Not happy with stove chow

[EZsteve]

When I burn stove chow there is like white grainy sand mixed in with the ash. The glass does get dirty quick, but they put off pretty good heat. I will take a pic of it next time I burn them. They are in the hopper now just waiting for it to get cold here.

 

[livefreeordie]

When I burn stove chow there is like white grainy sand mixed in with the ash. The glass does get dirty quick, but they put off pretty good heat. I will take a pic of it next time I burn them. They are in the hopper now just waiting for it to get cold here.

So its not just me with the salt/pepper sand lol. They do put out some good heat i just can't deal with a dirty nasty soot covered glass door. Well it is what it is, they are a good shoulder pellet so i will adjust my stove to make the best of them.

 

[Pellet-King]

My ton of chow is very light colored the glass get's dirty but not black, they are very short in length also, to me not as Hot as last years, good shoulder pellet, anyone remember 2000 stow chow out of north adams mass?

 

[jtakeman]

My ton of chow is very light colored the glass get's dirty but not black, they are very short in length also, to me not as Hot as last years, good shoulder pellet, anyone remember 2000 stow chow out of north adams mass?

Sure do, How'd you like them?

 

[stellep]

Last season's Stove Chow was great for me. Even better than most of the boutique brands. And at under $4 a bag, it was my pellet of the year. This year, who knows? I haven't seen any around yet. I just bought a few bags of the Firesides, but haven't tried them yet. With the mild weather, I'm only in my 7th bag for the season. Next fill, I'll give them a shot.

 

[livefreeordie]

My ton of chow is very light colored the glass get's dirty but not black, they are very short in length also, to me not as Hot as last years, good shoulder pellet, anyone remember 2000 stow chow out of north adams mass?

LOL, North Adams i use to live there many years ago, is there a factory there?

 

[EZsteve]

Mine are from last year also. I haven't seen them this year. To many good pellets for a good price this year. Just got a ton yesterday of Sumersets for what I paid for Stove Chow last year. :cheese:

 

[fidiro]

I clean the glass on my pellet stove with Glass Stovetop Cleaner. First I wipe whatever I can with wet paper towels and then I apply a generous amount of the stovetop cleaner with a microfiber towel. I apply it like wax on a car which it actually is removed just like wax, if you let it dry too much it will be hard to remove and I'll have to reapply more to remove the dry. It leaves a waxy film behind so It helps next cleaning around as I only have to wipe with a wet paper towel and glass is clean. I reapply and clean with it only as needed and is not every bag of my cheap pellets.

 

[livefreeordie]

Won't the waxy film burn and stain the glass when the stove is running?

 

[fidiro]

Won't the waxy film burn and stain the glass when the stove is running?

year after year I'v used it in my wood stove and started using it in the pellet stove as well when I first got it. Works for me, may do different for others.

Waxy film helps from any stains or soot from sticking for me. I does make a difference when I apply it vs not using it.

 

[livefreeordie]

What brand do you use? i may give it a try

 

[imacman]

.....Last year we went through four ton, this year i expect about the same.

Most of the pellet burners on this site do a major (complete) cleaning every 1-2 tons. Most stove manufacturers recommend the same thing.

As a matter of fact, even your own Enviro Empress owners manual says on P. 10 to do a major cleaning: "Semi-annually or 2 Tons of Fuel"

 

[fidiro]

Weiman Cook Top Cleaner. Should be found nationwide. If you use it let us know how it works for you. I would apply it a couple times during the first bag and then the next time you see glass getting greyish just wipe down with wet paper towels to see if you get my clean glass results. good luck and remember it will not keep your glass from getting dirty but will ease in cleaning it.

Forgot to mention to apply it only to COOL glass. Don't attempt cleaning the glass shortly after stove shuts down, make sure it is cool and wipe what you can with wet paper towels first and then use a towel (I use a microfiber) to scrub glass with the stovetop cleaner and wipe cleaner off before it completely dries or it will need to be reapplied to remove the dry cleaner.

 

[livefreeordie]

.....Last year we went through four ton, this year i expect about the same.

Most of the pellet burners on this site do a major (complete) cleaning every 1-2 tons. Most stove manufacturers recommend the same thing.

As a matter of fact, even your own Enviro Empress owners manual says on P. 10 to do a major cleaning: "Semi-annually or 2 Tons of Fuel"

Guess i should re visit the manual. Looks like i will do a deep cleaning this weekend, thanks for the info.

 

[livefreeordie]

Weiman Cook Top Cleaner. Should be found nationwide. If you use it let us know how it works for you. I would apply it a couple times during the first bag and then the next time you see glass getting greyish just wipe down with wet paper towels to see if you get my clean glass results. good luck and remember it will not keep your glass from getting dirty but will ease in cleaning it.

Thanks, i will check out lowes and see if they have it.

 

[fidiro]

No problem. I think I bought my last bottle at Sam's a couple years ago and it is still 3/4 full. I haven't looked for it there but honestly don't think they carry it anymore. Definately should be found in HD/Lowes or even Sears or Walmart.

BTW, I edited my last post to say make sure that glass is cool before applying.

 

[livefreeordie]

Understood, apply to cool glass only.

 

[fidiro]

I just googled weiman cooktop cleaner and didn't realize there are a few different products available. I use the squeezable bottle one.

Look this listing # up on fleebay: 280780909421 It's what I use but I have the 22 oz bottle.

 

[imacman]

...... I there a trick to getting the stain off my glass. I tried windex and a sponge with the scuff pad with some luck.

Best window cleaning methods I've found are either plain water on a paper towel or rag, or wet towel/rag dipped in the stove ashes, or damp Magic eraser. Do NOT use any kind of abrasive pad.....it will scratch the "glass" (Hint: it's not regular glass....it's actually ceramic "glass")

 

[livefreeordie]

...... I there a trick to getting the stain off my glass. I tried windex and a sponge with the scuff pad with some luck.

Best window cleaning methods I've found are either plain water on a paper towel or rag, or wet towel/rag dipped in the stove ashes, or damp Magic eraser. Do NOT use any kind of abrasive pad.....it will scratch the "glass" (Hint: it's not regular glass....it's actually ceramic "glass")

Crapp, i used the sponge with the scruffy pad at least three times already. OK no more of that, man i hope i didn't scratch the glass.

 

[fidiro]

...... I there a trick to getting the stain off my glass. I tried windex and a sponge with the scuff pad with some luck.

Best window cleaning methods I've found are either plain water on a paper towel or rag, or wet towel/rag dipped in the stove ashes, or damp Magic eraser. Do NOT use any kind of abrasive pad.....it will scratch the "glass" (Hint: it's not regular glass....it's actually ceramic "glass")

Agreed, that is why I choose to use the cleaner with a microfiber and wipe what I can first with plain wet paper towels.

Definately do not use any type of scouring pads.

 

[Pellet-King]

Chow's are as good as Somerset's! Balmy 21 out here and switched to 'Set's yesterday afternoon and it was 74 in my house, now it's 64!! in living, next room over is dining room where it's 59!!, I have a small cape maybe 1400 sq ft....BRRR

 

[RKS130]

I picked up a ton of Premier Pellets (from PA) labeled as Appalachian Hardwood. As reported on another thread these were being sold by my local supermarket and after trying a few bags at $6.49/bag, I ordered a ton. I got 10% off, another 4 or 5% of the purchase price went to my son's school as part of some charity program, and I got a free $25 turkey to boot, which brought the price down by another 50¢ a bag, so all in all not bad in price.

These pellets burn nice and hot - I use the back of the hand test, as I do for my grill in the summer. Very limited fines, and low ash. I like them just fine. I was surprised to see a ways back that they are made by the same company as Stove Chow, which I tried when we first got the stove at the end of October, but found to be dirty and high ash. These are definitely not the same pellets as the Chow, but the Chow was at least a dollar a bag cheaper.

 

[RKS130]

Is there a trick to getting the stain off my glass. I tried windex and a sponge with the scuff pad with some luck.[/quote]

I have been dipping into Madame Defarge's stovetop cleaner, made for ceramic glass stove tops. Works great, seems to be a product made for this kind of surface and as a bonus, with regular use it seems to "fill in" micro pores in the glass and discourage buildup of ash/soot.

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

Use the ash Luke, use the ash.