Ok, everyone. I've lurked for long enough, it was time to create an account and ask for help. I have a Mt. Vernon AE that was installed in fall of 2009. Its a great stove, when it's burning. Problem is the start up. I'd say 9 out of 10 times I get an incredibly smokey start up. To the point you wonder if it's actually going to light. Then, poof, fire. It's not for a lack of cleaning, as I'm pretty meticulous about keeping up with it. Ive gone through three ignitors over the life of the stove. I've had it serviced a couple times and they always say everything is fine. Anyways, we're tired of the ultra-smokey start ups. Can anyone give any advice?
Need help with my smokey MVAE
- Thread starter AEStoveGuy
- 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
Ctcarl
Feeling the Heat
My brand new harman does a smokey start as soon as flame comes it's gone.As long as it starts you should he fine.
Last edited:
Oh the smoke is gone as soon as my flame catches...there's just so much smoke prior to that actually happening. Frustrating, if nothing else.
Lake Girl
Moderator
Do you have an OAK?
Would it be the pellets you are using? Have you tried other brands to see if there is a difference?
That is a lot of igniters to go through but can't remember if that is typical ...
Search brought up this thread ... mentions spacing of ignitor:
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/mount-vernon-igniters.65215/
This thread discusses auto-clean which uses the igniter to restart - pellet quality may be the reason - igniter functioning more frequently with poorer quality pellets due to more auto-clean cycles (bottom of first page):
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/mt-vernon-m55-and-dealer-questions.54775/#post-688197
Hope it helps...
Would it be the pellets you are using? Have you tried other brands to see if there is a difference?
That is a lot of igniters to go through but can't remember if that is typical ...
Search brought up this thread ... mentions spacing of ignitor:
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/mount-vernon-igniters.65215/
This thread discusses auto-clean which uses the igniter to restart - pellet quality may be the reason - igniter functioning more frequently with poorer quality pellets due to more auto-clean cycles (bottom of first page):
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/mt-vernon-m55-and-dealer-questions.54775/#post-688197
Hope it helps...
Ctcarl
Feeling the Heat
My Castile typically has a smokey start-up also until the pellets ignite, though not to the point that I can smell it, so this may just be a Quad thing. If I forget to pull the burn pot clean out door when I'm in a rush to clean it, it will smoke longer prior to ignition due to the small air holes on the bottom of the fire pot being plugged up with fly ash.
Get a small mirror and a flashlight to look into the bottom of the fire pot where the igniter opening is to make sure it isn't partially blocked w/ an ash clinker, and that the igniter is centered in the fire pot correctly so you are getting the maximum pellet contact.
Get a small mirror and a flashlight to look into the bottom of the fire pot where the igniter opening is to make sure it isn't partially blocked w/ an ash clinker, and that the igniter is centered in the fire pot correctly so you are getting the maximum pellet contact.
I do have an OAK.
I appreciate the links, its always nice to pick as many brains as possible. Unfortunately, nothing in then seems to really help.
Ctcarl
Feeling the Heat
I also have a mount Vernon bought in the fall of 2009, last year I changed the igniter for the first time. Are you cleaning the burn pot really good?
I clean to stove religiously. Hoping, each time, that it will help with the start up. To no avail.
A few more thoughts - pellet stove trouble shooting seems to be mostly a process of elimination to rule out a fuel vs air flow vs mechanical problem.
Are you starting your stove up on the low setting, which has a slower combustion fan speed and thus less air draft to ignite the pellets? All the Quad stove brands seem to start up the best on the medium or high fan settings.
Have you adjusted the pellet feed gate to get a 4 - 6" high flame when it is running on the high setting ? Longer pellets will need a more open feed gate setting to get the optimum fuel / air mixture, which unfortunately have little to no other adjustment capability on the Quad stoves.
Is your combustion blower making funky sounds, ie a bearing squeal or grinding sound that might indicate it is on the way out ?
Does your stove run OK after it starts up, ie is the flame brisk and yellowish blue in color, or more orange and 'lazy'? If it's the latter, you more likely have an air flow and / or air leak issue somewhere in the system - ie a bad door seal, burn pot, or ash door gasket. If it burns OK after start-up, I'd think it's more likely a pellet quality issue.
Just my .02, FWIIW.
Are you starting your stove up on the low setting, which has a slower combustion fan speed and thus less air draft to ignite the pellets? All the Quad stove brands seem to start up the best on the medium or high fan settings.
Have you adjusted the pellet feed gate to get a 4 - 6" high flame when it is running on the high setting ? Longer pellets will need a more open feed gate setting to get the optimum fuel / air mixture, which unfortunately have little to no other adjustment capability on the Quad stoves.
Is your combustion blower making funky sounds, ie a bearing squeal or grinding sound that might indicate it is on the way out ?
Does your stove run OK after it starts up, ie is the flame brisk and yellowish blue in color, or more orange and 'lazy'? If it's the latter, you more likely have an air flow and / or air leak issue somewhere in the system - ie a bad door seal, burn pot, or ash door gasket. If it burns OK after start-up, I'd think it's more likely a pellet quality issue.
Just my .02, FWIIW.
Not meaning to be offensive, but I think you may be trying to solve a non-problem. I also have an MVAE (since 2010 )with an OAK and it has always created smoke just prior to igniting. The smoke occurs just before you get an actual flame and then it disappears. And, well, that's what wood does! You will get a few seconds where the wodd is smoldering because it is increasing in temperature from the hot air of the ignitor, but it's not quite at the point of actually burning. I can't think of a way around that...
Yes, different pellets may make some difference, a hotter ignitor may lessen the time you see the smoke, and various settings on the stat may make some difference, but could affect the overall burn characteristics. You cannot adjust settings like the feed gate, as some suggest, as with some other stoves. My two cents is that if you can't smell it and it's not creating a problem other than that you see smoke for a few seconds, move on...
Yes, different pellets may make some difference, a hotter ignitor may lessen the time you see the smoke, and various settings on the stat may make some difference, but could affect the overall burn characteristics. You cannot adjust settings like the feed gate, as some suggest, as with some other stoves. My two cents is that if you can't smell it and it's not creating a problem other than that you see smoke for a few seconds, move on...
Harvey Schneider
Minister of Fire
I have to agree with Madcodger, you may be trying to fix a non-problem. The one question nobody has asked (that they should have) is "for how long does it smoke?"
If it is 30 seconds or less, forget it. If it is much longer, it may be related to my next observation. Your ignitor may not be positioned correctly.
My other observation is that you have gone through a lot of ignitors. With the lower Wattage design, mine is over two years old. That may not (or may) have anything to do with the smoke but, assuming you have a 300W ignitor, it may indicate that you are going through a lot of start cycles. My conclusion to that is you may have significantly higher heat losses from your home than I do. Just an observation.
If it is 30 seconds or less, forget it. If it is much longer, it may be related to my next observation. Your ignitor may not be positioned correctly.
My other observation is that you have gone through a lot of ignitors. With the lower Wattage design, mine is over two years old. That may not (or may) have anything to do with the smoke but, assuming you have a 300W ignitor, it may indicate that you are going through a lot of start cycles. My conclusion to that is you may have significantly higher heat losses from your home than I do. Just an observation.
Ahh, yes. Very good point about the ignitor. The ignitor life on the MVAE just seems so erratic to me. My inlaws just burnt their first original ignitor after 4.5 seasons of use.
I appreciate all the responses, and yes, I understand it will smoke prior to ignition. But I'm up to a good minute, if not longer, of smoke. I'm starting to wonder if my ignitor is starting to go (again).
Not to beat a dead horse, but........one thing I haven't seen discussed in this thread is what your venting system is like? Are you using 3" or 4" vent? If you have allot of elbows and / or extended horizontal runs of vent pipe that would make it harder for your combustion blower to adequately push air through your system. Do a forum search on EVL and figure out what yours is, and see if it exceeds the recommended max EVL of 15.
Caribfan
Member
My stove ignites really fast. Isn't there special instructions when putting in a new igniter? I remember reading something about how to put it in right.
Caribfan
Member
I haven't replaced mine yet (knock on wood) but I remember reading 2 things -
1 - when you rmove the old igniter, pay attention to where the washer is placed so you get the proper spacing with the replacement.
2 - Also pay attention to where the wires run underneath the floor of the burn chamber so they don't get caught in the autoclean system
I would also check the springs on the auto clean. If they are weak, the firepot bottom is not kept snug to the bottom of the firepot and to much air enters through the gap and has a hard time lighting the pellets.
Thanks to everyone for taking the time to reply. Ive read before that the ignitor should have 2 washers as spacers. I think Im gonna try that route today.
Mine varies. Some pellets are quick, others are a challenge. Harvey's ignitor placement comment is what I would examine. Just don't short it out!
I spent the afternoon yesterday cleaning it and checking for ash build up everywhere. Checked placement of ignitor. Everything seemed good. As for my settings at this time. I'm now running on auto to try and limit the number of startups needed. I have the flame height set to +3 and elevation set to high. Fuel type is hardwood, although I though of switching that to softwood due to the longer time between autocleanings. Again, to limit my startups.
- Status
Similar threads
