New to Pellet Stoves

[stevemartin]

Hello all,

I bought my home about a year ago and it came with a 1995 Enviro EFIII bayi free standing pellet stove. Last year I used it but I was not sure how to, so I just lit it manually (the igniter did not work), and kept it full of pellets that I would usually buy from Lowes or Home Depot. I didn't know how to clean it or service it so it was always full of ash.

I just had it serviced a few weeks ago by a local Enviro dealer and asked the technician to give me a run down on the stove. He showed me how to clean it out and which dials did what. I always run the fan on high now as directed. I also switched to using Hamer's Ultra Premium pellets. I clean the stove about every 3 days or so with a dust vacuum and Anti Creo Soot spray. Ever since I switched from crappy pellets to Hamer's, I have significantly less ash and no longer have to deal with clinkers.

However, at the same auger setting, I am burning 1.5 bags of Hamer's per day, when I was only going through 1 bag of the AWF pellets per day that I got from Lowe's. Like I said, much less ash now and no more clinkers, which I am very happy about. Is there a more efficient way to burn Hamer's so I use less?

What are the characteristics of a good flame? Is there such a a thing as too low of a flame? The manual says to only move the air adjuster rod out 1/2" to 5/8". The service tech said to run it at 2-3 fingers width.

Any tips on how to find the elusive "optimal flame"?

 

[Lake Girl]

You can start with the manual http://www.enviro.com/images/manual...9 Instruction EF3 Domestic Owner's Manual.pdf

Get to learn the ins and outs of your stove. Clean the exhaust paths every ton so it continues to burn efficiently. Do you have surge protection on it?

You should be noticing a substantial difference in the heat it throws - more heat than last year?

Welcome to the forum and happy burning!

 

[stevemartin]

Thanks for the link! I actually do not have a surge protector on it right now. I will get one this weekend. It does burn a lot hotter than before now that I switched pellets and learned how to clean it properly. What would the benefits be of an Outside Air Kit?

 

[Jack Morrissey]

Hello all,

I bought my home about a year ago and it came with a 1995 Enviro EFIII bayi free standing pellet stove. Last year I used it but I was not sure how to, so I just lit it manually (the igniter did not work), and kept it full of pellets that I would usually buy from Lowes or Home Depot. I didn't know how to clean it or service it so it was always full of ash.

I just had it serviced a few weeks ago by a local Enviro dealer and asked the technician to give me a run down on the stove. He showed me how to clean it out and which dials did what. I always run the fan on high now as directed. I also switched to using Hamer's Ultra Premium pellets. I clean the stove about every 3 days or so with a dust vacuum and Anti Creo Soot spray. Ever since I switched from crappy pellets to Hamer's, I have significantly less ash and no longer have to deal with clinkers.

However, at the same auger setting, I am burning 1.5 bags of Hamer's per day, when I was only going through 1 bag of the AWF pellets per day that I got from Lowe's. Like I said, much less ash now and no more clinkers, which I am very happy about. Is there a more efficient way to burn Hamer's so I use less?

What are the characteristics of a good flame? Is there such a a thing as too low of a flame? The manual says to only move the air adjuster rod out 1/2" to 5/8". The service tech said to run it at 2-3 fingers width.

Any tips on how to find the elusive "optimal flame"?

 

[Jack Morrissey]

Welcome to the forum. Whats this "anti creo spray " you mention??

 

[Lake Girl]

Outside Air Kit allows you to draw outside air directly into the combustion chamber of the stove rather than using pre-warmed inside air that will be getting thrown out the exhaust and costing more heating dollars. If using pre-warmed inside air, it will have to be replenished from the outside anyway and will create drafts usually around doors and windows but could be anywhere that the building envelope is not airtight...

Anti Creo Soot - who recommended that and is it part of the annual clean or more frequent? Unless you have a problem burn, you shouldn't have a creosote problem.

 

[stevemartin]

Welcome to the forum. Whats this "anti creo spray " you mention??

The Anti Creo Soot spray was recommended by the dealer where I buy my pellets from when I asked if there was anything out there that helped clean the stove. She suggested ACS spray. It is not only a treatment for cleaning after use but also a pre treater for the pellet stove.

Here is the web page for the company; http://www.homesafetyproducts.biz/product_p/acs.htm?1=1&CartID=0


I don't use it as much as they recommend but it does seem to be making a difference in ash build up.

 

[Tony garofalo]

I have seen that ACS spray at Home Value centers, For a lot lower price.