Pellet stove roll call!

[Wayne M.]

I’ve been dumping the bags right in. I think I’d catch a clump or clog. Same with my grille- straight out of the bag.
For me, I’ve been picking up a few bags at a time. I’m only using it as supplemental when it drops into the teens. It really helps that side of the house. We’re still getting comfortable with it randomly lighting off.
We have plans to convert the gas fireplace to a pellet insert for next winter.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

Ok. Good to know. Thanks!

Maybe I was just “lucky “.

 

[Richard05]

So I bought a new house in june of this year. It has a fireplace so wifey says let's get a stove for it.
Ended up going pellet insert. found a deal on a Harman 52i. love the insert and it puts out a lot of heat.
The house is a ranch style house but it has a couple of additions on it. This makes it just over 75ft long end to end.
The fireplace is more to one end of the house so I had to figure out which ceiling fans to run in which sections to move the heat around. The only problem I have had with the insert is I did have to replace the igniter. Even with the new igniter it takes too long to light if you ask me. I have been using Barefoot hardwood pellets. I am going to try a different brand that a friend recommended.
I have just started burning my second ton of pellets, Growing up with wood burning stoves I have to say I like the pellet insert. A little more maintenance but less mess in the house.

 

[NIsaacs]

The only problem I have had with the insert is I did have to replace the igniter. Even with the new igniter it takes too long to light if you ask me.

We have had the same problem over the years, a bad batch of pellets. Maybe too much moisture? What happens is, they light so slow the burn pot can "Flood" overflow, so when it does light, the fire is huge.

I too replaced the igniter but that wasn't the problem, it was the pellets. To use them up, we started lighting the pot manually. Charcoal lighter fluid works good for that.

 

[Richard05]

We have had the same problem over the years, a bad batch of pellets. Maybe too much moisture? What happens is, they light so slow the burn pot can "Flood" overflow, so when it does light, the fire is huge.

I too replaced the igniter but that wasn't the problem, it was the pellets. To use them up, we started lighting the pot manually. Charcoal lighter fluid works good for that.

Mine does the overflow sometimes before it lights. I shut it down every couple of weeks and clean it so I know it isn't an airflow problem. I let the pot get just over half full and open the door and hit it with a Mapp gas torch for about 10 seconds. ill see if it lights any quicker with the new pellets, going to try some softwood ones.

 

[Wayne M.]

I just found out a friend of mine lights his manually too.

 

[AH64ID]

If mine doesn't sense heat within a few minutes it stops dumping pellets, but that doesn't happen too often with the brand of pellet we run now.

 

[Wayne M.]

So I just had an “event” with the pellet stove.
I had power cut to replace some outlets, and when I restored power, it filled the house with smoke.
It seems to have tried to ignite and then dump a load of smoldering pelllets into the ash pan. I was upatairs after doing electrical work and now the house fills with smoke. A whole lotta not good!
Anyway my confidence in this stove just took a hit.
I’m trying to understand why it did this.
Things to know.
The area around the pellet mouth (thermocouple) is a bit ashed up, could use a cleaning.
The stove was plugged in and the stat was probably calling for heat while the power was off/ on.
Why did I have a failed light off?

 

[AH64ID]

Likely an overfilled fire pot that ignited rapidly. We occasionally get a "poof" ignition that pushes smoke out the gasket from the rapid lighting of too many pellets in the fire pot. I have not found a rhyme or reason that it occurs. Just a small amount of smoke, but it's visible for a bit.

Speaking of power outages, how is your exhaust routed?

When we moved in the exhaust terminated at the exterior wall like a propane fireplace, which is legal for pellet stoves. There was no draft with this setup and if the power failed the smoke would pour out the intake as it cooled. There were smoke signs on several of the walls/ceilings and I think this is why.

I very quickly added a 90° elbow and 10' of stove chimney. I can now cut the power mid burn, have done so for testing, and it drafts until cold and no smoke enters the house.

 

[Wayne M.]

This is my exhaust setup.

I believe this to be a proper setup for a pellet stove. The dryer vent below it is the air intake.

 

[AH64ID]

1st I’ve seen one like that, but it should draft decent.

 

[Wayne M.]

I don’t think a draft would have helped me in this case. The stove dumped its load into the ash pan while it was smoldering/ glowing. I dumped it in my driveway and threw water on it.

 

[NIsaacs]

A power outage can/will confuse your stove. You need to unplug it until the power comes back on, that will reboot the computer. Ours has a button also, to reset all the original settings. We don't go away for any length of time without shutting it off, they are untrustworthy.

Your drier vent is for air out, not in, unless the flapper is gone. Your exhaust piping looks good, ours is very similar. Keep the clean out clean.

 

[Wayne M.]

I do believe they are not trustworthy at this point. And I agree that my power cut sent it out of cycle.
I’ve been out there while it was in high fire just to observe the emissions, and I was impressed. I was also impressed at the low stack temp as I was nearly able to full Palm the stack just over the tee. At that time I noticed negative flow at that dryer vent. Sure it’s not incoming combustion air? I’ll have to get the book out.

 

[NIsaacs]

At that time I noticed negative flow at that dryer vent. Sure it’s not incoming combustion air? I’ll have to get the book out.

Yes, incoming air for combustion. I probably didn't word it right. My point was, a drier vent, vents air to the outside, not inside. The flapper prevents incoming air, so be sure it has been removed.

 

[JR]

Yes, incoming air for combustion. .

That would be a first for me....

Maybe it's a regional thing but I've never seen a dryer pull in air from outside. Think winter time, the colder the air the less efficient the dryer will be. I don't know the numbers, but the combustion air is a very small percentage of overall air requirements for dryer operation.

 

[NIsaacs]

That would be a first for me....

Maybe it's a regional thing but I've never seen a dryer pull in air from outside. Think winter time, the colder the air the less efficient the dryer will be. I don't know the numbers, but the combustion air is a very small percentage of overall air requirements for dryer operation.

You need to drink some coffee

Wayne is using a drier vent for his incoming air for his pellet stove.

 

[JR]

Ah ha!

Forgive me for my ignorance, I'm one of them Neanderthal wood burning guys

I'm still surprised they run a dedicated line for that. Must be some serious cfm.

 

[NIsaacs]

[QUOTE="JR, post: 2662416,

I'm still surprised they run a dedicated line for that. Must be some serious cfm.[/QUOTE]

Not really, he must have a big reducer because our incoming pipe at the stove is maybe 2" od.

 

[AH64ID]

I'm still surprised they run a dedicated line for that. Must be some serious cfm.

It’s an option on my stove, but I don’t have the outside cold air kit installed. I’ve thought about it, but that’s as far as it’s gone.

The wife wants to redo the hearth where it sits so maybe someday I’ll tackle that project.