Hi,
We have two identical VF-55-FS, one upstairs and one in the basement. We have been using them as our primary heating source (in NH) since December 2013. We use between 4 and 5 tons of pellets every year.
I am seeing a huge difference between how the two burn. The upstairs stove is burning much cleaner than the downstairs stove. Pellet ash in the downstairs stove is black and the inside of that stove appears blackened and glazed while the upstairs stove ash is grey in color and dusts off instead of the scraping that I need to do on the downstairs stove.
Another indication of how differently both burn is how easy it is to clean the exhaust tubes on the upstairs stove and what a nightmare it is to clean (get the scraper to move) the downstairs exhaust tubes.
FWIW both do an adequate job of heating our house (~3000 sq, ft, half upstairs and half downstairs). I clean both stoves before each heating season as well as the chimney pipes. I usually do at least 3 or 4 fairly thorough cleanings during the winter. In between those cleanings I will do what I say is a light clean (brushing down the insides, scraping out the burn pot and emptying the ash tray/bucket.
Bottom line is that though both are running OK, the inside of the downstairs unit looks completely different to the inside of the upstairs stove.
FWIW obviously the basement stove has a much longer chimney than the chimney for the one upstairs.
I want to "tune" the one in the basement to burn as clean as the one upstairs.
I can provide pictures if anyone thinks that would be helpful.
Thanks for any pointers
Matt
We have two identical VF-55-FS, one upstairs and one in the basement. We have been using them as our primary heating source (in NH) since December 2013. We use between 4 and 5 tons of pellets every year.
I am seeing a huge difference between how the two burn. The upstairs stove is burning much cleaner than the downstairs stove. Pellet ash in the downstairs stove is black and the inside of that stove appears blackened and glazed while the upstairs stove ash is grey in color and dusts off instead of the scraping that I need to do on the downstairs stove.
Another indication of how differently both burn is how easy it is to clean the exhaust tubes on the upstairs stove and what a nightmare it is to clean (get the scraper to move) the downstairs exhaust tubes.
FWIW both do an adequate job of heating our house (~3000 sq, ft, half upstairs and half downstairs). I clean both stoves before each heating season as well as the chimney pipes. I usually do at least 3 or 4 fairly thorough cleanings during the winter. In between those cleanings I will do what I say is a light clean (brushing down the insides, scraping out the burn pot and emptying the ash tray/bucket.
Bottom line is that though both are running OK, the inside of the downstairs unit looks completely different to the inside of the upstairs stove.
FWIW obviously the basement stove has a much longer chimney than the chimney for the one upstairs.
I want to "tune" the one in the basement to burn as clean as the one upstairs.
I can provide pictures if anyone thinks that would be helpful.
Thanks for any pointers
Matt
