Hi - I recently bought a new home and it has a harman p68. I used it pretty frequently over the winter and, today, it just stopped working…It was going fine and, then, I noticed that it had stopped…I tried to turn it back on and it makes a noise like it's planning to start, but, then the fan doesn't go…In looking at the directions, it stated that sometimes it needs to be re-set by unplugging it…So, I did that…I was then able to start it, but it shut down again after about 20 minutes….The previous owners left the manual and a receipt from last year stating that the control board was replaced…Does this sound like a motor? Can it be fixed? I'm not sure how old the unit is….I'm guessing at least 6 years, but possibly older…Thanks for your help!
pellet stove shut down
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Lake Girl
Moderator
Welcome to the forum 
How much have you burned? Have you cleaned the exhaust pathways and venting lately? ESP could also need cleaning ...have to be gentle with the probe from what I hear. Did you get any error codes when it shut down (how many blinks)?
How much have you burned? Have you cleaned the exhaust pathways and venting lately? ESP could also need cleaning ...have to be gentle with the probe from what I hear. Did you get any error codes when it shut down (how many blinks)?Sell it now before it becomes an obsession. Just pull it out to the curb and put a sign on it "first $500 takes it home". If your thinking about next years pellet buy, or what leaf blower to use on the vent, it's too late. Pellet stoves are the crack cocaine of heating appliances.
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Lake Girl
Moderator
Peterfield
Minister of Fire
bogieb
Minister of Fire
As others have said, clean it per the manual. If you have burned it all year, I would assume you have more than a ton thru it, so you need to do a deep clean. It is possible it could be another issue, but try the cheap (free) stuff first.
St_Earl
Minister of Fire
not sure if there's a vacuum switch on that stove. but before doing the leaf blower trick (should be low on the list until the stove is up and running once again) always disconnect the vacuum line from the vacuum switch.
also, don't get discouraged. take it step by step and between everyone here willing to help/offer opinions and guidance, you'll learn something (several somethings) and get that sweet heat machine back to doing what it does best.
these stoves are less complicated than a person might at first think.
also, don't get discouraged. take it step by step and between everyone here willing to help/offer opinions and guidance, you'll learn something (several somethings) and get that sweet heat machine back to doing what it does best.
these stoves are less complicated than a person might at first think.
If you did not hear the blower start begin there. The combustion blower is behind the ash pan if you use a 5/16 nut driver and remove the covers at the bottom in back you can see the back side of the blower motor. Turn the knob on the pellet feed to test and look around back to see if the motor is turning. This all happens if the good clank g does not solve the issue.
The P68 is a good stove. No need for any blower tricks on it and it does not have a vacuum that I am aware of. The PC45 does have a vacuum and filter.
Describe in detail exactly what is going on. CLEANING is likely what it needs. The ESP probe in the exhaust is likely dirty and not letting the stove read the exhaust temp therefore shutting it down.
Start off by doing a thorough clean. The ESP probe is in the exhaust back in about 12 inches. Take a paint brush that will fit in & reach it and gently wipe off the ash built up on it or pull it out and clean it. It can be accessed from the right side and is held into the exhaust with one small screw and pulls straight out. Follow the wires to it. Likely red but could be black. Clean out the fines box right side rear and the igniter box under the burn pot. Be sure to seat the fines box cover back on correctly and snug it up. Look into your exhaust to see if it is full of ash. Clean per the manual or search out deep cleaning here in the search bar.
Is the combustion blower kicking on? Are all of the lights on when you start it up? They are with the control board and knobs. If all components are trying to work or are kicking on then it is likely an issue with the ESP probe either being dirty or bad possibly. We need more details in order to make recommendations. Details please?
Describe in detail exactly what is going on. CLEANING is likely what it needs. The ESP probe in the exhaust is likely dirty and not letting the stove read the exhaust temp therefore shutting it down.
Start off by doing a thorough clean. The ESP probe is in the exhaust back in about 12 inches. Take a paint brush that will fit in & reach it and gently wipe off the ash built up on it or pull it out and clean it. It can be accessed from the right side and is held into the exhaust with one small screw and pulls straight out. Follow the wires to it. Likely red but could be black. Clean out the fines box right side rear and the igniter box under the burn pot. Be sure to seat the fines box cover back on correctly and snug it up. Look into your exhaust to see if it is full of ash. Clean per the manual or search out deep cleaning here in the search bar.
Is the combustion blower kicking on? Are all of the lights on when you start it up? They are with the control board and knobs. If all components are trying to work or are kicking on then it is likely an issue with the ESP probe either being dirty or bad possibly. We need more details in order to make recommendations. Details please?
TonyVideo
Feeling the Heat
bogieb
Minister of Fire
Yep, been 11 days since the OP started this thread, and he hasn't been back (or at least if he has, he hasn't made his presence known anywhere on this forum)
bogieb
Minister of Fire
Peterfield
Minister of Fire
There is a web site that has been cited here a couple of times from a pellet stove repair technician that has kept meticulous records going back to 2005. He broke down the repairs by stove brand but the leading cause of any issues with any brand was a lack of proper cleaning, ranging from 67% to over 80% depending on the manufacturer.
Lake Girl
Moderator
Beg to differ. Why point fingers at a faulty vacuum switch when there are a multitude of things that make it LOOK like a BAD vacuum switch? Check all those first. You could replace the switch 100 times but if the exhaust path is clogged or the exhaust blower is locked down with ash, it ain't gonna fix it.
Clean the darn stove
St_Earl
Minister of Fire
vacuum line clog is more likely than a bad switch. and i'm not saying it's a line clog, but that should be checked for sure.
from all i've read, absent user error (leaf blower trick w/ switch still hooked up) vacuum switches don't fail all that often. even though their inner workings are delicate.
from all i've read, absent user error (leaf blower trick w/ switch still hooked up) vacuum switches don't fail all that often. even though their inner workings are delicate.
bogieb
Minister of Fire
I haven't removed my ESP to clean it either. I too vacuum once every 3-4 weeks, and then run a brush thru the exhaust (and past the ESP) every 6-8 weeks. Not sure why it seems some people have to spit-shine them so regularly.
bogieb
Minister of Fire
Peterfield
Minister of Fire
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