We had a power outage this morning and smoke started coming out of every opening of the pellet stove filling the house with smoke and setting off the smoke detectors. Is this normal? Is there anything you can do to stop this from happening in the future? Had to open windows to get the smoke out and it was 18 degrees in Central Pennsylvania at 4:00 a.m.
Smoke Coming Out of Pellet Stove When Power Goes Out
- Thread starter BKyler
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Make sure you have at least 36-48" of vertical rise or connect the stove to a UPS that's big enough to last through a shutdown cycle.
As Bggzm85 said .
If you do not have an OAK (outside air kit) installed and sealed you should
your stove intake and exhaust would be a loop to the outside
hopefully preventing smoke from coming into your living space
If you do not have an OAK (outside air kit) installed and sealed you should
your stove intake and exhaust would be a loop to the outside
hopefully preventing smoke from coming into your living space
yes it is normal you need a battery back up or you need to have your stove pipe like above to create a draft and pull teh smoke out of the stove. My stove must be the exception to the draft rule as i only have a strait pipe going out of the house and when the power goes out it sucks about 90% of the smoke out of the stove.
bogieb
Minister of Fire
Not sure what stove you have (hint: it would be great if you put that in your signature), but some stoves will shut down "gracefully" if they are on the correct type of UPS. Both of my stoves are on an APC 850 UPS and the stoves can tell when they aren't on house current so will shut themselves down in a power outage. That shut down involves stopping the feeder and pulsing the exhaust fan (uses less energy that way - sounds weird though). Bonus of a UPS is that the it also acts as a buffer between spikes from main power and the stove, so less likely to fry electronics.
My basement stove has a 5-6' rise for the exhaust. That would probably take care of it but I prefer not to find out since smoke will ALWAYS find and take the easiest way out. unless otherwise directed (by the exhaust fan). My main floor stove is pretty much a direct vent, but due to circumstances there are a couple of 45* elbows over the 1' rise, so that one would most definitely be a problem if there wasn't a UPS there during a power outage.
Even if you have a backup generator, you need a UPS to keep the stove going until everything gets up and running.
My basement stove has a 5-6' rise for the exhaust. That would probably take care of it but I prefer not to find out since smoke will ALWAYS find and take the easiest way out. unless otherwise directed (by the exhaust fan). My main floor stove is pretty much a direct vent, but due to circumstances there are a couple of 45* elbows over the 1' rise, so that one would most definitely be a problem if there wasn't a UPS there during a power outage.
Even if you have a backup generator, you need a UPS to keep the stove going until everything gets up and running.
It's a Harman Advance pellet stove. Now after two power surges and power outage it won't feed pellets now.
![[Hearth.com] Smoke Coming Out of Pellet Stove When Power Goes Out](/talk/data/attachments/335/335071-11c1919fbca991448fc3a3beda166ece.jpg?hash=hga7_teJOw)
![[Hearth.com] Smoke Coming Out of Pellet Stove When Power Goes Out](/talk/data/attachments/335/335072-adc8abe9167d83ddaf662c1bb46a933a.jpg?hash=VkHm5SYfsG)
No surge protector magic smoke may have escaped the control board
I agree, you might have blown a board. Time to try diagnosing the issue or calling the dealer for service.
You might get away easy with just a blown fuse, here is a link to parts for it: https://pellet-stove-parts-4less.com/collections/harman-pellet-stove-parts-advance/control-boards
You might get away easy with just a blown fuse, here is a link to parts for it: https://pellet-stove-parts-4less.com/collections/harman-pellet-stove-parts-advance/control-boards
tbear853
Feeling the Heat
I've been meaning to get a big UPS with surge protection, but haven't yet. Mine is a 1992 stove based on and full of Harmon innards, and since 1992 I'm sure it's seen power outages. It will cause a smoke smell as the draft fan goes out suddenly, but usually most of the smoke is drawn out by convection. I do have a cold outside air intake, and currently 6 feet of straight up from the outside mounted clean out tee, to an elbow.
I might just hook up this extra UPS not being used for a PC.
I might just hook up this extra UPS not being used for a PC.
If you have a good vertical rise, add an OAK and smoke in the home will be only from opening the stove door 😎
Another thing to keep in mind that I experienced while working on my (new to me) stove.. If there is an air wash on your stove for the glass, that may be another source for smoke to come out of in the event of power loss. Luckily I was outside when the stove lost power , so I got to watch the smoke come out of the airwash ports. Would have been a smelly situation inside the house for sure.
I can't recommend enough what some of these other folks have said. A good battery backup may save you some hassle, but only if you are home to put the stove into shutdown mode in time. Some have the ability to link to wifi, so you can get a notification of power outage.
I can't recommend enough what some of these other folks have said. A good battery backup may save you some hassle, but only if you are home to put the stove into shutdown mode in time. Some have the ability to link to wifi, so you can get a notification of power outage.
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