Pellets too big?

[jdh2550]

I purchased a Harman P43 in April of this year. I only had a week in April that I used the stove. I works great and I'm pleased with my purchase. It heats my 1800 sq. foot 2 story home nicely. A few weeks ago I purchased Lignetics Premium wood pellets from a local retailer. I spent $240 out the door with one ton. The nights have been cold enough here that we have used the stove to take the chill out of the air. We have noticed that some of the Lignetics pellets are longer than what we purchased (different brand) in April. Every now and then I hear a clunk from the stove and I believe it is a longer pellet getting crushed by the auger.

Will this damage my auger?
Should I go through each bag and break the longer ones in half?

I'm new to this and don't want to break my stove. Your suggestions are greatly appreciated.

 

[alternativeheat]

I wouldn't and I don't worry about it. Warmly called the Harman clunk, they do that with long pellets. If it's an issue I have heard no reports of it bothering the stove in any way. Not so sure it's the auger though, it may be the drop gate. But most that has come of it in my P61 is to find some pellet pieces in the fines box when cleaning that. If pellets were hard like rock we would have an issue. Energex, Spruce Pointe and LG pellets are a smaller consistent size. Okanagan Platimums to me are too small, takes more to fill the hopper. Maine Wood are consistent. Okanagan DF have some long ones mixed in and the stove clunks on those.

 

[m159267]

A long pellet can 'freeze' the Harman slide plates. Most of the time it's not a problem but it has happened. I returned a ton of pellets due to their excessive length (2"+). I don't recall the brand.

 

[jdh2550]

Thanks for the piece of mind. I'll have to look at my manual so I understand what slide plates you are referring to.

 

[dhall28]

Thanks for the piece of mind. I'll have to look at my manual so I understand what slide plates you are referring to.

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at about 25 seconds in it has a nice break down of what is going on inside a harman feed system including the slide plate.

 

[hossthehermit]

Should I go through each bag and break the longer ones in half?

.

Yes ...........

 

[Ctcarl]

Very Normal and I don't worry about longer ones.last years there were long ones and short ones and little dust in my green supremes and it would eat them like there was no Tommow .enjoy the warmth

 

[Pellet-King]

Only reason I dont like the long pellets is they feed slower and the flame is lower and doesnt put out as much heat

 

[Phoenix Hatchling]

My Harman never had an issue with longer pellets. The "Harman clunk" as its refered to is just the auger chewing up those pieces which would log-jam other brands and bring them to a halt. This one the other hand, made it tap out...