Rookie Help; Castile Pellet Insert Will Start But Won't Ignite the Pellets

[MightyWings]

Evening all,

This is the first time I have owned a pellet stove - it came with the house we purchased during the summer and I wanted to give it a trial run before the cold months set in.

The stove is a Quadra-Fire Castile Pellet Insert and works off a thermostat.

I bumped the thermostat up to full, the stove comes on, the feeder runs & the igniter gets red hot (literally) but the pellets don't actually set on fire.

I'm completely new to this so any guidance would be appreciated.

 

[Bioburner]

Have you started with some fresh pellets? Sometimes if the pellets have been sitting they can absorb enough moisture to be a pain to start. Try some fresh pellets and if they start a fire you may have solved your problem but the stove may be in need of a real good cleaning to get enough air through your pellets past the ignitor to start your fire.
Welcome and good luck

 

[railfanron]

I would start with a good cleaning. With the igniter getting red hot there probably isn't enough air flow across it to light the pellets. Are the pellets dry?
Ron

 

[Bioburner]

More than a far share of the issues on the pellet mill come down to a proper cleaning resolving the problem. A good cleaning should be the first option.

 

[MightyWings]

Hi all,

Thanks for the quick responses - when you say a good clean, what part should I be cleaning down and with what?

Sorry if they seem like really silly questions

 

[Bioburner]

If you can find the manual or should be able to download one that would be the place to start. Often manufactures are putting video on youtube and help alot with the individual quirks of each model. A good shopvac, stiff brushes and maybe a putty knife for some stuburn carbon scraping. A brush made for cleaning the stoves venting with a extention to get the entire chimney.

 

[railfanron]

Bioburner X 2

 

[Lake Girl]

Manual: http://downloads.hearthnhome.com/installManuals/7021_155.pdf starting from page 13...