Quadra-Fire flare up

[chrstmar]

I have an early (2001 or so) Castile that I use to heat my cottage. It has been quite reliable, though I have replaced the control board a number of years ago.

This morning, the fuel pot filled with pellets and then caught fire, creating, for the first time, a very large fire with smoke coming out of the stove and into the room. A couple of times before the fuel pot has filled completely up but never ignited.

I do clean the stove after each cottage visit and make sure that the ash door opens and shuts all the way. Also make sure that the air holes at the bottom are clean. However, I have never replaced the igniter coil though an extra one came with the unit. Nor have I cleaned the thermocouple tube other than to get the dust off of it.

The stove has been running after that okay.

Any ideas?

 

[RockyMtnHigh]

To me it sounds like a bit of an airflow issue. Igniters ime usually just die. I would check the air intake area in the back of the stove and see if any mice etc. have made a little home there. I would also pull the baffles out and clean really well behind there. Check the flue to see how dirty it is. If you can get a magnahelic check the water column with the combustion blower running (unplug and plug stove back in, the blower should run for around 15 minutes). High water column suggests a plugged intake, low water column suggests a blockage in the exhaust path. I went out to one recently where the customers stove didn't want to ignite but would still feed. The igniter was good. The flue was pretty filthy but not quite enough to shut down the feed motor. I swept the flue, vacuumed out the air intake and cleaned the combustion blower and behind the baffles. It fired right up like a champ.

 

[CenterTree]

This morning, the fuel pot filled with pellets and then caught fire, creating, for the first time, a very large fire with smoke coming out of the stove and into the room. A couple of times before the fuel pot has filled completely up but never ignited.


Any ideas?

Where (on the stove) was the smoke coming from? Around the door, the ash door, out the heat tubes?
That unit should be fairly air tight.

 

[tjnamtiw]

To me it sounds like a bit of an airflow issue. Igniters ime usually just die. I would check the air intake area in the back of the stove and see if any mice etc. have made a little home there. I would also pull the baffles out and clean really well behind there. Check the flue to see how dirty it is. If you can get a magnahelic check the water column with the combustion blower running (unplug and plug stove back in, the blower should run for around 15 minutes). High water column suggests a plugged intake, low water column suggests a blockage in the exhaust path. I went out to one recently where the customers stove didn't want to ignite but would still feed. The igniter was good. The flue was pretty filthy but not quite enough to shut down the feed motor. I swept the flue, vacuumed out the air intake and cleaned the combustion blower and behind the baffles. It fired right up like a champ.

Where exactly would you put a magnehelic gauge on a Castile? Are you looking for pressure or vacuum? What range is normal?

 

[tjnamtiw]

To the OP, this can sometimes happen if the stove starts back up before it has completely cooled down and the green light is still on. That means that right after the start up dump of pellets, it will immediately start its normal feeding routine and fill the pot up. Most times that will be enough to prevent a fire but in this case you were 'lucky' (?). Take a look as the stove cycles on and off on very cold days and see if the green light is still on. If so, then you need a wider range of startup and shutdown temps called 'swing'. Some thermostats provide this adjustment and others don't.

 

[RockyMtnHigh]

Im pretty sure the castile is set to run around 12-14 inwc but don't quote me on that, I'd have to check the technical manual. You can hook up the magnahelic with a Tee in between the hose coming from the auger tube and another hose going from the Tee to the vacuum switch. Then use the third Tee to connect to your Mag.

I agree it could also be too short of cold cycles but I always start with pressure when diagnosing. Most pellet stove problems I encounter are due to lack of maintenance.

 

[tjnamtiw]

Im pretty sure the castile is set to run around 12-14 inwc but don't quote me on that, I'd have to check the technical manual. You can hook up the magnahelic with a Tee in between the hose coming from the auger tube and another hose going from the Tee to the vacuum switch. Then use the third Tee to connect to your Mag.

I agree it could also be too short of cold cycles but I always start with pressure when diagnosing. Most pellet stove problems I encounter are due to lack of maintenance.

Amen to that one! Good idea to put it right in the line to the vacuum switch with a tee!