Pellet Stove Troubles

Cowgirl

Cowgirl

Well-Known Member
We are having issues with our pellet stove. Last week the firebrick (lining in the back of the stove) broke, which caused the pellets to pile up in the grate. This caused the fire to burn back up into the auger and into the pellet box. :mad: Luckily we caught it as soon as the fire went up into the pellet box and were able to remove all of the pellets. We got a new firebrick and installed it, but there are still issues.

We ran the stove all day yesterday and noticed that the flame was "bending" backwards and going up in to the chute where the pellets come out. We'd never noticed this happening before. We fooled around with the damper and the rate of pellet feed, and we still couldn't get the huge flame down. This morning the pellets had really piled up in the grate again, and once again we had a huge fire.

It's under warranty for parts still, but we would have to pay labor for someone to come out, which of course we'd love to avoid if we could. Has anyone had this happen before? Is it possible the first unruly fire caused damage to something? Perhaps the circuit board is messed up? :jameo: Any suggestions?
 
huntr1

huntr1

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Cowgirl said:
We are having issues with our pellet stove. Last week the firebrick (lining in the back of the stove) broke, which caused the pellets to pile up in the grate. This caused the fire to burn back up into the auger and into the pellet box. :mad: Luckily we caught it as soon as the fire went up into the pellet box and were able to remove all of the pellets. We got a new firebrick and installed it, but there are still issues.

We ran the stove all day yesterday and noticed that the flame was "bending" backwards and going up in to the chute where the pellets come out. We'd never noticed this happening before. We fooled around with the damper and the rate of pellet feed, and we still couldn't get the huge flame down. This morning the pellets had really piled up in the grate again, and once again we had a huge fire.

It's under warranty for parts still, but we would have to pay labor for someone to come out, which of course we'd love to avoid if we could. Has anyone had this happen before? Is it possible the first unruly fire caused damage to something? Perhaps the circuit board is messed up? :jameo: Any suggestions?
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Time to call a service repair tech. It's cheaper to do that than to replace everything you own after your house burns down.
 
GWguy

GWguy

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The only reason the flame would bend back toward the chute is that there is an open air path of least resistance. Either there is a path for the flame to escape thru the chute, or something in the outlet path is blocked between the burn chamber and the exhaust tube. Check for a bird's nest in the chimney.
 
Cowgirl

Cowgirl

Well-Known Member
huntr1 said:
Time to call a service repair tech. It's cheaper to do that than to replace everything you own after your house burns down.
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:lol: Thanks. We're only burning it while we're home now.

GWguy said:
The only reason the flame would bend back toward the chute is that there is an open air path of least resistance. Either there is a path for the flame to escape thru the chute, or something in the outlet path is blocked between the burn chamber and the exhaust tube. Check for a bird's nest in the chimney.
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Ok, we'll do a check. Thanks.
 
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ProudMomma

New Member
I only burn mine when I'm home too, but if I had the problem you are having, I would definitely have someone out to check it.
 
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OldHillcrestGuy

Well-Known Member
Cowgirl said:
We are having issues with our pellet stove. Last week the firebrick (lining in the back of the stove) broke, which caused the pellets to pile up in the grate. This caused the fire to burn back up into the auger and into the pellet box. :mad: Luckily we caught it as soon as the fire went up into the pellet box and were able to remove all of the pellets. We got a new firebrick and installed it, but there are still issues.
I had that problem a few years back, pellet box caught fire from backup and wife had to call for the firetrucks. Stove looked a mess after the fire, but the firemen did nice job off cleaning out the pellet hopper. House filled with smoke they had to get there big fans out to clear the smoke. I called the people we bought it from Tri-County in Waldorf and they came out and checked everything out, they did replace a couple sensors especially the one they said that should have cut the stove off when it backed up like it did.
We use to always go out without turning off the stove, not anymore if we are going to be away for even 2 hours we tuen it off.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Cowgirl

Cowgirl

Well-Known Member
OldHillcrestGuy said:
I had that problem a few years back, pellet box caught fire from backup and wife had to call for the firetrucks. Stove looked a mess after the fire, but the firemen did nice job off cleaning out the pellet hopper. House filled with smoke they had to get there big fans out to clear the smoke. I called the people we bought it from Tri-County in Waldorf and they came out and checked everything out, they did replace a couple sensors especially the one they said that should have cut the stove off when it backed up like it did.
We use to always go out without turning off the stove, not anymore if we are going to be away for even 2 hours we tuen it off.
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Oh man. :frown: We probably have a bad sensor or something. One of the reasons we wanted a pellet stove is so it could run while we're not home. :frown:
 
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OldHillcrestGuy

Well-Known Member
Cowgirl said:
Oh man. :frown: We probably have a bad sensor or something. One of the reasons we wanted a pellet stove is so it could run while we're not home. :frown:
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Alot of people arent afraid of running there stoves while not at home, proably more do then dont but after our little problem we dont.
 
Cowgirl

Cowgirl

Well-Known Member
Good news for us! Turns out the stove just needed a very thorough cleaning. D and his dad took it all apart yesterday and cleaned it really well. It's burning normally now! Whew. We will never again buy cheap pellets!
 
GWguy

GWguy

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Cowgirl said:
Good news for us! Turns out the stove just needed a very thorough cleaning. D and his dad took it all apart yesterday and cleaned it really well. It's burning normally now! Whew. We will never again buy cheap pellets!
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:yay: Good deal. You'll be needing that stove the next few nights.
 
Cowgirl

Cowgirl

Well-Known Member
GWguy said:
:yay: Good deal. You'll be needing that stove the next few nights.
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We missed it terribly! It's amazing the difference it makes, even with it just being in the basement. We REALLY wish we had room for one upstairs, but there's just nowhere to put it.
 
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