P series Harman users what's your secret to cheap pellets ?

[alternativeheat]

Ok, so my P61 loves Okanagan DF pellets, best heat, longest burn, cleanest burn pot, basically no scraping.. You guys all say Harmans burn any pellets. Have you tried Fireside Ultras in your stove ? I have, piles of ash in front of the burn pot blocking the air holes off. You scrape these things off the burn pot every 4 hours and 2 hours would be better. I had five bags to try and I'm sending my wife back to HD to return 3 of them ( already loaded into her car). The best burn was to use a rate of about 3/4 DF and 1/4 Fireside. Someone said let them burn and get pushed off the pot. No you get a lazy sooty flame that way and they build up not out. Now that isn't so bad, don;'t use those anymore !! However, other people with various stoves do use them and some even rave about them, so what are you guys doing different than I am I wonder ?

POINTE Pellets. Similar thing occurs except it takes less DF's to not build the big ash and they make way more heat than the Firesides ( actually a lot of heat, I'll put up with these). By themselves the pot needs a scraping now and then. And these aren't exactly cheap pellets, mid road pricing all spruce pellets, .5 or less ash 8700 btu per lb.. Should be very decent.

Do I always need DF's in my mix to burn some other pellet ? I should not I'm thinking. Or am I just spoiled by DF ? It seems there should be some happy medium here. I'm not complaining or venting, I want to learn something new if there is something to learn that I am missing.

 

[mepellet]

I haven't had problems with any of the 6 or 7 brands I have tried. If be curious to hear what others say because I have heard pretty good things about FSUs

 

[iceguy4]

is something to learn that I am missing

We could tell you...but then it wouldn't be a "secret"....would it.. Kool aid anyone??

 

[RKS130]

Ok, so my P61 loves Okanagan DF pellets, best heat, longest burn, cleanest burn pot, basically no scraping.. You guys all say Harmans burn any pellets. Have you tried Fireside Ultras in your stove ? I have, piles of ash in front of the burn pot blocking the air holes off. You scrape these things off the burn pot every 4 hours and 2 hours would be better. I had five bags to try and I'm sending my wife back to HD to return 3 of them ( already loaded into her car). The best burn was to use a rate of about 3/4 DF and 1/4 Fireside. Someone said let them burn and get pushed off the pot. No you get a lazy sooty flame that way and they build up not out. Now that isn't so bad, don;'t use those anymore !! However, other people with various stoves do use them and some even rave about them, so what are you guys doing different than I am I wonder ?

POINTE Pellets. Similar thing occurs except it takes less DF's to not build the big ash and they make way more heat than the Firesides ( actually a lot of heat, I'll put up with these). By themselves the pot needs a scraping now and then. And these aren't exactly cheap pellets, mid road pricing all spruce pellets, .5 or less ash 8700 btu per lb.. Should be very decent.

Do I always need DF's in my mix to burn some other pellet ? I should not I'm thinking. Or am I just spoiled by DF ? It seems there should be some happy medium here. I'm not complaining or venting, I want to learn something new if there is something to learn that I am missing.

My Accentra FS LOVES the Fireside Ultras. I have been burning them all season and, other than scraping the burn pot a little more often, they have added no significant work and provided great heat at a low price.

 

[alternativeheat]

My Accentra FS LOVES the Fireside Ultras. I have been burning them all season and, other than scraping the burn pot a little more often, they have added no significant work and provided great heat at a low price.

I see. By more often what are you describing as time intervals. Could you run the stove overnight without a messy flame? I could not for instance If you can then I wonder what's up!

 

[alternativeheat]

We could tell you...but then it wouldn't be a "secret"....would it.. Kool aid anyone??

na, switched to tea!!

 

[alternativeheat]

My Accentra FS LOVES the Fireside Ultras. I have been burning them all season and, other than scraping the burn pot a little more often, they have added no significant work and provided great heat at a low price.

Hmmm, ya know I've never measured the voltage at me power strip with the stove running. Maybe I'm not getting full oomph through the burn pot ? That would explain a lot. I have some known good pellet brands here that others burn. I will check that out when I get home later.

 

[iceguy4]

na, switched to tea!!

It takes a while for the affects to wear off...or is it effects? spelling/grammar police!?!?

 

[iceguy4]

Hmmm, ya know I've never measured the voltage at me power strip with the stove running. Maybe I'm not getting full oomph through the burn pot ? That would explain a lot. I have some known good pellet brands here that others burn. I will check that out when I get home later.

Not a trick or secret...clean clean clean. then dollar bill test. It would seem you have air entering where it shouldn't be. Check any doors with an incense stick or lighter. I'd bet that dollar bill you use for the test , I'm right....or is it write...no rite....grammar police...

 

[Bioburner]

50% corn and lowering the feed rate to 2, PC45 with twice daily sweep. Was only $140 ton couple weeks ago. Only the Italian gets a diet restricted to Aspen-pine horse bedding, the rest of the herd gets corn or corn blend. Bixby, Countryside, Hestia and Harman.

 

[alternativeheat]

Not a trick or secret...clean clean clean. then dollar bill test. It would seem you have air entering where it shouldn't be. Check any doors with an incense stick or lighter. I'd bet that dollar bill you use for the test , I'm right....or is it write...no rite....grammar police...

I have suspected a main door leak in the left lower cornet because there is a powder ash trail there much line you get on the class. It passed right into the gasket territory. I put a grill lighter flame there and it did not get sucked in. At the top of the gasket top of the door, the gasket looks thin to me like it got pulled by hot paint. Same with flame there then the lighter ran out of fuel, damn or is that damm!

 

[P38X2]

The "secret", or more accurately, "problem" is you've opened Pandora's box when you bought top shelf DF pellets. You'll judge all others against those from here on in and you'll always be searching for an inexpensive pellet that burns as cleanly as those. IME, they don't exist.

I'm also burning SP's and I'd have to let the stove go a long time before having an ash dam issue, if it occurred at all. While not low ash (compared to my personal "Pandora" pellets I burned 9 years ago, Eureka Premium) the ash that is produced is fairly light in weight and tends to get blown out of the pot. Ash from all but one other brand I've burned tends to hang around in the pot and eventually cause what you describe. Orford shifts lasted the longest, while the dreaded NEWP, the "better" Jaffrey offerings, would require scraping every 6 hours at most.

So, while I feel your pain regarding ash buildup, its your fault for burning one of the holy grails of pellet brands and expecting close to equal performance in the ash dept because you own a Harman and they "burn anything". They do, but they don't affect the amount of ash a pellet produces. The "work around" is to use the Harman tool and give that pot a scraping once in a while. It's fast and easy. You can also use it to pack down the ash in the pan a bit and get the most out of its capacity, however, that won't affect the efficiency of your heat exchanger if its caked with ash.

 

[alternativeheat]

The "secret", or more accurately, "problem" is you've opened Pandora's box when you bought top shelf DF pellets. You'll judge all others against those from here on in and you'll always be searching for an inexpensive pellet that burns as cleanly as those. IME, they don't exist.

I'm also burning SP's and I'd have to let the stove go a long time before having an ash dam issue, if it occurred at all. While not low ash (compared to my personal "Pandora" pellets I burned 9 years ago, Eureka Premium) the ash that is produced is fairly light in weight and tends to get blown out of the pot. Ash from all but one other brand I've burned tends to hang around in the pot and eventually cause what you describe. Orford shifts lasted the longest, while the dreaded NEWP, the "better" Jaffrey offerings, would require scraping every 6 hours at most.

So, while I feel your pain regarding ash buildup, its your fault for burning one of the holy grails of pellet brands and expecting close to equal performance in the ash dept because you own a Harman and they "burn anything". They do, but they don't affect the amount of ash a pellet produces. The "work around" is to use the Harman tool and give that pot a scraping once in a while. It's fast and easy. You can also use it to pack down the ash in the pan a bit and get the most out of its capacity, however, that won't affect the efficiency of your heat exchanger if its caked with ash.

I have SP Platinum, I assume those are the ones you refer to as SP? Red and black bag, they burn nice and yes the ash sort of blows off the pot. Those and DF both burn with a clean looking flame. Maybe I'm like a cat chasing its tail here.

 

[P38X2]

I have SP Platinum, I assume those are the ones you refer to as SP? Red and black bag, they burn nice and yes the ash sort of blows off the pot. Those and DF both burn with a clean looking flame. Maybe I'm like a cat chasing its tail here.

The Spruce Pointe's I have are the standard white bag with the red and black logo and a cabin. They burn great with WAY less carbon deposits in the pot than anything else I've burned in the last 3 years. Also the glass stays quite a bit cleaner. However, I can only get around 35 bags through the stove before it's time to empty the pan, less for the stove needing a cleaning. According to Harman, "the ash pan will hold approx 1 ton of pellet ash". I think those days are long gone for most people. The Eurekas I burned way back would maybe leave 3" in the pan per ton, they were that clean. They were also only $174 at Walmart. Ah, the good 'ol days.

I didn't mean to come off as blaming you in a negative way for anything being your fault in your ash situation. Just poking fun

 

[IHATEPROPANE]

Ok, so my P61 loves Okanagan DF pellets, best heat, longest burn, cleanest burn pot, basically no scraping.. You guys all say Harmans burn any pellets. Have you tried Fireside Ultras in your stove ? I have, piles of ash in front of the burn pot blocking the air holes off. You scrape these things off the burn pot every 4 hours and 2 hours would be better. I had five bags to try and I'm sending my wife back to HD to return 3 of them ( already loaded into her car). The best burn was to use a rate of about 3/4 DF and 1/4 Fireside. Someone said let them burn and get pushed off the pot. No you get a lazy sooty flame that way and they build up not out. Now that isn't so bad, don;'t use those anymore !! However, other people with various stoves do use them and some even rave about them, so what are you guys doing different than I am I wonder ?

POINTE Pellets. Similar thing occurs except it takes less DF's to not build the big ash and they make way more heat than the Firesides ( actually a lot of heat, I'll put up with these). By themselves the pot needs a scraping now and then. And these aren't exactly cheap pellets, mid road pricing all spruce pellets, .5 or less ash 8700 btu per lb.. Should be very decent.

Do I always need DF's in my mix to burn some other pellet ? I should not I'm thinking. Or am I just spoiled by DF ? It seems there should be some happy medium here. I'm not complaining or venting, I want to learn something new if there is something to learn that I am missing.

Those DF will spoil you......

I agree with IceGuy4 and that you may have an air leak or a dirty stove. Hoe long had it been since a full top to button cleaning, including all venting?

 

[alternativeheat]

The Spruce Pointe's I have are the standard white bag with the red and black logo and a cabin. They burn great with WAY less carbon deposits in the pot than anything else I've burned in the last 3 years. Also the glass stays quite a bit cleaner. However, I can only get around 35 bags through the stove before it's time to empty the pan, less for the stove needing a cleaning. According to Harman, "the ash pan will hold approx 1 ton of pellet ash". I think those days are long gone for most people. The Eurekas I burned way back would maybe leave 3" in the pan per ton, they were that clean. They were also only $174 at Walmart. Ah, the good 'ol days.

I didn't mean to come off as blaming you in a negative way for anything being your fault in your ash situation. Just poking fun

Oh I caught the point of your messages perfectly. No worry! My Spruce Pounte pellets are in the same bag you describe. They burn ok but not like Oknanagan Premium Platinums. I still get fairly heavy ash with Pointe. Heavy as in I doubt the will leave the pot totally on their own. However they make good heat.

 

[alternativeheat]

Those DF will spoil you......

I agree with IceGuy4 and that you may have an air leak or a dirty stove. Hoe long had it been since a full top to button cleaning, including all venting?

Today is day 10 of burning after an all new stove in a new install with 4 " vent. At day 7 I cleaned the normal stuff for day 7, the pot inside and out. Looked in the stoves vent saw nothing cruddy in there. Heat exchanger, top of bricks and shelf ledges, the sides of the stove and inside doors. I was waiting for the first ton or till the first month to do the full vent and fine s box.

 

[IHATEPROPANE]

Today is day 10 of burning after an all new stove in a new install with 4 " vent. At day 7 I cleaned the normal stuff for day 7, the pot inside and out. Looked in the stoves vent saw nothing cruddy in there. Heat exchanger, top of bricks and shelf ledges, the sides of the stove and inside doors. I was waiting for the first ton or till the first month to do the full vent and fine s box.

I see, you are very new to your Harman. Have you seen other Harman's burn?

Did you set your feed rate according to the manual? I believe it is supposed to be as high to allow a 1" of ash at the end of the burn pot. Usually around feed rate 4

 

[alternativeheat]

I see, you are very new to your Harman. Have you seen other Harman's burn?

Did you set your feed rate according to the manual? I believe it is supposed to be as high to allow a 1" of ash at the end of the burn pot. Usually around feed rate 4

Yes I have seen Harmans run and yes, still learning non the less! The guys here about last tue ran me through feed rates. I settled on 5 looking pretty good after cooking my wife out of the living room. My house may never need feed rate 5. I'm running it at 4-4.25. Room temp 75. The stove runs good on good pellets but not all premium grade pellets. firesides are a mix of soft and hard wood. They burn dirty in my stove. Others appear to have no problem is my concern.

I have seen another dirty burning Harman on NE pellets ( New England). It was an Accentra insert, the pot looked like mine on Fireside Ultra pellets. What concerns me is the POinte spruce. That's a fine pellet. I don't want to have to skip over every some what less expensive pellet option because of this if I can get a handle on the cause.

 

[IHATEPROPANE]

Yes I have seen Harmans run and yes, still learning non the less! The guys here about last tue ran me through feed rates. I settled on 5 looking pretty good after cooking my wife out of the living room. My house may never need feed rate 5. I'm running it at 4-4.25. Room temp 75. The stove runs good on good pellets but not all premium grade pellets. firesides are a mix of soft and hard wood. They burn dirty in my stove. Others appear to have no problem is my concern.

I have seen another dirty burning Harman on NE pellets ( New England). It was an Accentra insert, the pot looked like mine on Fireside Ultra pellets. What concerns me is the POinte spruce. That's a fine pellet. I don't want to have to skip over every some what less expensive pellet option because of this if I can get a handle on the cause.

I have faith you will get it squared away. Is 5 the max feed rate?

 

[alternativeheat]

I have faith you will get it squared away. Is 5 the max feed rate?

No I think it could do more if I kept it burning and depending on the pellet. That day I was using good ones and having trouble forming an ash line cause they blow off the pot. But the base line at the sides of the pot looked about 1 inch in from the edge at about 35 minutes burning. That's why I said I settled on 5.

 

[IHATEPROPANE]

No I think it could do more if I kept it burning and depending on the pellet. That day I was using good ones and having trouble forming an ash line cause they blow off the pot. But the base line at the sides of the pot looked about 1 inch in from the edge at about 35 minutes burning. That's why I said I settled on 5.

I am not a Harman owner but I believe that is on the high side. In theory this needs ti be done for each brand if pellets. You could try turning the feed rate to 4 and see what it looks like there. I don't think you will see a temp difference in your house with it set there.

 

[P38X2]

I bet your stove is running just fine. I'm telling you, you spoiled yourself with the DF's. Let the price be a deterrent next time and remember, your goal is to save money, right? Use that tool and just scrape the pot daily. You'll get the heat you want out of it. What's more important is to keep the exchanger clean.

When I clean mine, I use a nylon bristle utility brush. It looks like a big fat round paintbrush.... like what you probably used as a kid in school. Works great. I really wish I could find a brass equivalent so I could clean it on the fly while the stove is burning low. Put on a welding glove, zip zip zip, done.

 

[P38X2]

....aaaaaand I may have just found one
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003Y...ffcb8ddd#ref=mp_s_a_1_8&qid=1392058376&sr=8-8

 

[alternativeheat]

I bet your stove is running just fine. I'm telling you, you spoiled yourself with the DF's. Let the price be a deterrent next time and remember, your goal is to save money, right? Use that tool and just scrape the pot daily. You'll get the heat you want out of it. What's more important is to keep the exchanger clean.

When I clean mine, I use a nylon bristle utility brush. It looks like a big fat round paintbrush.... like what you probably used as a kid in school. Works great. I really wish I could find a brass equivalent so I could clean it on the fly while the stove is burning low. Put on a welding glove, zip zip zip, done.

Ha ha, I may not know what I'm doing yet but I have a brass brush!! Kind of on the small side. I believe I got that from Grainger, they may have a larger one. But this is shaped like a scrub brush or small steel bristled welders brush. Its brass though.

Ah rats excuse me. Its soft steel.