Burn problems

[SmokeyTheBear]

According to my manual, I have the High ash liner. I did the setup. Dealer was out
of town and had a 2/3 week backlog when he got back, when I bought the stove. After
all the problems in the beginning he did stop in and view the stove. He said I had
everything adjusted properly. I had to clean out the burn pot this morning and
this evening. Not as much in it this evening, but it was still building up pellets. Damper
is as wide open as possible. Otherwise it will go out when tstat stops calling for heat.

As it reads. He states pellets are building up as the stove is "burning".

Yes. Pellets will build up, if fire goes out. But the problem he is stating (what it reads like) is that the pellets are piling up while the stove is running??

Which is a air loss problem. Many different reasons for this.

It can be caused by too much moisture content in the pellets being burned, too much mineral content, too little air, and too much air.

The too much air needs a contribution from the pellets other than just ash to cause a burned pellet ash, clinker pileup.

Otherwise too much air causes the fire to get blown out and perhaps some blackened pellets covered by some unburned un blackened pellets.

Too little air pileups are all pellet ash piles.

 

[rickpell]

Stove is still running, burn pot gets about 1/3 full, burning rate gets slower and less heat output.
No clinkers, when I shut down stove to clean out burn pot, lots of ash, about 1/2" plus deep in the
burn pot. This can happen as I stated above 12 hr, 24 hr 48hr, no set limit. But then it may work
fine for a week. I generally shut down and clean every 3 days.
Everyone has given some good advice, but why does it work, then doesn't. Since I started
my new adjustments yesterday, it will be 5-6 days or more, to see if it works.

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

Do you open the stove door to clean the glass, etc.. ?

Is there another air sucker that runs in the house?

 

[rickpell]

I only open the door when it's time to clean. Then I clean glass, etc.

No other pellet stoves in the house. It's an old drafty house. Far from air tight.
I do use a wood stove, but only when we are home.

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

I only open the door when it's time to clean. Then I clean glass, etc.

No other pellet stoves in the house. It's an old drafty house. Far from air tight.
I do use a wood stove, but only when we are home.

No clothes dryers, bathroom fans, kitchen exhaust fans, furnace/boiler?

You still haven't posted a picture of your burn pot and liner. I've seen burn pots that have missing welds that act as air bypasses or their liners aren't all that tight with the same result, these tend to be very particular in their placement. And if they have warped a bit it is an entirely different matter.

Both Brad and I have mentioned that the damper must be set using a mag at the proper firing rate.

Any means by which air can enter the firebox and not go through the burn pot is an issue. Things that have been known to cause this are loosened bolts on legs and pedestal bases, these are subject to movement by impact or being pushed against.

Stoves without OAKs are subject to any other air sucker in the house this includes your wood stove, fireplace, any chimneys, and chimney like paths open to upper levels of the house.

Is there something in the air intake?

 

[rickpell]

If this test doesn't work, I hope I can get the dealer in. Might have to tell him, I'm bringing the stove
back for return.

We have all the normal draft suckers. Furnace in basement, only runs when we leave the house
overnight. Kitchen fan, used once in while, bathroom fan we do not use in the heating season,
dryer used 5-6 loads a week.

What is an OAK? I'm guessing outside air, I have the kit, but haven't installed it. Next weekend
I'll install it.

I'll try to take pictures and post. Will take me while.

 

[superchips]

Yup. I said this before.
Unless you are heating an open barn, you are wasting your $ trying to heat a house with a pellet stove not using an OAK. Not surprised that you are having the issues you are having.
Shoot the lazy installer!
Your stove needs a steady supply of combustion air. That air now is being supplied by the hot air the stove is heating and is being replaced by sucking cold out side air into your house.
The idea of running a pellet stove is to convert chilled air into hot air raising the temp in your living area. Not chilling down the drafty areas of your house.
Judging by your symptoms I have to guess that you have a fairly tight house and the combustion fan has to fight to draw the cold air from out side.
Try this: open a nearby outside door and watch the flame for a few minutes.

Yes, It is possible that you have other problems, but this is the first correctable must.

Rule #1: Never install a stove in a house without a sufficient sized OAK and Exhaust.

 

[rickpell]

Just did a quick clean of the stove, last night. No extra ash buildup in burn pot. All seems to be going fine. Did adjust trim rate down 2 settings, then I upped it one. So
I am 1 below factory. Dropped combustion trim 1 setting below factory. I'm still not convinced that the stove needed a complete, tear down cleaning. But it is
working fine. I'm hoping to install an OAK this holiday weekend, if everything goes well!!
Thanks again for everyone's help.