My first pellet stove. Used stove that I purchased summer of 23 and ran throughout the whole last heating season without any real issues. Performed regular shutdowns and vacuumings, but I'm sure I'm missing some cleaning details. Have not cleaned inside the stove body, which I suspect may be the root of my problem. I'm using Green Supreme pellets from Home Depot as they are by far the least expensive in my area. Used them last year, seemingly without issue. I'm game to switch if I'm able to determine this is my problem...I'm getting close to having my first ton consumed for the season now.
This year it started out great, ran fine, heats well, sometimes will not self ignite, but I keep a torch nearby in case. Normally run it at 1 1 settings, which keeps the house comfortable. A few weeks ago during a cold snap of single digits I was running it higher to keep up with colder temps, 5 5 on the display. This was when I first saw it shut itself down. I just looked up and saw the flame was out and a few minutes later it was cool enough that the convection fan shut off. I let it finish cooling until it powered off, at this point it had been running straight for a few days or so, so I did a cleanout as the burnpot was piled up with ash that was getting close, but not touching the glass on the door. Relit it and away it went. Since then I have observed it do the same thing multiple times, with yesterday being the most disruptive at 3 self shutdowns. Most of the time there are no unburnt pellets in the pot, but sometimes there are. Hopper is not emptying out when this happens, so I'm guessing one of the augers is either stopping or maybe is jammed, but if it were jammed I would think I'd hear something. When I start it up, both augers seem to work as I believe they should and the combustion fan runs steadily, there is a hushed groaning sound that I suspect may be coming from the lower auger, but its not constant so its hard to place its location...the other day I pulled the back panel off (dusty and cobwebby in there, need to clean that up as I'm sure its not helping) and I heard the noise once and the upper auger was not moving at that time, but the noise was not clearly coming from the lower auger either, so I'm wondering if its coming from inside where the bearings are...sat there watching both auger motors run silently for about 10 minutes. Both auger bearing housings are greased and in fact, may be over greased. I pumped a couple shots into each last year before the season started and there is grease all over both of them., augers seem to move freely, but I haven't removed the motors to turn them by hand.
When it shuts down I have not observed any code displayed, by the time I realize its out, usually its powered off so the codes are erased I think.
I have a spare auger motor and I believe they're both 1 rpm motors, correct? So I could disassemble, clean all the cobwebs, spray some electronics cleaner on the control board and then replace one of the motors and run it to see if it operates more reliably. Last year the combustion fan was working, but was noisy so I replaced it, this year I've noticed the convection fan is noisy so I'm intending to replace that, kind of wondering if it might be running slow and maybe the stove thinks its overheating? Or the temp sensor that detects overheat might be clogged in some way or otherwise reading higher than it ought to be. I feel like the stove body has been hotter than I recall from last year...its too hot to put my hand on top of the stove while its running for example, but I'm not confident that's not right.
So, I've overshared here, but any helpful suggestions? I'm planning on shutting it down and scrubbing it inside and out tonight. Will maybe replace one of the motors and see if it has an impact or if the groaning noise goes away. I have read there is a vacuum tube that regulates overheat shutdowns I think? Perhaps this is worn or partially obstructed?
Few photos attached showing the condition inside. Its dusty, but looking at it, while it can certainly use a cleaning, nor would I say its crazy filthy.
Thanks!
This year it started out great, ran fine, heats well, sometimes will not self ignite, but I keep a torch nearby in case. Normally run it at 1 1 settings, which keeps the house comfortable. A few weeks ago during a cold snap of single digits I was running it higher to keep up with colder temps, 5 5 on the display. This was when I first saw it shut itself down. I just looked up and saw the flame was out and a few minutes later it was cool enough that the convection fan shut off. I let it finish cooling until it powered off, at this point it had been running straight for a few days or so, so I did a cleanout as the burnpot was piled up with ash that was getting close, but not touching the glass on the door. Relit it and away it went. Since then I have observed it do the same thing multiple times, with yesterday being the most disruptive at 3 self shutdowns. Most of the time there are no unburnt pellets in the pot, but sometimes there are. Hopper is not emptying out when this happens, so I'm guessing one of the augers is either stopping or maybe is jammed, but if it were jammed I would think I'd hear something. When I start it up, both augers seem to work as I believe they should and the combustion fan runs steadily, there is a hushed groaning sound that I suspect may be coming from the lower auger, but its not constant so its hard to place its location...the other day I pulled the back panel off (dusty and cobwebby in there, need to clean that up as I'm sure its not helping) and I heard the noise once and the upper auger was not moving at that time, but the noise was not clearly coming from the lower auger either, so I'm wondering if its coming from inside where the bearings are...sat there watching both auger motors run silently for about 10 minutes. Both auger bearing housings are greased and in fact, may be over greased. I pumped a couple shots into each last year before the season started and there is grease all over both of them., augers seem to move freely, but I haven't removed the motors to turn them by hand.
When it shuts down I have not observed any code displayed, by the time I realize its out, usually its powered off so the codes are erased I think.
I have a spare auger motor and I believe they're both 1 rpm motors, correct? So I could disassemble, clean all the cobwebs, spray some electronics cleaner on the control board and then replace one of the motors and run it to see if it operates more reliably. Last year the combustion fan was working, but was noisy so I replaced it, this year I've noticed the convection fan is noisy so I'm intending to replace that, kind of wondering if it might be running slow and maybe the stove thinks its overheating? Or the temp sensor that detects overheat might be clogged in some way or otherwise reading higher than it ought to be. I feel like the stove body has been hotter than I recall from last year...its too hot to put my hand on top of the stove while its running for example, but I'm not confident that's not right.
So, I've overshared here, but any helpful suggestions? I'm planning on shutting it down and scrubbing it inside and out tonight. Will maybe replace one of the motors and see if it has an impact or if the groaning noise goes away. I have read there is a vacuum tube that regulates overheat shutdowns I think? Perhaps this is worn or partially obstructed?
Few photos attached showing the condition inside. Its dusty, but looking at it, while it can certainly use a cleaning, nor would I say its crazy filthy.
Thanks!
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![[Hearth.com] Englander 25-PDVC Shutting Off](/talk/data/attachments/334/334841-64d4c110ff350255bda3a5ad36eb5ddc.jpg?hash=yx-8edEP-k)
![[Hearth.com] Englander 25-PDVC Shutting Off](/talk/data/attachments/334/334842-23a4b3d7a6bb5f412131299ead92594e.jpg?hash=VLb0_WAeKU)
