goes to the vacuum switch that makes sure you have a vacuum in the stove if glass breaks etc. If venting blocks could lead to smoke or worse yet carbon monoxide into the home. That's why I stated earlier its necessity. It usually breaks the circuit of the auger to prevent further feed of the fuel.

 

[Bioburner]

Sorry for a noob question.......
Can somebody post a link to the thread that describes this mod, and how it works ??

Try leaf blower trick at youtube.

 

[Bioburner]

any idea where the tube will be on a Harman Accentra FS?

Should be pictured in your manual page13, figure 18. Or download it from Harman stoves

 

[P38X2]

I just leave the door open a couple inches or so and stick something in there so that gap is maintained. Haven't had an issue with the vac switch as of yet. I think that relieves sufficient vacuum from the firebox to avoid damage.

 

[RKS130]

Should be pictured in your manual page13, figure 18. Or download it from Harman stoves

Thanks!

 

[Pellet-King]

need to figure a way to do it from inside the house from back of a insert, i've blown out my pipe from below when i had a creosote clog once, climbing to top of chimney not a option

 

[BGStG1aholic]

The hose that goes to the vacuum switch that makes sure you have a vacuum in the stove if glass breaks etc. If venting blocks could lead to smoke or worse yet carbon monoxide into the home. That's why I stated earlier its necessity. It usually breaks the circuit of the auger to prevent further feed of the fuel.

On mine when the vacuum hose was crimped it shut off the blower fan before it could get warm enough and yesterday the auger quit working(like you mentioned) and it was due to the reattached vacuum hose coming off - I need to get a new hose, this one's pretty wore out as I cut the end off and it still barely stays on the nipple, got a wiretie on it for now till I can get to town again

any idea where the tube will be on a Harman Accentra FS?

My stove is a different brand but yours should be basically the same. Take off the side panel of the stove on the side the exhaust comes out and look for a vacuum hose. You'll figure it out as soon as you see it if it is as simple as mine is

 

[Tonyray]

I use this (broken link removed) it's cheap and has plenty of suction. You'll need a 4" to 3" PVC reducer. Go to the plumbing aisle, open the box and take the section of the suck tube out that attaches to the blower and find this piece. (The blower is at the other end of this tube)
View attachment 127260

Couple wraps with DT and yer good.

ETA- If you have shrubs in your yard that get trimmed with an electric trimmer, this unit does a very good job of sucking up the trimmings. Saves me a LOT of time. As a leaf blower, it's also fairly impressive for an electric unit.

I have the same model and that supplied piece fits perfect as is over my 4" inside pipe.
actually had to tug a bit to get it off..