"stupid" question about feed rate and ash build up in burn pot.

[tundraSQ]

I have never quite understood this feed rate thing....and how it relates to the amount of ash in the burn pot.

If i have an abnormal amount of ash in my burnpot... say 1.5" high and 2-3 inches deep...do i turn it up or down?

currently i am at 4.5 on the feed rate and 80 degrees on room temp.

 

[eschills]

I was going to ask a similar question. I am seeing ash build up around the bottom lip of my feed tube and the top edge of my burn pot. This happens when I turn the feed rate above 4.5. I do not get build up inside the burnpot though. I think it has to do with the air mixture. I am not sure what the flame should look like. It puts out more heat with the air mixture lower and the flame is bigger. I do not allow it to get too "loopy" though. If I add more air the flame gets smaller but looks more intense. Which is better, and is less air causing more build up?

 

[hearthtools]

I was going to ask a similar question. I am seeing ash build up around the bottom lip of my feed tube and the top edge of my burn pot. This happens when I turn the feed rate above 4.5. I do not get build up inside the burnpot though. I think it has to do with the air mixture. I am not sure what the flame should look like. It puts out more heat with the air mixture lower and the flame is bigger. I do not allow it to get too "loopy" though. If I add more air the flame gets smaller but looks more intense. Which is better, and is less air causing more build up?

Some tips in the sticky post at the top of the pellet room will help
the first post on this will help.
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/13419/
Without a Magnahilic this is the best way to dial In air adjustment.

With the stove on High and running for 15 minutes after start up.
Push the air rod in. you will see a tall ugly lazy flame
then [b}slowly pull the rod out
as the flame comes down, more intense and be more yellow
when the flame looks like it is not changing anymore stop pulling out.
If you have sparks popping this is normal
but you don’t want to see PELLETS popping out.
If you get Brown or Grey soot on the glass and firebrick this is normal
if you have BLACK soot on the firebrick and glass pull the air out a little more.

Some stoves that do not have Control boards. Like Enviro EF2, 3 and Vista Flame do not change combustion blower speed with heat settings so if you go from a Low burn rate to a high burn rate you will need to adjust the air manually.


The this thread.
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/13904/