M55 Running Better

[jrogers999]

This is my second winter season heating and lately I've been having issues with air/fuel. Dirty burn, pellets not burning completely, black exhaust etc.

My setup is a M55 Cast FS with a 90 degree vertical right out my wall with an OAK. So I had a service guy out the other day and he checked everything and set up the mag. Couldn't get the gauge any better the 3.0-4.0. He couldnt figure it out. So we pulled off the direct connect OAK off and wallah now I'm getting 1.6-1.8, nice flame hardly any black on the glass, how the thing should run. The OAK is also clear. So now the flex OAK is not directly connected, maybe sitting 3in away from the stove port.

How could that fix everything? All my seals are good, no airflow issue due to spot.

Anyone else have this issue?

 

[jtakeman]

Only time I have had an issue with my OAK is in very high winds. But Its actually the opposite as yours. I loose vacuum and the switch cuts the auger feed. Sounds like yours is acting like a super charger of sorts. Odd and the first I have heard of this.

Post a picture of the termination outside the house. Maybe someone will pick up on the issue causing the high pressure.

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

OAK screen too small a mesh, wind guard closed too much, OAK termination to close to the vent termination, out of round tubing, too long a OAK run (works just like any other vent system), OAK on the inside of the air intake when it should be on the outside (depends upon stove design), crud on the OAK screen., and OAK termination above the vent termination are all things to check.

 

[jrogers999]

I'll take pictures tomarrow.

 

[jrogers999]

Ok here's the pics

 

[jrogers999]

And this what the guy did and my stove is running better. He moved the oak off so now it's not attached.

 

[jtakeman]

I am assuming the AOK is too restrictive. To test it you could hook the magnihelic up and place your hand over the stoves inlet. I bet the numbers spike like when you have the hose hooked to it.

If so you might want to ditch the cap on the OAK and try something else.

 

[jrogers999]

I am assuming the AOK is too restrictive. To test it you could hook the magnihelic up and place your hand over the stoves inlet. I bet the numbers spike like when you have the hose hooked to it.

If so you might want to ditch the cap on the OAK and try something else.

That's what I was thinking. Do I need the oak? I mean the stove is running good and my mag numbers are ideal

 

[jtakeman]

That's what I was thinking. Do I need the oak? I mean the stove is running good and my mag numbers are ideal

That depends if you feel drafts. Right now its still suckin some of the air being pulled in from the OAK. If you remove the hose and cover the opening in the wall. You may start noticing drafts(windows-doors-ect.). I would then look for a less restrictive OAK.

 

[imacman]

That's what I thought....the outside air inlet grate looks too restrictive.

 

[nailed_nailer]

1/4"x1/4" carpenters cloth (wire mesh) works great for a bug/crap screen.
Here is an example for a roll of it.

http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1290447&cp=2568443.2568451.2624969.1302712

---Nailer---

 

[jrogers999]

I'll replace it. Funny thing I googled pellet stove OAK and that came up from the distributer where my dealer gets his stoves from. Russo in SouthEastern Mass.

 

[jtakeman]

This one should fit the hole and is less restricktive.

http://www.amazon.com/PelletVent-Pr...ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1359330415&sr=1-1

 

[3650]

Id put a 90* elbow facing down on that with some hardware cloth fastened to it. Baud a Boom Baud a Bing! Oh yeh and make sure its high enough that snow drifts dont bury it or you will get chilly.

 

[imacman]

This one should fit the hole and is less restricktive.

http://www.amazon.com/PelletVent-Pr...ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1359330415&sr=1-1

Yep, that's the same one I have (but in 2"). Works great

 

[jrogers999]

This one should fit the hole and is less restricktive.

http://www.amazon.com/PelletVent-Pr...ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1359330415&sr=1-1

Sold!

 

[Brokenwing]

I just used a dryer vent hood, removed the flapper, and ran some aluminum flex tubing to the stove. less the 15 dollars and works like a charm!