Englander 25pdv Lazy Flame, Pellet Build Up in Burn Pot

[ispperformance]

We're trying to help you out here Bud...

what pellets are you burning - Stove Chow or Greenies (in the pic stove chow)

plug the 2 burn pot holes under the burn plate with steel wool - Steel wool mod was done today before burning.

fab up a hopper slide plate and close off the throat some - Going to build one tonight, hopefully....

how does the stove burn on setting 6-4-1 on heat 2-7 - Seems to feed a lot of pellets large tall flame.

how does the stove burn on setting 2-4-1 on heat 2-7 - Smaller more controlled flame.

I switched the stove back to 2-2, and cleaned out the build up in the pot. The pot was still feeding faster than it was previously on the 2-4-1 setting. It is now switched to off, and I will tinker when cool.

What is the sequence for a control panel reset? Something else is going on now, the stove doesn't seem to be feeding properly.....

 

[Beaudeen]

what pellets are you burning - Stove Chow or Greenies (in the pic stove chow)

plug the 2 burn pot holes under the burn plate with steel wool - Steel wool mod was done today before burning.

fab up a hopper slide plate and close off the throat some - Going to build one tonight, hopefully....

how does the stove burn on setting 6-4-1 on heat 2-7 - Seems to feed a lot of pellets large tall flame.

how does the stove burn on setting 2-4-1 on heat 2-7 - Smaller more controlled flame.

what pellets are you burning - Stove Chow or Greenies (in the pic stove chow)

plug the 2 burn pot holes under the burn plate with steel wool - Steel wool mod was done today before burning.

fab up a hopper slide plate and close off the throat some - Going to build one tonight, hopefully....

how does the stove burn on setting 6-4-1 on heat 2-7 - Seems to feed a lot of pellets large tall flame.

how does the stove burn on setting 2-4-1 on heat 2-7 - Smaller more controlled flame.

Bump up the low burn air to 6 ( 2-6-1) or more to get the flame burning better...I have mine on 2-6-1 and the flame is lively and hitting the top of the stove. I find that if you can't get it burning right in the lower 1-2 settings that can be fine tuned, you won't have better luck in the higher heat settings.

Looks like your in dire need of the hopper slide plate to cut the feed down in the upper settings...

Try a few bags of softwood pellets if you can find in your area.


How does that new combustion blower compare to the old one in the sound level dept..?? Thought you may have better results than what your having.

One last thing...why are you running the stove on a 7-7 setting..??? Heating the neighborhood..??

 

[ispperformance]

Bump up the low burn air to 6 2-6-1 or more to get the flame burning better...I have mine on 2-6-1 and the flame is lively and hitting the top of the stove. I find that if you can't get it burning right in the lower 1-2 settings that can be fine tuned, you won't have better luck in the higher heat settings.

Looks like your in dire need of the hopper slide plate to cut the feed down in the upper settings...

Try a few bags of softwood pellets if you can find in your area.

How does that new combustion blower compare to the old one in the sound level dept..?? Thought you may have better results than what your having. - Englander shipped the Fasco model, it is much quieter than the original that was in there. . However as for the fan pushing more air I think they were the same.

 

[Beaudeen]

How does that new combustion blower compare to the old one in the sound level dept..?? Thought you may have better results than what your having. - Englander shipped the Fasco model, it is much quieter than the original that was in there. . However as for the fan pushing more air I think they were the same.

Fasco..?? thought the new one was this.

 

[Beaudeen]

Fasco..?? thought the new one was this.

 

[Beaudeen]

Probably a good place to start would be a board reset found here...
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/englander-25-pvdc-tuning.121069/page-2#post-1840776

 

[Stihl029]

I used to have the problem with lazy flame, black soot window after a few hours, and lots of blackened unburned pellets with daily cleaning. After installing Hillman plugs to the bottom AND TOP large holes in the burn pot, I now have a complete burn of pellets, less ash buildup, nice clean window, very "spunky" flame, and heat output like I never had. Also changed out the combustion blower years ago hoping for a change only to be disappointed by the results. I'm proof, the plugging of holes makes for a HUGE improvement of performance, in the PDV stove. There is a thread here that explains why Englander has to have the holes, its due to emission tests or something. Here's the full thread if interested in reading. https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/englander-pdv-25-steel-wool-mod.151866/ Only change I'm going to make in my maintenance is cleaning out the "clean out" tee on the stove pipe more often. With the vibrant flame and airflow I have now, it seems to be sending more ash up and out through the stove. So I'm thinking this would be a good idea. So much frustration for many years until I found the thread on hole plugging.

 

[ispperformance]

When trying to reset the control board today I got nothing. Unplugged the stove, plugged it in three buttons pressed nothing. I did this a bunch of times, and then called ESW tech support. After a 40min on hold I got thru. He ran me thru the procedure again, unplug plug in press 3 buttons, nothing. Unplug, plug while buttons are held down , nothing. We did this about 10 times, and then checked to see if I could get into the mode feature (ABCD) which I can, tested the three lower buttons, all working. Then he tells me that the control board is probably bad. Really? Just like the blower motor was "probably" bad. So now I need to spend $217 on top of the $168 to see if thats the issue? I am not too happy right now.....

 

[Tails1]

When trying to reset the control board today I got nothing. Unplugged the stove, plugged it in three buttons pressed nothing. I did this a bunch of times, and then called ESW tech support. After a 40min on hold I got thru. He ran me thru the procedure again, unplug plug in press 3 buttons, nothing. Unplug, plug while buttons are held down , nothing. We did this about 10 times, and then checked to see if I could get into the mode feature (ABCD) which I can, tested the three lower buttons, all working. Then he tells me that the control board is probably bad. Really? Just like the blower motor was "probably" bad. So now I need to spend $217 on top of the $168 to see if thats the issue? I am not too happy right now.....

I wouldn't buy a new board just yet. Try plugging those burnpot holes with Hillman plugs and see what happens. Don't use steel wool it won't work as well.

 

[ispperformance]

I wouldn't buy a new board just yet. Try plugging those burnpot holes with Hillman plugs and see what happens. Don't use steel wool it won't work as well.

I'm working on fab'ing up the restrictor plate for the hopper, and then headed to Lowe's for the plugs. Should I use the plugs under the burn pot as well? Have steel wool in there now.

Any idea what size plugs?


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[Tails1]

I'm working on fab'ing up the restrictor plate for the hopper, and then headed to Lowe's for the plugs. Should I use the plugs under the burn pot as well? Have steel wool in there now.

Any idea what size plugs?


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I think folks were saying it was 3/4. Yes under the burn pot as well. I would measure them to be sure.

 

[Hot Foot]

Top plugs 1/2" left, 3/4" right. The bottom plugs are both 3/4", I think.

 

[Hot Foot]

Hillman steel plugs.

 

[jjones139]

I used quarter size magnets with an outside metal shield secured with small bead of high temp silicone.

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[Hot Foot]

As long as the magnets don't crack, you should be good to go.

 

[jjones139]

As long as the magnets don't crack, you should be good to go.

It's been 3 years in my PDV and 1 year in the PDVC and all is good. Even if they do crack the silicone will keep them intact.

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[Hot Foot]

Awesome. Please let us know how you make out.

 

[ispperformance]

Installed the Hillman plugs. There are two - 3/4" bottom of the pot, and one - 3/4", one - 1/2" on top of the pot. At the bottom I had to grind one edge of the plug flat so it would fit, the hole in the burn pot is right at the bottom.

Didn't get a chance to make the restrictor plate yet, but I emptied the hopper and drew up a quick idea.


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[Tails1]

Installed the Hillman plugs. There are two - 3/4" bottom of the pot, and one - 3/4", one - 1/2" on top of the pot. At the bottom I had to grind one edge of the plug flat so it would fit, the hole in the burn pot is right at the bottom.

Didn't get a chance to make the restrictor plate yet, but I emptied the hopper and drew up a quick idea.


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Have you tried running the stove since you installed the plugs but before you make the restrictor plate? Just curious to see how it works. I have been seeing quite a few complaints regarding this problem with this stove on youtube.

 

[ispperformance]

I ran the stove for a bit with the steel wool in the holes under the burn pot. Might have seen a slight difference, but I'm sure some air was still getting pulled in.

I have the hopper empty now, and I'm going to install the restrictor plate. However I will run about 10pounds of pellets first to get a baseline with the plugs installed. I don't like to change too many things at once.


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[Tails1]

I ran the stove for a bit with the steel wool in the holes under the burn pot. Might have seen a slight difference, but I'm sure some air was still getting pulled in.

I have the hopper empty now, and I'm going to install the restrictor plate. However I will run about 10pounds of pellets first to get a baseline with the plugs installed. I don't like to change too many things at once.


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Good idea as if this solves the issue then it will spare you more work and additional mods.

 

[ispperformance]

Have you tried running the stove since you installed the plugs but before you make the restrictor plate? Just curious to see how it works. I have been seeing quite a few complaints regarding this problem with this stove on youtube.

I installed the plugs both top and bottom, ran the stove for an hour, and I can notice a difference in the flame. Regardless of the flame still being tall, I can see a much stronger flame at the base.

Didn't put much pellets in, and worked on the restrictor plate while the stove cooled down. Going to fire it back up with the restrictor limiting the flow to the top auger a bit, and see what happens. Snow is flying here in Upstate NY, and I need heat pumping in the shop! Hoping this does it!






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[Tails1]

I installed the plugs both top and bottom, ran the stove for an hour, and I can notice a difference in the flame. Regardless of the flame still being tall, I can see a much stronger flame at the base.

Didn't put much pellets in, and worked on the restrictor plate while the stove cooled down. Going to fire it back up with the restrictor limiting the flow to the top auger a bit, and see what happens. Snow is flying here in Upstate NY, and I need heat pumping in the shop! Hoping this does it!

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I still can't help but wonder why this stove didn't have that restrictor plate in the first place. Also remember you can turn down your low burn feed too to reduce the fuel flow. With the enhancements to the air flow through the burn pot this adjustment might be all you need. Besides even with a taller flame as long as the pellets are burning properly now without mounds of red lava and unburned pellets/clinkers it shouldn't matter. The default 6 LBF might be a bit high for the pellets you are using if they are shorter in length they will feed a bit faster.

Also are you running the stove on C mode or D? As I understand it those stoves are supposed to be on D. C will feed more fuel.

My worry now with that restrictor plate in there the pellets will bridge the auger over time and starve the feed completely and putting the stove out.

 

[Hot Foot]

The flame height being tall doesn't matter. The heat does. The PDV is built like a battleship. In C mode, you'll have heat to spare. My bottom three buttons are set at 6-4-1. Closing the restrictor plate never put out my fire, even on 1 or 2. You'll have to experiment to see what position works for you.

 

[Tails1]

What really matters is that the stove burns properly and cleanly which it wasn't doing before.