Ravelli Monica needing maintenance?

[Deromax]

Hello all! I have had my Monica for 3 heating seasons, going on the fourth. Ever since the second year went by, I would periodically get beeps and messages about getting the stove serviced. Since I did the flue cleaning myself and the stove has been working as it should all this time, I mostly dismissed and ignored the message.

So, is there really some actual work to do inside this stove? Cleaning, lubing? As you know, Ravelli beeing an Italian brand, infos about their stove is not exactly abundant in english or french on the web and I could not find the answer. I'd like to know before placing an expensive service call for nothing!

BTW, I love the thing! Thanks!

 

[stovelark]

Hi Deromax- Well every pellet stove should have its exhaust path cleaned each season. Are you taking out the upper damper and cleaning the air tubes? This will impact air flow through the stove. The sides should be removed and the blowers removed and cleaned. You should make sure the hose to the vac switch is clear too and a general sweeping and dusting is performed internally. Good luck with her, there are some videos now on you tube that might be helpful too.

 

[Deromax]

Hello!

I should have been clearer! Yes, I'm cleaning the firebox at least once a week in the heating season, including removing the metal deflector (damper?) and brushing and vaccuuming the heat exchanger tubes. When doing the flue cleaning from outside the house, I'm able to brush and get the vaccuum hose up to the combustion fan inside the stove. So there are not a lot of internal smoke passages not covered by my cleaning, only the downward passage going from the heat exchanger to the combustion fan.

The stove is showing absolutely no sign of trouble nor decreased efficiency.

 

[stovelark]

Oh ok, sounds like you're doing whats required... Keep it up...

 

[rich2500]

Not familiar with the Monica but on the Francesca there are clean outs for the exhaust passages. Have to remove both side panels to access the clean out covers. I would think the Monica has the same covers and should definitely be removed and cleaned.

 

[Lake Girl]

downward passage going from the heat exchanger to the combustion fan.

Do you clean those passages every 1000 hours of operation? That would also include cleaning the exhaust vent. I use a dryer vent brush and a hose attached to my shop vac (drywall bag) when doing that cleaning.

 

[Deromax]

I, nor anyone else, have ever opened any screwed/sealed access.

 

[Lake Girl]

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads...deo-demonstrate-cleaning.154631/#post-2077980 my post #2 has pics of the Elena clean outs and exhaust blower. The Monica will be slightly different but the same concept. Good luck and keep us posted on how it goes...

PS: Should clean the room blower too while you are in there ... I use a thin paint brush or tooth brush to clean the tines. Vacuum and compressed air is helpful.