Snow Sticking to Intake Screen

[realestatelady]

Hello! I'm new to the thread and have a newly installed (November 2013) Napoleon NPS40 pellet stove. I live in Maine and as of just recently have not received a whole lot of snow. I noticed a couple weeks ago before going to bed that I had a very lazy flame and my pellets weren't burning efficiently, so I checked my airflow and had it nearly all the way out (the highest it could possible go). I checked the OAK outside and noticed snow had stuck to the screen that protects the intake, therefore blocking the airflow into the stove. I wiped this off and the stove went back to burning normally.

This hasn't happened when it's snowing, but I'm assuming is being caused when wind blows the loose snow up against the house. I'm wondering if there is anything I can do to prevent this? I woke up this morning to my burn pot overflowing and a fire in my ash pan because snow had stuck to the screen again.

Any help would be appreciated! Thank you!

 

[Jigger]

My OAK has a wind screen protector over the opening. All it is a peice of sheet metal that goes over the opening.I don't know what your OAK looks like. But in a pinch you could silicon a dryer vent cover over it.

 

[realestatelady]

My OAK has a wind screen protector over the opening. All it is a peice of sheet metal that goes over the opening.

Thank you! Is that easy to install?

 

[Polar Bear]

Thank you! Is that easy to install?

It is usually standard with that particular thimble.

 

[realestatelady]

It is usually standard with that particular thimble.

This might be too much to ask, but would you be able to take a picture of it? I'm having a hard time picturing this, I'm new at the Pellet Stove game, and I want something to show others who might be able to help.

Thank you in advance!

 

[Polar Bear]

The outside view is in the bottom right corner. The metal shield is on the bottom left of that picture.

 

[Lorne41]

Thank you! Is that easy to install?

Hello, what the other forum members are talking about is a typical dryer vent like the one below. It's just a sheet metal or plastic housing that is angled downward to deflect snow water and debris from getting inside your OAK input. If you already have an OAK with metal screen installed, all you would have to do is take a small piece of sheet metal and tin snips and fabricate a small angled piece with a flat side to go against your house that could be screwed onto the side of your house or just silicone glued onto it to get you thru the Winter until the warm weather comes along. Then you could install a more effective one. All you want is something to deflect the elements away from the air flow coming into the OAK. Hope this helps !

 

[tjnamtiw]

The screen is really on there to keep critters out so, with all the snow, there aren't a lot of critters around. Why not just take the screen off for now? Or why not separate the pipe inside and put some screening inside that pipe? Then just use

 

[Jigger]

Lorne41 discribed it perfectly. Mine is simply a peice of sheet metal with a Z bend in it that is attached to cover the OAK opening. Mine is located away from the privailing winds. But it does protect it from any snow or rain from being sucked into the opening. The screen is there to keep animal and bugs and forgein material like snow from going into the tube. Without it the snow would collect and clog it with no chance of getting it out.The quickest fix for you right now is to go to the hardware store and pickup a dryer vent cover and a tube of silicone.