Over heating, black smoking, fuse blowing Enviro Empress. Suggestions?

[loulou]

I posted this earlier in another not so relevant thread, so thought I'd get more help w/ a new topic.

I stumbled across this forum while searching for answers. I am new to pellet burning, purchased an enviro empress, and just installed it last week. After reading this forum, I wished we had it professionally installed as it seems to void all warranties, but the dealer where we bought it never suggested a professional installation; On the contrary, he didn't even mention it and said they are fairly easy to install. My husband is very mechanically inclined, and I'm not too bad myself. I'm a pro at woodstoves installations/operations, having worked for a few years at Vermont Casings back in the early '80's. Anyhow, our problem is not related to insallation.

The problem:

After the initial installation, it ran beautifully for 6 days/5 nights. We did a maintenance cleaning every 2 days, and we were as happy as can be w/ the stove efficiency. I left to run some errands yesterday. When I returned, the flame was very tall, lazy and orange. Then, it started to smoke a lot. Black smoke was coming out of the top and back and it shut itself off immediately.

My entire house was filled w/ black smoke and smelled like an electric burn smell. I tried to get a hold of the dealer, but they were closed (12/26). I searched for the Sherwood Industries phone #, no luck. I waited a few hours, did a maintenance cleaning, and restarted it, but it wouldn’t start back on. I took off the control panel, and the fuse was blown. We replaced the fuse today, re-started it, and it immediately sparkled in the back, made a loud popping sound, and blew the fuse again.

Needless to say, I’m a little upset about this. I paid $3,000.00, hoping to save over the cost of fuel oil, but now I don’t think I’ll ever feel safe running the pellet stove unattended, which will defeat its purpose. I wanted a woodstove but my husband insisted on a pellet stove, huuuummmm. This sort of carp doesn't happen w/ woodstoves.

I did get a hold of the dealer today, husband/wife store. He's extremely rude, but his wife is nice. He said he'd try to get a hold of a technician and get back w/ me. While I'm sitting here waiting, I found this forum.

I must say I'm not too impressed w/ the owner's manuals and lack of tech support phone help. The manual just refers you back to the dealer instead of a full troubleshooting diagnostics.

Does anyone have any idea of what could have caused this? Or better yet, the phone # to the company?

Louise

 

[j00fek]

i would try all the trouble shooting tips in the manual, first then try and pinpoint the problem

 

[crausch]

Are there any panels you can pull off so that you visually inspect the wiring, motors, etc. for anything obvious. It sounds to me like you may have some shorted wires, or something has burnt up on the controller or a motor. Are you sure your warranty is voided for the install?

 

[imacman]

....I stumbled across this forum while searching for answers. I am new to pellet burning, purchased an enviro empress, and just installed it last week. After reading this forum, I wished we had it professionally installed as it seems to void all warranties.......
Louise

If the stove is new, just because you installed it doesn't mean the warranty is void. It just means that if a dealer comes to do a service call, and the cause is something you did wrong in the install (and they can prove it), then the company won't cover the repair.

If the problem is due to a problem with the stove itself, then warranty should cover it.

 

[loulou]

Thank you for your replies. Yes, I consulted the manual's troubleshooting tips first, as well as the website. All it says is "check if the fuse is blown". Other than that, "call your dealer", which isn't much help at all.

I've taken the control panel off and gone over the wiring diagram. Nothing is obvous, wiring looks good, but whatever the problem is, it's causing a short.

No, I'm not sure about the warranty being void if it is self-installed, as in, I didn't flat out ask the dealer today. I'll just be prepared for when he tells me I'm on my own.

Here's the warranty exclusions:

Warranty
Exclusions and Limitations:
1. This Warranty does not cover tarnish, discoloration or wear on the plating or paint.
2. This Warranty excludes wear and tear or breakage caused by cleaning, moving or service on log set.
3. A qualified installer must install this stove or fireplace. This Limited Warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship only if the product has been installed in accordance with local building and fire codes; in their absence, refer to the owner’s manual. If the product is damaged or broken as a result of any alteration, willful abuse, mishandling, accident, neglect, or misuse of the product, the Limited Warranty does not apply.
4.........................

 

[j00fek]

do not worry about the warranty, your allset. i installed mine and still get service.

read your technical pdf here - http://www.enviro.com/fireplace-products/pellet/freestanding-fireplace.html#empress

 

[loulou]

Well, I just got off the phone w/ the dealer. He can't get a hold of the technician, but will get back to me by Monday. I don't think I'll get answers here as it is probably an electronic component or something causing the short circuit, too difficult to diagnose without getting your hands in that back panel.

What a pain in the butt though, very frustrating. So far, I'm not too 'empressed' w/ the empress lack of technical help.

I'll get back to you all after I get an answer from the tech. Thanks all for your replies, it is appreciated.

Louise

 

[32acres]

Were you able to determine if the combustion fan was running when you first found this problem? Since you had smoke everywhere it sounds like your combustion fan was not working, and it shut itself off on its vacuum sensor switch Since it won't start and blows fuse immediately, I suspect a short in combustion fan circuit or motor.

 

[mnoack]

A bad igniter will blow the fuse immediately. Try disconnecting the igniter (follow the wires from the igniter to two spade connectors on the wiring harness) & see if the stove will run. If it doesn't blow the fuse, try lighting it manually with stove lighting gel (about $5.00 a bottle at Lowes.) To light the empress with the gel: fill the burn pot with pellets, but leave a bit of a well in the middle as the Empress will drop pellets with the door open & possibly drown your fire. Squeeze gel pretty much completely over the top surface of the pellets, turn the stove on, pull the draft all the way out & light the gel. Keep the door open a bit for 3 to 5 minutes until the pellets have caught fairly well. When you close the door, keep an eye on the fire, as the dropping pellets can put it out. Open the door again if it appears to be going out. The convection (room air) fan should come on 15 - 20 minutes after lighting. Keep an eye on things as it is starting up, as those pellets will burn a lot faster than you might think at startup, & the fire can burn out. You may need to prime it, & you really do want to fill the burn pot liner. Push you draft in to your usual location after the fire has caught well. If all this works, keep it burning & see if you blow another fuse. The igniter draws significantly more power than anything that runs after ignition. If this works for you, & you replace the igniter & it stops blowing fuses, let me know, as I am still lighting mine manually. Not sure I want to replace the igniter if it may just blow up again!

Mark

 

[loulou]

Thanks all for your helpful comments. UPDATE:

The technician came today. Unfortunately, I wasn't here, so my husband forgot to ask the millions questions I had. I have his phone # now, so I'll call him tomorrow, I need a little more peace of mind.
He started the stove right up, and it didn't blow the fuse. Huuuummmm, isn't that always the way it goes? However, after running the stove on high for a while, he noticed that the auger didn't shut off at all. He said it was a bad motherboard, so he replaced it. I'm having a hard time believing that it would run great for a week w/ a faulty motherboard and then suddenly start smoking and blowing fuses.

It's running now, but I'm afraid to leave it on as I must go up to bed. I suppose it will take me a while to trust this stove enough to leave it running unattended. I've been reading a lot since my last post, and it seems there are lots of problems associated w/ the Enviro. I really like it, but part of me wished I had gone w/ a woodstove instead.

Louise

 

[countk]

loulou I too am a somewhat new owner of the enviro empress, and I absolutely love it so far! Purchased mine in April and used it a little then, however I have used it from Sept. up until now and have had no problems.

It might help you to know, that I don't even give it a second thought running it overnight or if I'm gone for the day. Hopefully now that you've corrected the problem, you won't have any more for awhile. One can only hope!

I too am concerned about a few issues I have heard on this site, but no pellet stoves are perfect. I would like to know however why PelletPusher has had 3 augur motors replaced. Due other owners have similar problems!

I actually had my decision down to the Harman XXV and the Empress when I was ready to buy, but the little lady liked the looks of the Empress. Even though the BTU's are much lower, I am very happy I made this choice. The main reason being that my dealer, who also services the stove is only 20 minutes from my house.

I learned from this site that besides the quality of the stove, the dealer and service is incredibly important. I know if I have a problem, between this site and my dealer I can feel pretty confident on getting any problems I might have get fixed.

I think in the end you will be happy with your purchase!

 

[srjtr7]

Hi,

I have an Empres FS and was also having issues with the fuse blowing. See my tread.

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/15895/

it was an extra wire not needed that melted and shorted out. It also killed the controller board.

Ever since we moved the wires and replaced the board....we are problem free since Feb of last year.