OMG I am really starting to hate my Austroflamm Pellet Stove.

[RancherPacker]

It won't stay running past 44 mins. This problem started last evening wouldn't stay lit longer than 30 mins. I went without heat over night. This morning fired it up, went out at about 44 mins. Jumped the low limit switch - fired it up went out at 15 mins......what now? I am guessing it's not the low limit switch, what do I test next?

 

[Bkins]

I guess I'll start by asking when the stove was last cleaned top to bottom since that helps to fix a lot of stoves. I don't know your brand but will also ask when the door gaskets were last replaced since it looks like your stove is on the older side like both of mine.

 

[RancherPacker]

I personally cleaned it this fall when I purchased it used. It was relatively clean but I did the total annual cleaning on it anyway since I am new to pellet stoves figured this would help me get to know my stove. When it came time (October) I fired it up and it has been running well with a bit of a learning curve on my part. It's a 1992 Austroflamm Integra. Now I can't keep it running after start up. Like I said I jumped the low limit switch and it still went out............I don't know when the door gaskets were replaced however they pass the dollar bill test and they look good.

 

[RancherPacker]

Going to take the plates off inside vacuum and make sure those little square holes are not blocked.

 

[Mark_ms]

Does it shutdown or just stop?

 

[MadMax31]

I dont follow low limit, as in loss of flame? Soot is an insulator, enough of it and all the heat is going out chimney. Cleaned in the fall means nothing after several bags. Hows the venting? Did you clean combustion fan? Low air flow would cause weak flame. I have no idea what an Astroflamme is, just spit-balling common combustion problems.

 

[RancherPacker]

okay by low limit I mean the low limit snap disc,,,,I jumped that the flame would still die out but stove keeps feeding pellets.
I now have done the leaf blower trick to the stove and vacuumed the interior. I did not take the inside back panels off yet to vacuum back there am hoping the leaf blower trick cleaned it enough (if that is the problem). I had back major surgery only 4 weeks ago so hard for me to get down there and work. I will if I have to but trying not to LOL.......currently have the stove re-started (7 mins) will post again in a few mins to say if it goes out or works as it should.

 

[alternativeheat]

Hmmm Oct was the last full cleaning. Most of us clean our stoves weekly or every two at most and an extra full cleaning once per month. Or at least I do. I bet you need to do a full cleaning.

 

[RancherPacker]

Yes last fall I thoroughly cleaned the stove took it all apart cleaned behind panels, fans motors etc everything possible. Then when I started burning it, I vacuumed the interior every 3 to 4 days clean the ash pan everyday and the burn pot. So here it is December 5 and the stove probably has had 30 ish bags of Bear Mountain pellets burned through it. Have I not done enough cleaning? Please don't tell me I need to disassemble the stove every week as I did in October. That's just too much took me hours to do that thoroughly.

PS still running at 24 mins

 

[F4jock]

okay by low limit I mean the low limit snap disc,,,,I jumped that the flame would still die out but stove keeps feeding pellets.
I now have done the leaf blower trick to the stove and vacuumed the interior. I did not take the inside back panels off yet to vacuum back there am hoping the leaf blower trick cleaned it enough (if that is the problem). I had back major surgery only 4 weeks ago so hard for me to get down there and work. I will if I have to but trying not to LOL.......currently have the stove re-started (7 mins) will post again in a few mins to say if it goes out or works as it should.

You can't do halfway cleanings and expect them to work or help in diagnosis. It's either all in or you might as well not bother.

As well, until you get comfortable with your stove I'd start by cleaning it weekly and, if performance warrants, slowly move the cleanings out until you realize the limits of the stove and pellet combination. 30 bags w/o a cleaning is way too much.

As for cleaning time, I can clean my Harman in half an hour. Took longer at first but you get good at it after you establish a routine.

Finally, if you don't have stove-specific cleaning instructions, get them.

 

[alternativeheat]

I don't know your stove but often there are clean outs etc., that need attention more often than every two months. 30 bags is almost perfect timing for failure if you haven't been cleaning properly. I have no clue what you missed, can tell you all about a Harman P61 though !

 

[F4jock]

I don't know your stove but often there are clean outs etc., that need attention more often than every two months. 30 bags is almost perfect timing for failure if you haven't been cleaning properly. I have no clue what you missed, can tell you all about a Harman P61 though !

As Alternative points out, time alone is not a good metric by which to schedule cleaning. Pellet throughput is far better, and I've found that to be very pellet-quality dependent.

 

[RancherPacker]

Hmmm Oct was the last full cleaning. Most of us clean our stoves weekly or every two at most and an extra full cleaning once per month. Or at least I do. I bet you need to do a full cleaning. ........................................

What is it you do exactly every week? and what is the extra full cleaning?

PS 30 minutes stove went out......no pellets kept feeding this time after flame died out. OOPS because I did not get up and turn the control box to off now at 40 minutes..... pellets are feeding into the burn pot with no flame....guess I will take those panels off and clean back there now.

 

[alternativeheat]

Hmmm Oct was the last full cleaning. Most of us clean our stoves weekly or every two at most and an extra full cleaning once per month. Or at least I do. I bet you need to do a full cleaning. ........................................

What is it you do exactly every week? and what is the extra full cleaning?

PS 30 minutes stove went out......no pellets kept feeding this time after flame died out.

Somewhat irrelevant to your stove , as I said I don't know your stove. I clean, scrape and vacuum the burn pot and the full inside of the stove including scraping down the heat exchanger. On the Harman there are various access hatches ( yours will be in different spots I'm sure) to clean out the air tube and igniter compartment below the burn pot. Access hatch to the vent and ESP, give that a brushing and clean the combustion fan blades . Monthly I add the fines box and distribution blower fins. I used to do my vertical vent every ton but have found with my 4 inch venting I can go two tons with pretty ashy pellets..

So many times I wouldn't venture a guess as to how many, people come here as you are and they think cleaning is a scrape and vacuum what they can see through the front door of the stove. St Croix's have their own little hidden passages, inserts another, I's 100% sure your Astro another all it's own. There are certain expectations to be met in cleaning. Not met, the stove shuts down or otherwise rebels !! in the case of Harman we are lucky, it has to be about the most documented stove line for routine maintenance of any brand out there. But if you do a search you might find videos on yours too.

 

[RancherPacker]

I guess what I am asking is do you totally remove the motors/fans every week? Or just clean them in place? Then remove them once a year?

 

[F4jock]

I guess what I am asking is do you totally remove the motors/fans every week? Or just clean them in place? Then remove them once a year?

No. I clean somewhat like Alternative but I only clean the fans and fines box once a year and my stove works fine.

Do you have OEM cleaning instructions? Also sounds funny that you can have no fire but still feed pellets but I don't know your stove.

There is a YouTube video on how to clean your stove.

 

[MadMax31]

Flame went out, feed stopped. If low limit is still jumped you have problems elsewhere. You should pay attention to the flame when its running to see if its lazy or jumping around the burn pot. Do you have different pellets to try as well?

 

[alternativeheat]

I guess what I am asking is do you totally remove the motors/fans every week? Or just clean them in place? Then remove them once a year?

On my P61 I don't have to pull motors, I can access the fan blades without dismounting them. And really if I'm swishing out the horizontaal exhaust chamber of the stove anyway, the combustion fan blade is right there, I just brush it off while there. But that is one of the beauties and reasons why I bought the P61 in the first place. Ease of cleaning.

I just watched an Integra cleaning procedure on You Tube, it was an insert. Is yours an insert ?

 

[RancherPacker]

no free standing, i think i can clean the blades as well without dismounting

 

[FirepotPete]

Also sounds funny that you can have no fire but still feed pellets but I don't know your stove.

A lot of stoves will do that as a safety feature. It assures that no burning pellets/fuel in the auger can cause a back burn to the hopper and start a big fire.

 

[F4jock]

Interesting.

My Harman does not do that by design. Of course it is designed differently than the OP's stove but if my Harman did that I would assume some problem with the ignition system.

 

[RancherPacker]

OKAY here is final test.........took the interior back plates out gently brushed them/vacuum. Brushed/vac the entire interior of stove. Brushed HE tubes, lifted rods and cleaned rectangular holes behind them with coat hanger/vac scraped cleaned kissed hugged Cleaned everything possible without dismounting fans/motors. Did the leaf blower trick. Stove is spotless What more can I do?? 5 mins into start up - - lets see if she runs longer than 30 - 40 mins now

 

[alternativeheat]

OKAY here is final test.........took the interior back plates out gently brushed them/vacuum. Brushed/vac the entire interior of stove. Brushed HE tubes, lifted rods and cleaned rectangular holes behind them with coat hanger/vac scraped cleaned kissed hugged Cleaned everything possible without dismounting fans/motors. Did the leaf blower trick. Stove is spotless What more can I do?? 5 mins into start up - - lets see if she runs longer than 30 - 40 mins now

Indeed, let us know.

 

[FirepotPete]

Interesting.

My Harman does not do that by design. Of course it is designed differently than the OP's stove but if my Harman did that I would assume some problem with the ignition system.

Right, your Harman feeds the fuel from the bottom so no concern of a back burn the way that stoves that feed from the top at an angle have.

 

[RancherPacker]

NO LUCK, it did not work now at 30 mins the flame is out the glowing pellets are cooling stove is NOT WORKING *groan*