pellet stove issues ecoteck

[Sweets]

When I bought my stove in 2007 , nobody
Ever told me about the cleaning involved
With these things, your stove sounds normal
I'm cleaning my stove every morning and
I'm burning green supreme from home
Cheepo ,every ton big cleaning
That's why I have no metal side or back,
It's a dirty job . Your sound great compares
To mine 1 more month to go then my
Total heating bill for year is 900.00$ and
That's all I care about , then it's fun in the sun
Cutting grass......

 

[Sweets]

It seems like you people want to reap
All the profits but you don't want to do the work ,
It's not how it goes plain and simple so change
Your pellets while I run for governer.
Thank you , thank you . Lol.

 

[Sweets]

I'm crazy tonight ,sorry , my girlfriend
Left me and took the dog , I'm
Going to miss "spots". Lol

 

[Sweets]

Is that enough help ????

 

[Bioburner]

I am a new owner of a used Elena. Having strip it down completly I have found a couple of weaknesses. The vacuum is not really checking vacuum in the stove but is mounted after the exaust fan. There are what is interpeted as inspection panels that need regular attention but I would bet regular LBT treatments would solve most of the back of the combustion chamber ash build up. The exchanger tubes are a bit tight and need attention with a rifle chamber brush( God forbid someone think I own guns). I see the exaust venting on the Ecoteck being probably the most problematic. There are easier stoves to clean. But few can match the Italians thermal effeciency. I got my stove very cheap and can fix most anything mechanical. Darn electrics give me the headaches.

 

[begreen]

I'm crazy tonight ,sorry , my girlfriend
Left me and took the dog , I'm
Going to miss "spots". Lol

Sorry to hear this, that sounds awful, but the responses are not helping the OP.

 

[Lake Girl]

Myers,
There are a few Ecoteck owners in the group here. Yes, they need frequent deep cleaning - 1000 hours recommended by manufacturer for the Elena I have. Same for the Monica? Seems to be pretty standard for most pellet stoves from what I've learned on the forum. I would suggest that you learn to do this yourself rather than the dealer coming out every month. My dealer said clean the stainless basket daily and vacuum every 2-3 days but see below* Said nothing about the deep cleaning...

Smokey is correct in requesting info on your install. Helps to troubleshoot problems that could be related to pipe configuration and burn problems. Do you have an OAK (outside air kit)?

What is your usual cleaning routine? What do you do and when? What does the dealer do when he comes out?

I burn Heartland pellets (softwood from Spearfish, ND) and I haven't had major ash issues. My daily routine* is a little more than just cleaning the stainless basket - since I'm there, I remove the flame trap, use scraper, vacuum around the heat exchanger, remove grate, soft brush the firex, scrape the firebox bottom, remove ashpan and empty, rinse removed parts/scrape basket and thoroughly vacuum ash, wash glass, etc. Every 3 days or so, I use a putty knife to pull ash from the area around the heat exchanger that the scraper misses and the vacuum doesn't get. Vacuum hopper as needed. Screening or vacuuming pellets reduces dust and fines so less vacuuming is needed. Not sure if the daily routine helps keep more of the ash from the interior but it works for me. The savings over oil makes it worth the effort

The only complaint I have are the lousy screws these stoves have...

 

[Lake Girl]

Bioburner,
Never thought to snag the brush from the gun kit ... I use part of a scotchbrite pad!

 

[343amc]

It seems like you people want to reap
All the profits but you don't want to do the work ,
It's not how it goes plain and simple so change
Your pellets while I run for governer.
Thank you , thank you . Lol.

Pook?

 

[DexterDay]

It seems like you people want to reap
All the profits but you don't want to do the work ,
It's not how it goes plain and simple so change
Your pellets while I run for governer.
Thank you , thank you . Lol.

Not one helpful post...

Sorry to hear about your girl, hut changing pellets wont help. Did you read the OP? They already burned 2 ton of Greene Teams, (which is A MUCH better pellet than Green Supreme).

These Ecotecks are nothing like your stove. They are quite sophisticated and have a "cleaning" cycle built in to the board.

Your frustration about your situation isn't helping someone who is really looking for help. There is a Forum for that behavior here and its called the "Ash Can". Your personal views and opinions can be blurted out there.

Is that enough help ????

18 posts in this thread were yours? How many actually had helpful advise? Cleaning your stove everyday isn't "help". Not everyone wants to clean there stove daily. I go a minimum 2 weeks without opening door.

 

[Phil Do's fire.]

We bought an ecotec in october 2011. We like the stove and it heats the house. I like the fact that you can run it from onboard tstat and it shuts off or it runs and drops off to minimum. The problem we have had is the cleaning required. I have nothing but good things to say about the dealer. It was dealer installed. He has back many times to try and get it set up properly. The stove is basically needed to have a complete cleaning on a monthly basis(sometimes more). We use only the pellets that the dealer suggested. The dealer has suggested we switch to a quadrfire classic bay 1200. I was just loooking for thoughts on ecoteck or quadrafire.

I have heard these complaints from other Ecotek owners, I have an Italian made Palazzetti and I clean the stove once every 10 days and It takes about 10 minutes. Very easy user interface compared to the Ecotec. My local ddealer stopped selling Ecotec due to user issues. . The quadrafire is a great machine, owned one and loved it. It is know where near as efficient as my Palazzetti, I would highly recommend one

 

[myers7457]

I burned 3 tons last yr 2 tons this yr. It was cleaned in oct by dealer. The vent is 3" out of stove with 45 1ft then through wall cleanout tee outside then 5-6 ft vertical with 90. I have to pull panels behind burnpot monthly. I clean burnpot every couple days. The dealer cleaned again in late Jan. He only comes out because he says we shouldn't be cleaning that often. I have only paid for clean in oct

 

[myers7457]

The issue with the flame is it starts blowing back towards the glass. I typically clean burnpot.vaccum heat exc area every couple days. The issue I am having is I have to do extensive cleaniong every month. The monica has fairly narrrow channels after it leaves heat exchanger to inducer. I am basing my idea that what I am doing is not normal on dealer. I am a commercial hvac tech so I know what I am doing. The problem with the ecotech is there are hidden changes that can be made that I dont have access to. The dealer has been out to clean it,adjust air,pellet feed etc. I have no problem taking stove apart and cleanin g. I am trying to figure out if what I am doing is normal. I really hate to go to quadrafire in a way. I really like the auto off and auto high/low options. The other issue I have is I have only been burning the green team pellets. I tried burning other pellets but I clogged up even faster. I would like to bargain shop pelletts.

 

[343amc]

Have you tried the "leafblower trick" to help get the ash out of the hidden passages after your regular one ton cleaning? I don't have much (OK, any) internal knowledge of your stove, but it sounds like there might be ash building up in the hidden passages that aren't easy to get to with a vacuum, especially if you're burning 2-3 ton per year.

 

[Sweets]

No , it's a joke , get it like I'm
Not going to miss the girlfriend but I'm
Missing the dog ...

 

[Sweets]

That's what I'm saying

Myers,
There are a few Ecoteck owners in the group here. Yes, they need frequent deep cleaning - 1000 hours recommended by manufacturer for the Elena I have. Same for the Monica? Seems to be pretty standard for most pellet stoves from what I've learned on the forum. I would suggest that you learn to do this yourself rather than the dealer coming out every month. My dealer said clean the stainless basket daily and vacuum every 2-3 days but see below* Said nothing about the deep cleaning...

Smokey is correct in requesting info on your install. Helps to troubleshoot problems that could be related to pipe configuration and burn problems. Do you have an OAK (outside air kit)?

What is your usual cleaning routine? What do you do and when? What does the dealer do when he comes out?

I burn Heartland pellets (softwood from Spearfish, ND) and I haven't had major ash issues. My daily routine* is a little more than just cleaning the stainless basket - since I'm there, I remove the flame trap, use scraper, vacuum around the heat exchanger, remove grate, soft brush the firex, scrape the firebox bottom, remove ashpan and empty, rinse removed parts/scrape basket and thoroughly vacuum ash, wash glass, etc. Every 3 days or so, I use a putty knife to pull ash from the area around the heat exchanger that the scraper misses and the vacuum doesn't get. Vacuum hopper as needed. Screening or vacuuming pellets reduces dust and fines so less vacuuming is needed. Not sure if the daily routine helps keep more of the ash from the interior but it works for me. The savings over oil makes it worth the effort

The only complaint I have are the lousy screws these stoves have...

that's what I'm saying , stop running to the dealer and take the bull buy the balls , happy cleaning...

 

[Sweets]

Of coarse the dealers not gonna tell u
About the cleaning , they never sell
Theses locomotives.....

 

[Sweets]

Sophisticated stove cleaning cycle ..
The stove garbage , get a new 1 ,
Never even heard of a Ecotek,

 

[Sweets]

That's my point if I'm burning green supreme
And there burning better pellets then
That stove should be cast out to the sea...
Wilson, Wilson "come back Wilson"

 

[Sweets]

WWWWWIIIILLLLLLSSSSSSSOOOOONNNNNN......

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

I burned 3 tons last yr 2 tons this yr. It was cleaned in oct by dealer. The vent is 3" out of stove with 45 1ft then through wall cleanout tee outside then 5-6 ft vertical with 90. I have to pull panels behind burnpot monthly. I clean burnpot every couple days. The dealer cleaned again in late Jan. He only comes out because he says we shouldn't be cleaning that often. I have only paid for clean in oct

That places your stove over EVL for 3" pipe with most stoves, there should be a section in the installation manual on venting the stove and a recommended EVL for the a 3" vent system beyond that limit or with any altitude above sea level the venting should be 4" there is usually a table and chart that shows the vent size needed in relation to EVL and altitude.

If your house is small or fairly air tight or has other air movers operating or the stove is on a lower level of the house or there are heating devices hooked up to chimneys or there are fireplaces an Outside Air Kit may be needed to get a complete burn.

As for cleaning frequency most stoves need a deep clean between 1 and 1.5 tons or they can't get enough burn air (this varies in direct relation to the particular pellet being burned and how good the burn is, a bad burn produces more ash which also sticks inside the stove because there isn't enough air flow to dump it outside if it enters the ash trap area behind the firebox wall). A low end premium pellet produces 20 pounds of ash this ash can be quite dense or fluffy if it is dense it usually doesn't make it to the areas behind the firebox, if it is really fluffy it is likely to make it outside as well as into the areas behind the firebox. A really high end premium pellet produces 4 pounds of ash and it can also be dense or fluffy.

It is also possible that the combustion blower/inducer/exhaust fan is not operating to speed.

Your flame should be a very bright light yellow almost white with blue just above the pellets and there should be some movement of the pellets in the burn pot. The fire should be consuming the pellets up such there is only a layer of pellets in the burn pot.

I don't know that stove's air adjustment capability so you'll have to talk to the Ecotek owners who have chimed in here. DexterDay has given you his view on the CB1200.

I just don't want you to change stoves only to discover you have the same situation. There are many examples of installation missteps on this forum. Some of them get discovered a few years after installation.

 

[Bioburner]

The Ecotck Elena has one of the best exaust fans I have seen in a pellet stove so far. If the EVL is bad your next stove will probably have some troubles as well. Notice the vacuum line on the very left of picture, then the esp. The picture was taken while running so the motors cooling fan is blurred. I had a pellet come out of the hopper yesterday while filling and of course wedged in the exaust fan and I had a misfire when starting is why the side panel is off for picture. Murphy's law, a loose part or pellet will find the place of maximum trouble.

 

[seaken]

The issue with the flame is it starts blowing back towards the glass. I typically clean burnpot.vaccum heat exc area every couple days. The issue I am having is I have to do extensive cleaniong every month. The monica has fairly narrrow channels after it leaves heat exchanger to inducer. I am basing my idea that what I am doing is not normal on dealer. I am a commercial hvac tech so I know what I am doing. The problem with the ecotech is there are hidden changes that can be made that I dont have access to. The dealer has been out to clean it,adjust air,pellet feed etc. I have no problem taking stove apart and cleanin g. I am trying to figure out if what I am doing is normal. I really hate to go to quadrafire in a way. I really like the auto off and auto high/low options. The other issue I have is I have only been burning the green team pellets. I tried burning other pellets but I clogged up even faster. I would like to bargain shop pelletts.

I own an Ecoteck Francesca. It is very finicky with pellets. I clean the burnpot and run through the "Final Cleaning" at one hopper intervals. With better pellet maybe I could clean less but it's the nature of this pellet stove. As long as I go through the "Final Cleaning" each hopper load it works fine. If I try to keep it on it clogs up. I have tried adjusting the air to fuel ratio but that feature seems to be broken on my control board. I can't adjust the air supply. I'm thinking I need to update the firmware for the control board but for now I run it though cleaning each hopper load (approximately one bag). This means I can't use it thermostat/auto mode. But this works for me as I only use it in my office when I am physically in the office. I have an ash vac on the floor and I vacuum out the burn bot before each start up.

My Harman Accentra burns upstairs and it never goes off except for once in mid-season to do a thorough cleaning. I use that stove as my main thermostatic heater. I only use the Ecoteck when I can manually tend to it. I think you just have to resign yourself to regular cleaning with the Ecoteck.

Sean

 

[Lake Girl]

Since your a HVAC tech, you probably know more than I do but here goes:
Firex stays clean? - indicator of poor combustion if dark Never seen my flame move toward the glass...
You've tried making adjustments to pellet and draft? (P6 and P7 held down together)
Does your dealer have the installer's manual (I have a pdf if not)? Not the greatest of manuals but better than nothing! Your dealer should have access to the programming - password protected - to change the "recipe" if that's needed due to your exhaust configuration. If you find out how to input password on the control board, pass it on If it needs a special remote, let us know that too.

Edit: Cody from Northland Dist. talked me through zeroing hours once but never wrote it down -thought I'd always have tech support as they were the distributor

I just have a short horizontal exhaust and burn softwood pellets which may account for less ash build-up. The hardwoods may produce more and heavier ash which may stay in the interior; the cheaper pellets definitely produce more ash. I vacuum around the heat exchanger daily and use the putty knife every 2-3 days to get what the scraper misses in an attempt to keep ash from getting farther internally. I started using the putty knife clean after I was gone for a week last year and my son was doing the cleaning. Noticed that the scraper was no longer moving it's full reach with the reason being ash build-up. Couldn't find any vacuum tool thin enough to get in the area beyond the heat exchangers.

Edit:
Smokey mentioned the functioning of the exhaust motor ( menu 5)- mine runs about 2000 rpm while working; 1860-1870 in modulation mode

Haven't tried the leaf blower trick on the exhaust - what can I say, I'm a wimp

Has your dealer contacted the new distributor or Ravelli for tech support?
[email protected] new distributor
[email protected]

There may be updates to the firmware that your dealer should have access to.

 

[Brokenwing]

That places your stove over EVL for 3" pipe with most stoves, there should be a section in the installation manual on venting the stove and a recommended EVL for the a 3" vent system beyond that limit or with any altitude above sea level the venting should be 4" there is usually a table and chart that shows the vent size needed in relation to EVL and altitude.

If your house is small or fairly air tight or has other air movers operating or the stove is on a lower level of the house or there are heating devices hooked up to chimneys or there are fireplaces an Outside Air Kit may be needed to get a complete burn.

As for cleaning frequency most stoves need a deep clean between 1 and 1.5 tons or they can't get enough burn air (this varies in direct relation to the particular pellet being burned and how good the burn is, a bad burn produces more ash which also sticks inside the stove because there isn't enough air flow to dump it outside if it enters the ash trap area behind the firebox wall). A low end premium pellet produces 20 pounds of ash this ash can be quite dense or fluffy if it is dense it usually doesn't make it to the areas behind the firebox, if it is really fluffy it is likely to make it outside as well as into the areas behind the firebox. A really high end premium pellet produces 4 pounds of ash and it can also be dense or fluffy.

It is also possible that the combustion blower/inducer/exhaust fan is not operating to speed.

Your flame should be a very bright light yellow almost white with blue just above the pellets and there should be some movement of the pellets in the burn pot. The fire should be consuming the pellets up such there is only a layer of pellets in the burn pot.

I don't know that stove's air adjustment capability so you'll have to talk to the Ecotek owners who have chimed in here. DexterDay has given you his view on the CB1200.

I just don't want you to change stoves only to discover you have the same situation. There are many examples of installation missteps on this forum. Some of them get discovered a few years after installation.

I am with smokey, It sounds like your pushing the evl of the 3 inch pipe. I would love to see pictures of the exhaust setup. Like smokey said, If your venting is not correct, you will be in the same boat if you buy another stove. Then you will be wondering why that one is not working. So for this situation, I think pictures of the exhaust setup, and a good cleaning of the exhaust is in your future.