Pf100 Upper Baffle

[Ksuwildcat2010]

I just recently installed a Harman PF100 and have a question about it. I have burned about 1 1/4 ton and my upper heat exchange baffle looks all corroded on top where the fire hits it. Is this normal, or is there anything I can do to fix it. Thanks

 

[mcmaxx]

had to have mine replaced, when I put the new one in I put a heavy piece of flat steel with hooks welded on the back so as to hang in front of baffle plate where the flame hits it, works very well. 2 yrs. plate still looks new.

 

[Ksuwildcat2010]

Not a bad idea, maybe i'll weld something up and see how it works. You just use any steel, or was it high temperature stuff?

 

[mcmaxx]

any heavy gauge steel should work mine was a scrap piece and took some round bar and made u's out of it and welded that to the back, make sure your spacing of hooks fits within the accordion heat exchanger.

 

[Centurion]

Anyway to reach in there and take a couple pictures Maxx and post them here, maybe the next time you shut it down to clean it . Quite a few folks on here have one?

 

[Ksuwildcat2010]

No one has had problems with the flames damaging their heat exchangers right. I'm just a little nervous because my flame hits it and the upper baffle on a call for heat. I'm also using a lot of pellets, but I probably can't complains my house is 4,000 sq ft with high ceilings and it's over 100 years old. Is there anything I can do to help lower my pellet consumption, because I am probably going to be using 2.5 ton + a month, during the cold months.

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

No one has had problems with the flames damaging their heat exchangers right. I'm just a little nervous because my flame hits it and the upper baffle on a call for heat. I'm also using a lot of pellets, but I probably can't complains my house is 4,000 sq ft with high ceilings and it's over 100 years old. Is there anything I can do to help lower my pellet consumption, because I am probably going to be using 2.5 ton + a month, during the cold months.

Insulation, air sealing, and windows.

Three sets of permanent pellet tonnage.

 

[Ksuwildcat2010]

I did the install myself, and never checked the draft readings, will this cause any problems? My fire has no problems heating my house and it will run fine on a pilot burn without going out. Thanks for all the help

 

[exoilburner]

About your pellet usage; what is your average outside temperature? How many months have you been burning this season? What temperature do you keep your house? Do you run it 24-7 at a consistent temperature or turn it down at night?

I have been running my PF100 for 2.5 months this season. Avg outside temp: Sept. 59Df; Oct. 48Df; Nov. 39Df; Dec. 34Df.
Kept my 2400 sq ft house between 69 and 70Df, 24-7, for the last 2 months. Found I could slightly improve the pellet usage by not turning it down at night.
I have a 90+ year old house. New insulated windows. Poor attic insulation. Full basement. This season I have burned 1-3/4 tons.

 

[Ksuwildcat2010]

Don't know what the exact average temperatures have been, only burnt for a little over a month. Located in central KS, November wasn't bad outside but it's been cold in December, in the teens in the morning and 20's to low 30's during the last few days. Original part of the house is probably 2000 sq ft with old windows, new part is about 2000 sq ft with newer windows but high ceilings, about 1000 sq ft is finished basement, probably another 500 sq ft of unfinished basement. House has two 35 year old propane furnaces, I've added mine on to the one that heats the bottom 3000 sq ft. I currently and do not plan to have any heat source upstairs, stays decent up there. But yesterday i burnt a little under 5 1/2 bags in a 24 hour period, which is definitely more than I've been burning, I'm probably averaging about 4 days in 24 hours, with the high in the low 30's outside. I do not turn the thermostat down at night. Sorry for the long post.

 

[exoilburner]

I think Smokey is right. I don't think it is a problem with the furnace. Sounds like you may have a lot of uninsulated surface area in your house. You would probably help your heating fuel usage the most by insulating, weather stripping and caulking. Windows first then attic insulation. If your house cools down when it gets really windy, the wind may be sucking your heat out thru gaps in your structure that need weather stripping and caulk.

 

[Ksuwildcat2010]

Alright, I didn't figure there was a problem. Only lived in the house for a few months now, i believe the previous occupants went through 500 gallons of lp in a little over 2 weeks, granted it was with old furnaces and they liked it around 80 in the house, so i new I was gonna pay a bit. The only question that I never had answered was is there any problem with the fire hitting the heat exchangers a lot, such as damaging them like it does the upper baffle. Thanks a lot everyone.

 

[Skippydo]

Did a cleaning of the PF100, and checked for bubble/s.....still good (make sure you tap the top of your burn pot, before you
clean out underneath....a lot will fall in the clean out)
I am on my second upper baffle, and looks like it needs a plate hanging on front like mcmaxx describes.
Very very little fines under the hopper....waste of my time moving the under cover...done with that till end of season cleaning.