I hate my Mount Vernon Pellet stove...

[debbiels1979]

Is the combustion blower running?
Air intake unobstructed?

The stove starts up normally but the missing peice is that the pellets do not drop and ofcourse it then shuts down because of no pellets. The convection blower never has the opportunity to run because the stove shuts down with no pellets.

As far as I can tell, the air intake is not obstructed.

Thanks!

 

[GVA]

Is the combustion blower running?
Air intake unobstructed?

The stove starts up normally but the missing peice is that the pellets do not drop and ofcourse it then shuts down because of no pellets. The convection blower never has the opportunity to run because the stove shuts down with no pellets.

As far as I can tell, the air intake is not obstructed.

Thanks!

No the combustion blower.... the one that creates the airflow through the stove (inside).
No airflow through the stove=no draft (or vacuum) which means vacuum switch is not closed which means auger will not feed...
This is what stoveguy was eluding to with door switch as most stoves you open the front door the draft is broken and the auger will stop feeding...

 

[begreen]

Yes, as I indicated earlier the vacuum switch or the high-heat can break the circuit to the auger. One other suggestion was the dip-switches on the control panel might have been bumped by accident.

But am I correct in thinking this was a gradual degradation and not a sudden failure?

 

[debbiels1979]

Ok I think I am on board now. What do I do to correct this problem??

Yes, stoveguy, I was having some problems here and there but I would eventually get the stove to feed pellets. However, this time I cannot get it to drop pellets.

What can I do to correct this problem?!?! Thanks!

 

[begreen]

Let's eliminate what is obvious first. Please be patient. It's hard to do this remotely, by the forum.

How well is the main door (with the glass) closing when it's latched? Does the latch snug it up tightly so that the door is firmly closed or is it a bit sloppy?

 

[debbiels1979]

It closes snug and is not loose.

 

[begreen]

OK, then the vacuum switch should be satisfied that the door is shut tightly. The vacuum switch is on the left side of the stove. It should get a visual inspection to determine that the wires are firmly plugged into their connectors on the switch and that the vacuum hose is seated tightly on the switch. If all looks in order, gently work the hose off the barbed connector on the switch. Blow through the hose. Does if feel plugged or does it feel nice and clear?

 

[debbiels1979]

OK, then the vacuum switch should be satisfied that the door is shut tightly. The vacuum switch is on the left side of the stove. It should get a visual inspection to determine that the wires are firmly plugged into their connectors on the switch and that the vacuum hose is seated tightly on the switch. If all looks in order, gently work the hose off the barbed connector on the switch. Blow through the hose. Does if feel plugged or does it feel nice and clear?

Ok when you say left do you mean left if I am facing the stove or left if I am facing away from the stove?

 

[Xena]

The owners manual is your friend. From page # 32 of the pdf manual:
"When describing the location of a component,
it is always as you face the front of the appliance".

 

[begreen]

Have you looked at the manual? Do you have a copy? It will help to know if you have the same documentation that I am looking at. Here is what you should be seeing in the manual. After checking the vacuum switch be sure to put the hose back on the barbed fitting.

 

[debbiels1979]

Have you looked at the manual? Do you have a copy? It will help to know if you have the same documentation that I am looking at. Here is what you should be seeing in the manual. After checking the vacuum switch be sure to put the hose back on the barbed fitting.

Thanks for all of your advice. The service guy just left and as I had suspected the whole time, it was just an auger jam that I couldn’t get to. Luckily, I got a really nice guy and he didn’t try to milk it and charged me for only an hour and 45 minutes which included 45 minutes drive time each way. I was very happy with a $150 bill than $300 of $400 bill. I truely do thank you because you tried to help while some others just told me I didn’t know what I was doing when in reality I knew what the problem was it was just getting to it.

Thank you again and hopefully I won’t have anymore problems this season!! Happy New Year everyone!

 

[begreen]

I'm so glad to hear that you are up and warm again and that the charges were reasonable. This is a good reliable stove. Did you find out what jammed it? I hope you stay jam free now. I never had one in 5 years of running premium pellets.

 

[debbiels1979]

I'm so glad to hear that you are up and warm again and that the charges were reasonable. This is a good reliable stove. Did you find out what jammed it? I hope you stay jam free now. I never had one in 5 years of running premium pellets.

It just happened to be an oddball extra long pellet. Trust me I run premium pellets too but as the service man told me that pellet making hasn't been perfected yet and there will always be an occasional long one here and there. He also told me I have a very good, clean running stove and just keep doing what I am doing. Thanks again for all your help!

 

[TMonter]

I hope you were able to watch so that if it happens again you can fix the problem yourself. Nice to hear your problem is fixed.

 

[debbiels1979]

Yeah it shouldn't be a problem in the future. Thanks.

 

[GVA]

Yeah it shouldn't be a problem in the future. Thanks.

Your now the resident expert and we will start forwarding the unjamming threads to you :cheese:
Just kidding, good to hear it's up and running.....

 

[debbiels1979]

I'm a sucker for sarcasm! I knew the whole time that's what it was. I have two kids running around and family here for the holidays and my patience was wearing very thin! She is running like clockwork now. I hope she stays that way!

 

[stoveguy2esw]

sorry for not getting back to you , have been real busy this holiday eason and havent had as much "play time" glad to hear you are turnin and burnin again, and also you have probably picked up a lot of knowlege from the experts in here so if somthing comes up again , it will be easier to deal with, remember though, if ya get stuck , this is the best place to go for info.

happy holidays,

 

[debbiels1979]

sorry for not getting back to you , have been real busy this holiday eason and havent had as much "play time" glad to hear you are turnin and burnin again, and also you have probably picked up a lot of knowlege from the experts in here so if somthing comes up again , it will be easier to deal with, remember though, if ya get stuck , this is the best place to go for info.

happy holidays,

I was telling my service man about this forum and he is familiar with it and he kinda laughed about it. He was telling me that there are a handful of people who really do know their stuff and alot of others giving bad advice. I told him that I think people are giving the best advice they can and no one is trying to maliciously give bad advice. I told him that you just have to weed through all the threads and you will pick up things you didn't know. This is also a nice place to vent when you are frustrated!!

 

[begreen]

Well, I hope in a few days the hate changes back to love with the Mt. Vernon. It's a really good pellet stove.

 

[debbiels1979]

It is a good stove but I don't have much time for problems with it. We have a pretty big house and we ask alot out of the pellet stove as well as our propane stove. I am definately enjoying watching it burn tonight and love the sound of pellets dropping!