Question for the masses...

[MCPO]

When you guys do your final cleanout for the season... (no more heating days ). Do you empty the hopper? or just leave what is left in there? Probably a dumb question, but figure I should ask just incase there is some negative to leaving it partially full).

TIA,
Mal

Unless you have moisture /dampness issues there`s no need to do anything. Moisture or excessive dampness in any home should really be addressed for obvious reasons.
My stove is in the finished basement and as such , I do run a dehumidifier in the summer months when the humidity down there rises..With regards to the stove I leave it as is till I do a full cleaning in early september. The remaining pellets in the hopper stay as stable as when first poured in.

 

[Tonyray]

Unless you have moisture /dampness issues there`s no need to do anything. Moisture or excessive dampness in any home should really be addressed for obvious reasons.
My stove is in the finished basement and as such , I do run a dehumidifier in the summer months when the humidity down there rises..With regards to the stove I leave it as is till I do a full cleaning in early september. The remaining pellets in the hopper stay as stable as when first poured in.

seems like the responses here are about 50-50.
some of us want to get it done in the spring and start out with a clean stove in the fall.
others like to wait and let it all sit throught summer wihch appears to not be a stove problem for them.
I for one don't want any surprise rust in the fall so cleaning it in the spring is no harder than doing it come October.

 

[DneprDave]

I always start out with a clean stove in the fall, right after I clean it.

My Whitfield stoves were made in 1994 and have been in my area since new, I can't say when and how often the previous owner cleaned it, but the stoves don't have any rust.

 

[jp99]

I clean mine and empty the hopper and auger completely because I burn corn. I believe the ash can produce nitric acid from corn combustion byproducts. Pam spray or something similar after cleaning. And the unburned corn can attract worms/moths, so it has to go. Those worms can get into almost anything.

 

[bags]

I clean mine and empty the hopper and auger completely because I burn corn. I believe the ash can produce nitric acid from corn combustion byproducts. Pam spray or something similar after cleaning. And the unburned corn can attract worms/moths, so it has to go. Those worms can get into almost anything.

Yeah, corn and pellets are two different animals. I only add corn during the very cold times but have also mainly stayed with 100% pellets.