Pellet stove not as hot as it used to be Englander 25 PDVC

[talley2191]

I have a 25-PDVC Englander Stove wood pellet stove, and while we have been having sub freezing temperatures (5-10 degrees F) I have noticed my house is struggling to maintain 64 degrees. To put this in perspective, when outside temperatures are 40 degrees I shut the stove down as it heats the house well past 76 degrees at 1/1 setting. I don't recall ever needing to go higher than a 3/3 setting. The rate I go through pellets is greatly diminished as well. The stove is clean, and has operating blowers, augers (as far as I know). My question is what can impact that burn rate? I can understand the output of air to be not a warm during the colder times as the air going in is much colder, but would that not cause the burn rate to increase? I have not modified any factory settings and my burn rate has decreased from 1.25 - 1.5 bags to 1 bag or less at a 3/3 setting (or any setting for that matter). When I place "extra" pellets on the burn box they burn and the stove becomes hot as I once remember it being, but then it resumes the slow pace of burn. Any thoughts please?? Thank you

 

[hossthehermit]

If you haven't changed any settings, and are running the same pellets, the only thing that would reduce your consumption would seem to be some type of restriction in your auger ................ build up of fines, perhaps ?

 

[talley2191]

If you haven't changed any settings, and are running the same pellets, the only thing that would reduce your consumption would seem to be some type of restriction in your auger ................ build up of fines, perhaps ?

Thank you for the reply. To rule out a restriction can I count the time the auger is active per cycle at a given setting? That could be a starting point but of course I guess I would need to know what is normal.

 

[hossthehermit]

Your manual should show you the cycle times at different feed settings ................................

 

[talley2191]

Thank you for the reply. To rule out a restriction can I count the time the auger is active per cycle at a given setting? That could be a starting point but of course I guess I would need to know what is normal.

My other question was does the auger feed based on time or is it temperature depending (e.g. Do I perhaps have a defective sensor that is reading higher than realistic temperatures this slowing the auger rate)?

 

[talley2191]

My other question was does the auger feed based on time or is it temperature depending (e.g. Do I perhaps have a defective sensor that is reading higher than realistic temperatures this slowing the auger rate)?

Your manual should show you the cycle times at different feed settings ................................

Thank you. I will look through it.

 

[CladMaster]

Remove all the pellets from the hopper. In the bottom you will see a restrictor plate with a screw in it, make sure the opening to the auger is 50% or more. If this plate covers the auger more than 50% it restricts the amount of fuel fed into the fire pot, less fuel = less heat.

 

[talley2191]

Remove all the pellets from the hopper. In the bottom you will see a restrictor plate with a screw in it, make sure the opening to the auger is 50% or more. If this plate covers the auger more than 50% it restricts the amount of fuel fed into the fire pot, less fuel = less heat.

I will check that as well. Can you or anyone else tell me if the rate it burns pellets is based on a temperature sensor or is the feed rate solely based on time programmed into the 1-9 heat setting? Thank You all so much.

 

[Bioburner]

Only a couple of stoves made that vary the feed rate. Yours is not. May be able to set the stove to go from idle to a set rate high fire via thermostat, but not a room temp sensing variable rate like a Harman. $$$$. Good luck in finding the reason for your decreasing pellet feed. Sure someone will get your problem solved.

 

[CladMaster]

I will check that as well. Can you or anyone else tell me if the rate it burns pellets is based on a temperature sensor or is the feed rate solely based on time programmed into the 1-9 heat setting? Thank You all so much.

This stove burns fuel based on heat settings (1-9), each of these settings are timed in seconds (on off state), the higher the heat setting, the longer the on time which in turn feeds more fuel to produce more heat. There is no built in room stat in this stove, if you set the heat to 5 and blower to 5 the stove will run with this setting pumping out heat until the hopper is empty.

Now with a stat connected to the stove the heat output will be continuous until the set temp on the stat is reached, the stove will then go into low burn (idle mode) until the stat calls for more heat. The heat setting on the stove controls the feed rate (1-9), the higher the number the more fuel is added which brings the stoves temp up faster to produce more heat which heats the space faster, when the stat see's the set temp the stove will go back to low burn mode, it repeats this cycle over and over. Never have the room air blower lower than the heat setting when using an external stat.

 

[chken]

I have a 25-PDVC Englander Stove wood pellet stove, and while we have been having sub freezing temperatures (5-10 degrees F) I have noticed my house is struggling to maintain 64 degrees. To put this in perspective, when outside temperatures are 40 degrees I shut the stove down as it heats the house well past 76 degrees at 1/1 setting. I don't recall ever needing to go higher than a 3/3 setting. The rate I go through pellets is greatly diminished as well. The stove is clean, and has operating blowers, augers (as far as I know). My question is what can impact that burn rate? I can understand the output of air to be not a warm during the colder times as the air going in is much colder, but would that not cause the burn rate to increase? I have not modified any factory settings and my burn rate has decreased from 1.25 - 1.5 bags to 1 bag or less at a 3/3 setting (or any setting for that matter). When I place "extra" pellets on the burn box they burn and the stove becomes hot as I once remember it being, but then it resumes the slow pace of burn. Any thoughts please?? Thank you

I would concur that you probably have a restriction where fines are blocking pellets from filling the augur tube. Just imagine you have a tube of pellets feeding the burn box, where the augur meets the hopper, fines are collecting blocking the entrance to the augur tube, leading to fewer pellets getting dropped into your burn box.

 

[hossthehermit]

Another possibility, depending on how your auger motor hooks to the auger itself, is slippage in that connection, if there is just a set screw it could have loosened up or worn a bit ................

 

[CladMaster]

Another possibility, depending on how your auger motor hooks to the auger itself, is slippage in that connection, if there is just a set screw it could have loosened up or worn a bit ................

Possible, but very rare for these stoves to do that from my experience.

 

[Shannon Hackenberg]

I have a 25-PDVC Englander Stove wood pellet stove, and while we have been having sub freezing temperatures (5-10 degrees F) I have noticed my house is struggling to maintain 64 degrees. To put this in perspective, when outside temperatures are 40 degrees I shut the stove down as it heats the house well past 76 degrees at 1/1 setting. I don't recall ever needing to go higher than a 3/3 setting. The rate I go through pellets is greatly diminished as well. The stove is clean, and has operating blowers, augers (as far as I know). My question is what can impact that burn rate? I can understand the output of air to be not a warm during the colder times as the air going in is much colder, but would that not cause the burn rate to increase? I have not modified any factory settings and my burn rate has decreased from 1.25 - 1.5 bags to 1 bag or less at a 3/3 setting (or any setting for that matter). When I place "extra" pellets on the burn box they burn and the stove becomes hot as I once remember it being, but then it resumes the slow pace of burn. Any thoughts please?? Thank you

Did you try checking the blower motor screen if it covered with debi,dust,whatever it will not burn correctly.Another thing that would control your feed rate is the mode the stove is set in, if you did not change any of this that should not be your issue,but just checking. I also would consider the vacuum switch the one that goes the stove wall or fire box controls the flame.

 

[talley2191]

Did you try checking the blower motor screen if it covered with debi,dust,whatever it will not burn correctly.Another thing that would control your feed rate is the mode the stove is set in, if you did not change any of this that should not be your issue,but just checking. I also would consider the vacuum switch the one that goes the stove wall or fire box controls the flame.

So some things I have checked but seemingly not closer to an answer....I found the auger motor to turn for 3 seconds every 10 seconds at level 5. Quite frankly I did not notice a change at any level. I cleaned all pellets out and inspected the top end of the auger. It seems to turn without issue and I have ruled out obstruction or slipping at the motor connection. I then discover there are different modes, and performed the f5 reset I read on a different thread. I saw the stove at mode A (I have no idea if that's where it was or it reset to that setting) and I turned it to mode c. The mixture is at 6-4-1 and the feed rate now seems to be 5 s seconds on and 10 seconds off. I still find the burn pot goes from good fire to nearly nothing about minute or so. The points where fire is low coincides with little pellets in the burn pot. I don't recall this being an issue last season so I am thinking it needs more pellets fed but how do you do that? Is that issue? I have a house I cannot get above 64 degrees when last year with these conditions temperatures inside would be 70-72 at level 3/3.

Thanks for the suggestions so far but please lend me some more insight. Thank you

 

[Shannon Hackenberg]

So some things I have checked but seemingly not closer to an answer....I found the auger motor to turn for 3 seconds every 10 seconds at level 5. Quite frankly I did not notice a change at any level. I cleaned all pellets out and inspected the top end of the auger. It seems to turn without issue and I have ruled out obstruction or slipping at the motor connection. I then discover there are different modes, and performed the f5 reset I read on a different thread. I saw the stove at mode A (I have no idea if that's where it was or it reset to that setting) and I turned it to mode c. The mixture is at 6-4-1 and the feed rate now seems to be 5 s seconds on and 10 seconds off. I still find the burn pot goes from good fire to nearly nothing about minute or so. The points where fire is low coincides with little pellets in the burn pot. I don't recall this being an issue last season so I am thinking it needs more pellets fed but how do you do that? Is that issue? I have a house I cannot get above 64 degrees when last year with these conditions temperatures inside would be 70-72 at level 3/3.

Thanks for the suggestions so far but please lend me some more insight. Thank you

CladMaster should be able to help you they know the stove inside and out.

 

[CladMaster]

So some things I have checked but seemingly not closer to an answer....I found the auger motor to turn for 3 seconds every 10 seconds at level 5. Quite frankly I did not notice a change at any level. I cleaned all pellets out and inspected the top end of the auger. It seems to turn without issue and I have ruled out obstruction or slipping at the motor connection. I then discover there are different modes, and performed the f5 reset I read on a different thread. I saw the stove at mode A (I have no idea if that's where it was or it reset to that setting) and I turned it to mode c. The mixture is at 6-4-1 and the feed rate now seems to be 5 s seconds on and 10 seconds off. I still find the burn pot goes from good fire to nearly nothing about minute or so. The points where fire is low coincides with little pellets in the burn pot. I don't recall this being an issue last season so I am thinking it needs more pellets fed but how do you do that? Is that issue? I have a house I cannot get above 64 degrees when last year with these conditions temperatures inside would be 70-72 at level 3/3.

Thanks for the suggestions so far but please lend me some more insight. Thank you

Test this for me please and report back with info on how the stove responds.

Empty the hopper, remove the restrictor plate (it has one screw in it) at the bottom of the hopper, and put the plate and it's screw to one side so they don't get lost. Refill the hopper halfway with pellets and run the stove for 2 - 4 hours at 4/4.

 

[letsblaze]

I love my pdvc. Never had any major issues. Sucks you are having them as cold as it is out.

 

[Harvey Schneider]

A leak into the firebox might be causeing the vac switch to inhibit fuel feed. If the leak is borderline the stove would intermittently miss feed cycles. A hopper lid switch could do the same thing.

 

[talley2191]

Disposition...

So I thought I would share my experience in hopes it may benefit someone else. To refresh, after 5 years of no issues and regular cleaning, my pellet stove was not putting out enough heat. With outside temperatures in the 20's I rarely needed to set the stove above 3 unless there was a great deal of wind. I went back to the basics and gave the stove a complete cleaning, and thought my problem was fixed. As it turned out, I had forgotten how hot the stove can really get, and thought that maybe the combustion fan needed replaced or maybe a deeper cleaning. The stove worked great, and about 2 bags later, the flame was weak and it struggled to keep the house at 68 degrees with outside temps at 32 degrees (it should have been maintaining 72 at level 3).

To cut to the chase...the upper auger stopped working a couple weeks later, and I initially thought instead of that being the sole problem, it was a secondary problem. What I learned was that the inner parts of the 5 year old auger motor were not spinning the upper auger enough. So in short, not enough pellets were hitting the burn pot. The seconds it engaged per setting checked out, but it didn't turn far enough ( I never saw those standards anywhere). I learned that after I removed the motor and found a couple teeth missing on 1 sprocket. I was able to clean it and place it back in service in working condition until I received the new motor. So the solution ended up being a new motor and as I write this the outside temperature is 20 degrees and the inside temp is 72 at level 3. Feels like we are back to normal.

Thank you everyone for the time you took to write suggestions. They all helped and I have learned so much.