New Harman P43 Owner, Beginner Questions

[TheGeneralLee]

Built my hearth, installed a Harman P43, and loving it so far. Been running for about 3 weeks now and a few things have me scratching my head. I'm located in the northeast, current temps range from around single digits at night to upper 30's during the day. I'm running Green Supreme pellets from Lowe's and, from I've read, they're not the hottest or best pellet but they're decent bang for buck.

My main question is related to the flame and ash type. I have the stove running on Room Temp at a setting of around 73 degrees with the feed rate around 4.5. The flame is about 7 inches tall when running at peak (once room temp is reached, it dies right down) and it's a very "lively" flame, not a lazy one and no smoke coming out of vent pipe. It does do the "subwoofer" wooshing sound others have talked about, but I'm not too concerned about that at the moment.

What I don't like is I've seen some pellet stoves have nice, fluffy, even rows of ash on their pot but mine is more of an arched row (deeper ash on left/right sides of pot) and it's clumpy. Sometimes a clump will extend a good 2 inches out of the pot before it falls off. Is this strictly related to pellets I'm using and not an issue with the stove?

Also, is there an air damper or any way to adjust the air intake on these Harmans? I have already played with the feed adjuster quite a bit and when I'm running around 3.5 to 4, the ash builds up more than I'd like and appears to limit how big the flame can get. It's worth noting, I'm fully scraping/vacuuming the stove every 2-3 days right now. When I turn feed rate up to 4.5 to 5, the depth of the ash pile is closer to the "mythical" 1" everyone tries to get but then I have hot pellets jumping around and hopping out of the pot. If I could slightly decrease the intake and not have the flame be so lively, I'm thinking that might help limit these pellets flying so much and I could keep my feed rate at about 4.5.

I'm open to suggestions, thanks!

 

[Harman Lover 007]

You're open to suggestions...good. As you've probably read here numerous times messing with your feed rate the way you are really isn't going to produce much in the way of results. Set it on 4 and leave it. (if you haven't set the feed rate according to the "official" feed rate procedure, do it!)
GS pellets are very high in ash content and what you describe is perfectly normal on the corners of the burnpot. The draft is not field adjustable on a Harman.
Welcome to Harman ownership....enjoy.

 

[TheGeneralLee]

You're open to suggestions...good. As you've probably read here numerous times messing with your feed rate the way you are really isn't going to produce much in the way of results. Set it on 4 and leave it. (if you haven't set the feed rate according to the "official" feed rate procedure, do it!)
GS pellets are very high in ash content and what you describe is perfectly normal on the corners of the burnpot. The draft is not field adjustable on a Harman.
Welcome to Harman ownership....enjoy.

Thanks for the quick response. I believe I read the "official" feed rate procedure you're talking about, something to do with cranking the stove way up for about 15 minutes and feed on 6, then dial the feed back every 15 minutes or so until the stove's running perfect. Would you mind running me through the procedure if this isn't correct?

And I hear ya on leaving it at 4 but dang it's tempting to fiddle with! It must be adjustable for a reason though, isn't there any situation where you would want a feed rate higher/lower than 4?

 

[mikkeeh]

I keep mine at 4. I played with it too, when I first got it. saw little if any difference. The air intake is not really adjustable. Its in the rear on the left side of the stove. About a 2 5/8 flange, with a flapper valve inside. Im assuming you don't have an OAK. I added one to mine after about the first month....although the dealer recommended against it. Seemed to perform better for me. When you put your hand near the OAK with the stove running...its amazing the amount of CFM's it draws. Without the OAK, that's just de-pressurizing your house....and that air has to replenish from somewhere.....ie....lotsa drafts. P43 is a great stove, but like all pellet stoves, they need a little tinkering.......then left alone.......Welcome and enjoy.

 

[TheGeneralLee]

I keep mine at 4. I played with it too, when I first got it. saw little if any difference. The air intake is not really adjustable. Its in the rear on the left side of the stove. About a 2 5/8 flange, with a flapper valve inside. Im assuming you don't have an OAK. I added one to mine after about the first month....although the dealer recommended against it. Seemed to perform better for me. When you put your hand near the OAK with the stove running...its amazing the amount of CFM's it draws. Without the OAK, that's just de-pressurizing your house....and that air has to replenish from somewhere.....ie....lotsa drafts. P43 is a great stove, but like all pellet stoves, they need a little tinkering.......then left alone.......Welcome and enjoy.

Thanks. I forgot to mention: no OAK installed at the moment but it'll be going on as soon as I get a chance. Why did your dealer recommend against it? Just about everyone I've spoke with said an OAK is a good idea.

 

[john193]

My xxv would do the same with omalley brand pellets. It is just an ash content issue.

 

[Bioburner]

Thanks. I forgot to mention: no OAK installed at the moment but it'll be going on as soon as I get a chance. Why did your dealer recommend against it? Just about everyone I've spoke with said an OAK is a good idea.

To lazy to put one in or they are not paying for your heating fuel. Take your choice

 

[scajjr2]

Thanks. I forgot to mention: no OAK installed at the moment but it'll be going on as soon as I get a chance. Why did your dealer recommend against it? Just about everyone I've spoke with said an OAK is a good idea.

I'm about to install a P43 this weekend. Getting mine from Fallon's Home & Hearth in Hampton Falls, NH. When I asked them about needing an OAK, they told me unless you have a super air tight house (he said if closing one door makes another come open then it's super air tight) or code requires it, they don't recommend an OAK.

Sam

 

[TheGeneralLee]

To lazy to put one in or they are not paying for your heating fuel. Take your choice

I have a 3rd excuse: wife and I are having a baby any day now. Installing stove was first priority, OAK can go in after things settle down.

 

[TheGeneralLee]

I'm about to install a P43 this weekend. Getting mine from Fallon's Home & Hearth in Hampton Falls, NH. When I asked them about needing an OAK, they told me unless you have a super air tight house (he said if closing one door makes another come open then it's super air tight) or code requires it, they don't recommend an OAK.

Sam

My house is fairly new, well insulated. For me, OAK will be very useful.

 

[scajjr2]

My house is fairly new, well insulated. For me, OAK will be very useful.

Ours is about 30 years old, it's pretty well insulated but not airtight. As ours is replacing a wood/coal stove (currently using a pellet basket in it) and will be exhausting into the existing chimney (1600 sq ft saltbox, center chimney) we'd need a liner/OAK combo running up 2 stories of chimney. As $$ is a bit tight right now, if we do get that, it'll have to wait until late spring into summer.

Sam

 

[New Hampshire Jim]

Let me try to explain the feed rate issue. Way back in 1966 I had a Pontiac GTO that had triple carburetors About twice a week I would be under the hood adjusting them for better performance..Now along comes 2013 and I have a Honda 4 cylinder that has a COMPUTER hooked to the fuel management and cannot be adjusted.Funny thing the little 4 banger has the same 1/4 mile time as the big block 389 Pontiac.If you read the literature that came with the stove you will find that the stove has a computer of sorts that regulates fuel management also. You paid BIG BUCKS for this feature.And as RON Popile said about his Chicken Rotisserie Just set It and forget It.I have a Harman Advance for about 5 years and the feed rate Is set at 3 1/2 and It works just fine. If you want less ash and a hotter fire try using Oakanagan or Vermont Pellets you wont be disappointing. As for the feed rate being adjustable Maybe Mr. Harman had a child that needed something to do and he had him come up with something that could be put on the stove that he engineered..

 

[mikkeeh]

Thanks. I forgot to mention: no OAK installed at the moment but it'll be going on as soon as I get a chance. Why did your dealer recommend against it? Just about everyone I've spoke with said an OAK is a good idea

Not sure why dealers seem to shy away from OAKs. The owners manual specifically recommends one. Ive seen some really bad dealer install in my area. My guess is they just don't want to be bothered. Mine sure works better WITH one.

 

[Bioburner]

I have a 3rd excuse: wife and I are having a baby any day now. Installing stove was first priority, OAK can go in after things settle down.

Settle down? That will be about 20 years

 

[gfreek]

Settle down? That will be about 20 years

Good one.. but I think it takes some more than 20 years !! Congrats on stove.. Don't quite understand why dealers are so against OAK..it just makes sense..

 

[Bioburner]

Good one.. but I think it takes some more than 20 years !! Congrats on stove.. Don't quite understand why dealers are so against OAK..it just makes sense..

Especially if "WHAT do you mean your pregnant again?"

 

[rayttt]

I have a 3rd excuse: wife and I are having a baby any day now. Installing stove was first priority, OAK can go in after things settle down.

Well I would do it now..once the baby comes it will be about 18 years before you get a chance.

 

[Oilhater]

I'm about to install a P43 this weekend. Getting mine from Fallon's Home & Hearth in Hampton Falls, NH. When I asked them about needing an OAK, they told me unless you have a super air tight house (he said if closing one door makes another come open then it's super air tight) or code requires it, they don't recommend an OAK.

Sam

Same dealer here for me, but I have an XXV bought in Oct. They said nothing to me when I said I wanted an OAK. Very satisfied with dealer. They were great from the first phone call to coming out when I had a questionable noise.

 

[Harman Lover 007]

Thanks for the quick response. I believe I read the "official" feed rate procedure you're talking about, something to do with cranking the stove way up for about 15 minutes and feed on 6, then dial the feed back every 15 minutes or so until the stove's running perfect. Would you mind running me through the procedure if this isn't correct?

And I hear ya on leaving it at 4 but dang it's tempting to fiddle with! It must be adjustable for a reason though, isn't there any situation where you would want a feed rate higher/lower than 4?

The procedure is described in the link in my sig........as far as needing a feed rate different than 4, for me, the answer is no and that comes from 18 years of Harman stove ownership.

 

[Lousyweather]

You're open to suggestions...good. As you've probably read here numerous times messing with your feed rate the way you are really isn't going to produce much in the way of results. Set it on 4 and leave it. (if you haven't set the feed rate according to the "official" feed rate procedure, do it!)
GS pellets are very high in ash content and what you describe is perfectly normal on the corners of the burnpot. The draft is not field adjustable on a Harman.
Welcome to Harman ownership....enjoy.

agree with everything EXCEPT the draft not being adjustable. Its more adjustable than ever, actually.....tho I would not recommend messing with it without a draft meter and the know-how of where it should be set. The newest units have quite a lot of range to set the combustion blower at, thereby increasing or decreasing draft.

What you ash looks like and where it sits on your pot is mostly governed by the pellet. Do yourself a favor and get a few bags of a truly good pellet, see if there is a difference...Okanagan, North Idaho, etc.

 

[fmsm]

As the owner of 2 Harman's my recommendation is to get rid of the crappy Gs's and try a good quality pellet. You should not have to be scraping the pot that often, in my mind it is definitely your pellets!

 

[gfreek]

I 2nd, most likely your pellets, again try a different brands...you should see a difference in the ash.... I get a course ash with clumps using Dry Creek, but when I use a different brand such as Turmans it's very fine and no clumps..I take the Harman tool and quickly scrape off the ash edge of the burn pot once or twice a day depending on pellets..you really shouldn't be having to clean the stove that often..just did my Harman and it's been 2 weeks..

 

[Bioburner]

agree with everything EXCEPT the draft not being adjustable. Its more adjustable than ever, actually.....tho I would not recommend messing with it without a draft meter and the know-how of where it should be set. The newest units have quite a lot of range to set the combustion blower at, thereby increasing or decreasing draft.

What you ash looks like and where it sits on your pot is mostly governed by the pellet. Do yourself a favor and get a few bags of a truly good pellet, see if there is a difference...Okanagan, North Idaho, etc.

When did they change the control to have more control of draft? Our now three season old stove has negligible change. Would like to get it down some as vertical venting is around 9 ft and over 1/4inch of wc.

 

[Lake Girl]

Congrats on the baby and the Harman but get the OAK installed sooner rather than later. Why throw your warm inside air out the exhaust?

As to things settling down after the baby is born ... not anytime soon... life gets a whole lot busier

 

[Lousyweather]

When did they change the control to have more control of draft? Our now three season old stove has negligible change. Would like to get it down some as vertical venting is around 9 ft and over 1/4inch of wc.

oh, a year or two ago....just made the voltage range for the combustion fan adjustment much greater.