P43 Question

[kinsmanstoves]

Tried cleaning my stove in the "test" mode as suggested in a few posts. The combustion fan ran, but so did the circulating fan. Is this normal? Thx

Not trying to be a smart ass but I am. Page 15 of your owners manual.

Eric

 

[mikkeeh]

Let me re-state. While I am cleaning my stove, I put it in "test" mode. Better???????

 

[TheMightyMoe]

What kind of problems does it cause?

I am not able to lift the bag of pellets to dump into the hopper. I bail them in till there is about 2 - 3 ponds left in the bag and then I hand sift the good pellets out, leaving the majority of fines in the pellet bag. Labor intensive, but what else am I going to do while watching something mindless on TV?

If the fines chamber fills up, it will cause the fines / extremely small pellets to build up against the auger / slide plate assemblies. Which leads to more wear and tear on the auger / motor assembly. This is also been noted many times on the forums, as the cause of the dreaded auger squeal. I've also seen many posts about fines/small pellets jamming up the auger or causing feed issues. They can also end up in your igniter box apparently. (My personal experience was it all building up against the auger/slide plate/auger squeal.)

So just check it monthly, and avoid all those problems. Once you know exactly how much it fills of routinely, you can adjust how often you have to check it.

 

[kinsmanstoves]

Read your manual and it will tell you all about the test mode. You do not need to run test mode during cleaning.

Eric

 

[mikkeeh]

Eric: Hope I didnt offen you....Ill make sure I read all 40 pages cover to cover before I post and take your valuable time. Thought thats what forums were all about????? Every body seems to feel the need to be a smart ass.

 

[kinsmanstoves]

Read the manual and you will not have to waste your time here. There is a reason why it is given to you. Darn those 40 pages of useful information.

 

[TheMightyMoe]

Also for funnsies.

Here is a picture of a semi-full fines box, this is after half the crap fell out of it (It was overfull)

 

[Sawdust62]

I have never cleaned while in test mode. I leave my shop vac hose in the stove while brushing with a potato brush. I like watching all the dust go into the vacuum instead of my vent pipe. Very little dust enters the room with this method.

 

[kinsmanstoves]

ok, I'll clarify as to what I was alluding to above.....you CANNOT CLEAN YOUR STOVE BY PUTTING IT IN TEST MODE! Be careful with this, because, trust me, folks will read this and beleive the only thing they have to do is throw the unit in TEST every once and awhile, and not do a proper cleaning.

If it is on the internet it must be true, BONJOUR!

 

[mikkeeh]

New

Read the manual and you will not have to waste your time here. There is a reason why it is given to you. Darn those 40 pages of useful information.​

Eric: Careful what you ask for. If EVERYONE carefull read the manual cover to cover.....Most service calls would be non-existant! lol​

 

[mepellet]

Read your manual and it will tell you all about the test mode. You do not need to run test mode during cleaning.

Eric

Don't need to but it certainly is handy.

 

[kinsmanstoves]

​

​

Eric: Careful what you ask for. If EVERYONE carefull read the manual cover to cover.....Most service calls would be non-existant! lol​

I do not make my living on service calls. Actually I hate service calls and they do not pay in the long run. No one is happy to see me show up at their door for a service call. Harman also includes a DVD with the new stoves since there are numerous customers that do not read the manual.

Eric

 

[mepellet]

I do not make my living on service calls. Actually I hate service calls and they do not pay in the long run. No one is happy to see me show up at their door for a service call. Harman also includes a DVD with the new stoves since there are numerous customers that do not read the manual.

Eric

How can I get this DVD? I did not get one with my stove when it was installed a little over a year ago.

 

[Sawdust62]

If you go to the Harman website there are maintenance videos posted:
(broken link removed to http://www.harmanstoves.com/en/Resources/Videos.aspx)

 

[kinsmanstoves]

They just started coming out. Go to www.harmanstoves.com there are some videos there if not look on youtube. Please read the manual, stick it in the bathroom or on the nightstand. I have a new stove owner check list coming out to all stove purchases that has the owner initial that they received the manual and will read it. The manual has a lot of good info in it. I would rather have a customer tell me good news then find messages left on my phone from 3am indicating the stove failed for an issue that was addressed in the manual, most issues are covered in the Harman manual. Other stoves this not so but Harman spends a lot of time updating their manual and the most current manuals are on the Harman website.

Eric

 

[mepellet]

They just started coming out. Go to www.harmanstoves.com there are some videos there if not look on youtube. Please read the manual, stick it in the bathroom or on the nightstand. I have a new stove owner check list coming out to all stove purchases that has the owner initial that they received the manual and will read it. The manual has a lot of good info in it. I would rather have a customer tell me good news then find messages left on my phone from 3am indicating the stove failed for an issue that was addressed in the manual, most issues are covered in the Harman manual. Other stoves this not so but Harman spends a lot of time updating their manual and the most current manuals are on the Harman website.

Eric

I will have to check the videos out. I read the manual at least a half a dozen times but it never mentioned running the stove in test mode while cleaning. I know test mode was not intended for this purpose but it is still handy!

 

[kinsmanstoves]

I will have to check the videos out. I read the manual at least a half a dozen times but it never mentioned running the stove in test mode while cleaning. I know test mode was not intended for this purpose but it is still handy!

To tell you the truth I never heard of running the stove it test to clear it. If and when I decide to clean the P-43 in the store I will see what it does. Nothing beats a brush and dirty knees to get a stove clean.

Eric

 

[imacman]

To tell you the truth I never heard of running the stove it test to clear it. If and when I decide to clean the P-43 in the store I will see what it does. Nothing beats a brush and dirty knees to get a stove clean.

Eric

Maybe this is like running an Englander in diagnostic with the comb. blower running.....helps to keep any loose ash from flying out into the room......works great.

 

[mepellet]

To tell you the truth I never heard of running the stove it test to clear it. If and when I decide to clean the P-43 in the store I will see what it does. Nothing beats a brush and dirty knees to get a stove clean.

Eric

Still gotta use a brush.

I know that you know but just to be clear for others, running the stove in test will not clean the stove for you.

Running in test while cleaning the stove will help to reduce the amount of ash that gets into the room.

 

[kinsmanstoves]

I would think that is the same as opening the door while it is running normally? Am I missing something?

Eric

 

[mepellet]

Maybe this is like running an Englander in diagnostic with the comb. blower running.....helps to keep any loose ash from flying out into the room......works great.

Sounds like the same thing!

 

[mikkeeh]

Seems to be alot of confusion about this post. I understand that "test " mode is not a "self cleaning mode. The ONLY purpose of runnung test mode while cleaning is to help keep the ash from coming into the room. They idea is posted in the "Stickys" at the top of this forum "How your Harman works".

 

[heat seeker]

I do something similar with my stove. I still brush and scrape, having the blower running just prevents fly ash from getting into the room. It does help keep my ash traps clean, as the ash gets blown outside as I brush them.

 

[Melissa220]

I have never cleaned while in test mode. I leave my shop vac hose in the stove while brushing with a potato brush. I like watching all the dust go into the vacuum instead of my vent pipe. Very little dust enters the room with this method.

This is exactly what I have been doing. works quite well!

 

[Melissa220]

I do not make my living on service calls. Actually I hate service calls and they do not pay in the long run. No one is happy to see me show up at their door for a service call. Harman also includes a DVD with the new stoves since there are numerous customers that do not read the manual.

Eric

Really? I mean this seriously. My stove was manufactured April 2012 and installed August 2012 and I did not receive a DVD......