Harman Accentra 52i ash build up

[KenP62]

This is the 3rd season with my 2022 52i insert and we love it. I clean it regularly and just went through the first 1-ton full cleaning for the season. I have always wondered about the ash build up at the end of the burn pot that occurs about an hour after a burn pot scraping, and stays in place until I pull it into the ash pan at the next scraping (usually a couple times a day). I have never had heating issues with the stove, or a weak flame due to the build up of this ash-dam. Never a unburned pellet into the ash pan, or any smoke in the system, or excessive soot on the window. I have everything on the stove set at "faculty-settings". The flame looks weak in the picture below, but it is just that the room is up to temp and the stove is idling. Does this look typical? Thanks, Ken

 

[jackman]

That looks typical but not after only 1 hour. I might get that after a whole bag (40lb). I'd switch to another brand of pellets.

 

[KenP62]

Thank you jackman, I did change pellets this year so I will test your theory with a few bags of previous year pellets and see if it helps.