New User question - Any extra parts you keep on hand?

[UP Courtney]

This is my first pellet stove, but I live in the woods and if it breaks down it may get very cold in the house before a service guy gets there. Question is this, are there any parts of back-up items I should keep hand for a Harmon P68? Mostly I would think the items that are going to break more frequently than once every 5 years. but alternate opinions are great as well.

 

[Mr. Spock]

I have a Harman XXV - the guts are very similar. I keep the following around ...auger motor, combustion motor, esp probe, control board and igniter. The motors themselves may well last your 5 year mark.
I keep them on hand because when you don't have one that is when you will need it. Depending on how often you use adjust the setting knobs the control board may not make the 5 year mark. The pots wear down from use and eventually need replacement. The igniter is totally optional as you can light the stove manually but I have a relatively small space to heat so the stove runs in temp mode and cycles quite often. Most folks around here seem to get about 3 seasons from the igniter. If you have an older P68 it may have a chain that drives the auger so I would keep one of those around as well. Not sure what the life span is on a vacuum switch but I don't hear about them failing much here.

Welcome to the Forum!

 

[MtDew]

Is your P68 a new stove? I have the P38+ and I keep an extra ESP probe in my parts stash. Keep some alcohol based hand sanitizer or a propane torch handy in case the igniter fails. Make sure your stove is plugged into a good surge protector to protect the main circuit board.

 

[moey]

A space heater

Im not a huge fan of buying unnecessary parts. You can have most parts sent overnight sure it costs more but to spend a bunch of money to avoid a what if scenario.

 

[TimfromMA]

Lots of spare pellets come in handy.

 

[PJPellet]

I keep spare combustion, distribution, and auger motors. Extra ignitor, control board,pressure switch, burn pot, flame guide, impeller, etc. Only because I have three little children and I am a bit over the top about being prepared.

More directly to your question, I think a spare combustion motor and some fuses would suffice. You can always manually light the stove if ignitor fails. Keep the motors clean as much as possible from dust dirt and animal hair. They will last 5 years IMO.

 

[DneprDave]

Any spare parts you keep on hand will be the parts that never break in your stove.

Dave

 

[iron stove]

ANybody know what a p-38 board goes for ?

 

[Phoenix Hatchling]

Make sure your stove is plugged into a good surge protector to protect the main circuit board.

Preferably a UPS from APC which will allow the unit to shut itself down safely in the event the electric goes out while it is running.

 

[derbydude]

I have a Harman XXV - the guts are very similar. I keep the following around ...auger motor, combustion motor, esp probe, control board and igniter.

sounds like a whole extra stove to me

 

[Bioburner]

sounds like a whole extra stove to me

I bought a used stove as a emergency backup. The main stove was also used though too but from someone I got to know elsewhere. Coming into the 3rd season sold it. More comfortable now knowing pretty much all of the stoves workings very well. Keep the motors and fans clean. Keep the ESP cleaned but be gentle with it. A good surge suppressor or UPS to protect the circuitry. If you don't have any problems in the first month or so,you probably won't.

 

[Rowdysdad]

Lots of spare pellets come in handy.

Amen to that.