Severely disappointed in heat output of 25-PDV

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
Status
Not open for further replies.
Good morning everyone. I decided to put off exchanging the unit at Home Depot today in favor of posting some more pictures and videos to see if maybe we can solve this.

I just cleaned her up with the ash vac and cleaned the glass so I can take a good video for you guys. I'll take it in about an hour.

For now, here's an album of me taking it apart, cleaning it up, taking pictures inside, and then putting it back together.

Are the upper and lower slots supposed to be connected in the back? I can stick my fingers in there and there's nothing back there. There's nothing up top to collect the heat. I can kind of see how all the heat would just escape right out of the chimney.

http://imgur.com/a/CdsRy
 
Judging by the soot on the sides of the firebox,.. you're experiencing a very dirty burn,.. indicting possible of air-flow issues,... I can burn for months without getting that much buildup on the inner side walls.
 
Really? Hmm...

Well I can disconnect the cold air intake but I kind of doubt that could be it... I have noticed that there doesn't seem to be much of a difference when I change Low Burn Air. Maybe the exhaust blower is on it's last leg? I've always felt like the ashes should blow themselves out of the burn pot more than they do. They hardly move off to the sides and almost all of the ash ends up remaining in the pot, eventually snuffing the fire. Not sure if this is normal.

Also am I missing stuff? Where is the heat exchanger in this thing?
 
You've removed the burn pot and lifted out the wear plate, cleaned under it, inside, made sure all holes are clear and gasket is good?
 
I was unaware that the burn pot was movable. I have lifted out the wear plate and the back panel plate and cleaned in and around them.

How do I remove the burn pot?
 
grunyon said:
I was unaware that the burn pot was movable. I have lifted out the wear plate and the back panel plate and cleaned in and around them.

How do I remove the burn pot?
Click to expand...
You have the owners manual? The unit came with the DVD that shows how to do maintenance?
 
Are there 2 bolts under the front ash lip on the front of the stove?
 
I never got a DVD. That would be sweet. The burn pot does look removable in the manual... not sure how. Yes there are two bolts under the lip. They are both sticking out about half an inch. Should they be all the way in? They feel tight but I only tried with my fingers.

Taking a video of the fire was hard. Here's my best attempt. This is the fire after about an hour or so on a heat setting of 3 and a blower speed of 5 on program c.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.
 
grunyon said:
I never got a DVD. That would be sweet. The burn pot does look removable in the manual... not sure how. Yes there are two bolts under the lip. They are both sticking out about half an inch. Should they be all the way in? They feel tight but I only tried with my fingers......
Click to expand...
If the DVD didn't come w/ it, call Englander tomorrow and tell them you never got one....they should send you one.

The bolts on the front are to remove the burn pot for maintenance (aka cleaning).
 
The bolts are supposed to be sticking out some. They just keep pressure on the burn pot against the gasket. I second taking the OAK off just for a bit to see if there is a difference in the burn. I will take a picture of my PDVC burning on 3 program "C" so we can compare.
 
I do have a question though, looking at your pictures of install, the inside picture behind stove, shows the oak under the vent pipe, but when you look at your outside picture, your OAK is to the left of vent pipe and the same height. This isn't the same installs shown. Any how, I now in the instructions, when I installed my stove, the oak was to be installed lower than center of vent pipe & have limited bends to it. I would think if your install, matches the one you show behind the stove inside, you have to sharp of bends in OAK hose.
 
The pictures are all the same install. Think critically and it all makes sense.

Also I removed the OAK and I'll leave it like that for a bit. Honestly there seems to be more cold air blowing in from outside than the stove is sucking in... but we'll see what happens.
 
In fact, to be honest, it doesn't really feel like any air at all is being pulled in.

When I use my hand to cover the intake, there is a pretty noticeable change in the fire. So I guess it's working right...
 
My PDVC on 3-9 mode "C" (Tried to clean the glass for the video and made it worse!)
To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.
 
titanracer said:
I do have a question though, looking at your pictures of install, the inside picture behind stove, shows the oak under the vent pipe, but when you look at your outside picture, your OAK is to the left of vent pipe and the same height.
Click to expand...
The pic of the exhaust/oak inside is taken from above the stove, not the side.
 
grunyon said:
Your fire looks a bit bigger than mine. What's your LFF and LBA on?
Click to expand...
6-4-1 but I occasionally got to 5-6-1 over night when I am burning on the lowest setting. In the video it is on 6-4-1.
 
C is what it was running on from the factory. Tech support told me to put it on D. It basically did nothing except nearly double pellet consumption
 
imacman said:
The pic of the exhaust/oak inside is taken from above the stove, not the side.
Click to expand...
gotcha, studing the pictures hard to help find a solution, didn't pick up on that. Does have a lazy flame though, could it be the combustion motor is slacking.
 
grunyon said:
I'm sorry, reverse that. It came in D. I switched it to C. Should I try D again?
Click to expand...
Worth a shot. While you have the stove shut down, I'd try loosening those bolts in the front, and remove the burn pot (carefully) and make sure everything down there is clean and the gasket is in good shape and not torn or out of position.

Then reassemble and try D mode.
 
imacman said:
Maybe I'm remembering incorrectly, but aren't PDVC's supposed to be on heat mode "D" ?
Click to expand...
Mine came in "D". I changed it to "C". I like the burn much better. Cleaner and keeps the house warmer.
 

Attachments

  • [Hearth.com] Severely disappointed in heat output of 25-PDV
    DSC_1033.webp
    53.6 KB · Views: 184
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

T
Help Amazablaze 7100
Replies
5
Views
183
The Pellet Mill - Pellet and Multifuel Stoves
TylerG
T
D
Harman XXV-TC or Absolute 63?
Replies
8
Views
666
The Pellet Mill - Pellet and Multifuel Stoves
Oregun
O
C
Heat Commander Big Enough??
Replies
16
Views
798
The Boiler Room - Wood Boilers and Furnaces
brenndatomu
brenndatomu
W
Replacement woodstove
Replies
21
Views
277
Pacific Energy
Wakajawaka
W
E
Pellet Stove Placement Advice
Replies
2
Views
324
The Pellet Mill - Pellet and Multifuel Stoves
ed729
E
Top Bottom