To ensure ease of use and proper functionality of our hearth products, Quadra-Fire has compiled a list of in-depth product information in the form of our most commonly asked questions. From stove use during a power outage to questions about lighting your pilot light, we hope to have answers to whatever issues you are currently facing. On many pellet stoves, the damper is controlled by a lever or handle on the side of the stove or on the top near the chimney pipe. On higher-end, newer models, the damper is controlled by a dial. But he did not check the cap. This was less than a month ago. And the problems happen when it is at or below freezing. Otherwise we have a poor (Some smoke still comes out when loading) but atleast acceptable fire. This is a new stove. However the flue install was for a pellet stove (don't know what type) that the previous homeowners used.
June 26, 2014
Normal Pellet Stove Operating Sounds VS Sounds That Indicate Faulty Components
As a pellet stove professional, I've found that identifying the sounds a stove makes or doesn't make is essential when diagnosing and fixing it. I always start by determining whether the sound in question is a normal operating sound. If you are the landlord or you are not the person who usually operates the stove, consult with the stove's user since that person will be most familiar with the stove's typical sounds. I have included a chart below that compares normal sounds to problematic ones. I'm going to share some tips on how to identify those sounds based on my experiences.
The other day, one of my customers said there was a strange squealing sound coming from the pellet stove while it was running. He asked me what it might be. After a thorough cleaning we restarted the stove and it made that sound again. The squealing happened intermittently, repeating every few seconds. Since the sound was repetitive and located in the center of the stove, I could identify the auger was making that sound. It squealed during a small part of it's 360 degree rotation. I gave the auger a complete servicing, which remedied the issue.
Listening to the sounds your stove makes can resolve many other issues. Doing so may help identify whether the exhaust or convection blower has gone bad. Another customer told me that the pellet stove sounded like a jet plane after it warmed up. Instantly, I knew the convection blower was the issue since it is the only part that starts running after the stove heats up. The stove gets hot after the start up cycle finishes (approximately 15 minutes). Upon further inspection, I discovered it needed replacing because the bearings were bad. A different stove had a squealing noise that occurred right when the stove was turned on. It came from the left side of the stove where the exhaust blower was located. Of the two blowers, only the exhaust blower starts running right away; therefore, replacing that part was the cure.
No noise at all can also indicate your stove's issue. I came across a unique issue when testing a stove. It ran for 5 minutes, then went silent. All of the lights on the control panel went out he stove died. Having no sounds in this instance helped me pinpoint the AC line cord was the issue. After the stove got warm, one of the line connecters had failed. Replacing the line cord fixed it. Also, a multi-fuel stove I worked on didn't make a sound in the burn pot. After investigating, I found the rod connected to the pot stirrer motor was so loose it prevented the stirrer from turning.
Listening to where the sound is coming from and, if possible, seeing the moving parts helps find problem areas. Knowing where the stove components are located is helpful as well. Determining whether an unusual sound occurs intermittently or constantly, or varies with the component's speed is valuable information. If the sound happens promptly as the stove starts, then the faulty component could be the combustion (exhaust) blower, auger, or auger motor. If the sound is heard after the startup cycle, then the faulty component could be the convection (room) blower. Once you identify the part in need of potential replacement, I recommend using an AC test cord and multi-tester to test this component for abnormal sounds. Sometimes, the noise only occurs when the stove is hot so a test fire is always needed to complete the analysis or assure the repair has been made. I always give the stove a complete cleaning and lubrication first, then perform the test fire.
| Fire pot or Burn Pot | ||
As pellets slide or are pushed into the fire pot a clinking sound can be heard. Bottom feed stoves that have an automatic slide plate or rotating disk have a louder clinking sound when pellets fall into the auger flight chute. In Mult-fuel stoves there may be a sound of a turning pot stirrer and motor connected to it. | ||
| Sounds that indicate wear or failure | Reason | Cure |
A, No sound, especially if pelletsare not coming into the fire pot and the fire . | A, Auger motor not turning 1. Stirrer bearing needs lubrication. | A. Replace Auger motor. B. lubricate or replace Pot Stirrer or Stirrer Motor. |
| Auger or pellet feed motor | ||
Normal operating sounds When the auger feeds pellets into the burn pot you can hear the intermittent sound of the auger turning and the buzz of the auger motor running. | ||
| Sounds that indicate wear or failure | Reason |
|
A. No sound especially pellets are not feeding into the fire pot. You may also see that the auger motor's shaft is not turning at all. B. Load scratchy sound of the auger motor bearings rubbing and failing. C A loud squeal or grinding noise as the auger hits one spot in it's 360 Degree rotation. | 1. High limit snap disc failed or tripped. 3. Bad connection to control panel or auger timing module. Check spade clips on auger motor wires by unplugging and plugging back in. Also check connectors on snap discs and vacuum switch. 4. Control panel is bad. If all other components are good then the panel maybe bad. Put a volt meter on the auger leads when stove is running to see if there is 120 VAC on it intermittently. 6. Proof or fire snap disc or heat sensor or thermocouple failed. B. Black Carbon on the Auger or inside the auger chute. Maybe due to bad pellets. C. The Auger bearing may need more grease or lubrication. | 1. Clean or replace hi limit snap disc. 2. Replace Vacuum switch or clean or replace clogged hose. 4. Replace circuit board or control panel. 5. Replace tired auger motor with worn gears or coil laminations that have broken down to cause loss in torque. 6. Clean or replace proof of fire snap disc or thermocouple or heat sensor maybe loose or need replacement. B. Grease or replace worn or missing auger bearings. C. Remove auger and clean with a wire wheel on a drill/driver. Also using a grinding stone, grind down any burrs or splattered pimples of slag from sloppy welding |
| Thermostatic Switch (Snap Discs) | ||
These parts can make a clicking sound as the bi-metal switch opens and closes. Some of these snap discs are used to turn the pellet stove convection blower on and off. | ||
| Sounds that indicate wear or failure | Reason | Cure |
| No sound, especially if convection blower never turns on. (No heat blowing out the front of the stove). | Failed Snap Disc | Replace Disc |
| Heat Exchanger Tubes | ||
The rush of air being forced though the Heat Exchanger Tubes. | ||
| Sounds that indicate wear or failure | Cure | |
| No Sound | Bad Low Limit Switch or Bad Convection Blower | Replace Low Limit Switch or Replace Convection Blower |
| Convection blower or Room blower | ||
The modern high efficiency blower may have a slight hum or pulsating sound that increases as the blower speeds up. The rush of air from the flow of heated room air through the heat exchanger tubes or plenum drawn by the squirrel cage blades. | ||
| Sounds that indicate wear or failure | Cure | |
A. A loud hum especially when the blades do not turn. B. The squeak and squeal of the bearings failing. Also sounds like metal rubbing against metal | 1. Blades so full of dust or pet hair, the Squirrel cage does not turn. 2. Shorted motor coil windings that reduce the electromagnetic field so much the squirrel cage does not turn. B. Blower motor 1. Bearings re worn or have little grease or lubrication. | B. Grease or replace motor bearings. |
| Exhaust blower (Combustion blower) or draft blower | ||
The modern high efficiency blower may have a slight hum or pulsating sound that increases as the blower speeds up. The rush of air from the flow of exhaust gases through the ash chambers drawn by the impeller blades. | ||
| Sounds that indicate wear or failure | Cure | |
A. A loud hum especially when the impeller blades do not turn. B. The squeak and squeal of the bearings failing. Also sounds like metal rubbing against metal. C. Sometimes an annoying whine can be heard that gets louder as the speed increases | 1. Blades so full of dust or pet hair, the Squirrel cage does not turn. 2. Shorted motor coil windings that reduce the electromagnetic field so much the squirrel cage does not turn 1. Bearings are worn or have little grease or lubrication C. Closed frame motor case is loose or just out of synchronization | B. Grease or replace motor bearings. C. Replace closed frame blower with upgraded C-Frame or open frame blower. |
October 05, 2013
Pellet Stove Igniter Maintenance & Replacement : Do you have a spare?
Avalon Pellet Stove Auger Problems
I have sold and replaced many wood pellet stove ignitors that failed. Here are some tips on care and replacement and how to test for failure.
Obviously if the stove does not start on it's own anymore, then most likely the ignitor is bad, but here is really what to look for and how to make it last longer!
Remember the ignitor's job is to superheat the air coming into the ignitor tube. This hot air will set the pellets in the fire pot on fire.
To ignite corn the wattage of an Ignitor must be very high such as 525 watts. Otherwise most ignitors that are between 250 and 350 watts only light wood pellets. In the case of corn and a lower wattage ignitor, wood pellets must be used to start the fire.
1. Regular periodic maintenance called PM in our workshop.
When doing your annual stove cleaning, it is good to pull the ignitor.
To do this, just unclip the electrical wires and use the correct wrench to loosen and remove the ignitor from it's housing.
See pics 1 & 2 (Magnum Baby CountrySide and other stoves use an open end wrench. Englander uses a socket wrench and other stoves use an allen wrench)
You can test the ignitor two ways
a. Put a multi-meter on it and measure approx 40 to 50 ohms
b. Use a AC test cord and plug the ignitor into the wall outlet, then check to assure it glows. See pic 3 (Be careful it does get hot enough to burn your skin!)
If it does not light or measures infinity (Open Circuit) the ignitor should be replaced.
See our web site pages for your ignitor replacement
Just because the Ignitor works, it may not be good enough to light your pellets properly.
Therefore you must also do the following.
1. Clean the Ignitor
I use a wire brush to remove any buildup and acetone to clean it off. (See pic 6)
Since the Magnum Baby CountrySide igniter was straight, just cleaning it brought the startup time down to 6 min 30 secs and barely any smoke!
It took much longer before cleaning and the firebox filled up with smoke!
2. Check straightness and in tube alignment. If not straight or aligned there can be much more smoke during start up.
Check the ignitor alignment and how straight the ignitor is. (See pic 4 & 5)
The ignitor must reside in the center of the ignitor tube so if it does not then check the following:
a. The ignitor is bent at the end and must be replaced
b. The nut or bolt that holds the ignitor in must be loosened and ignitor straightened and the bolt be retightened.
I have seen the alignment be off on the Englander 25-PDV and 25_PDVC units,
so it takes a lot longer than 4 or 5 minutes to set the pellets on fire or not at all!
Also do not forget to clean the ignitor tube and air inlet hole
Clean the ignitor tube with a small bottle brush. (See pic 7)
Clean the air inlet hole and/or air inlet hose with a pipe cleaner. (See pic 8)
As one final test to check the performance of your ignitor:
Time how long it takes from pressing the pellet stove's on button to the time the pellets ignite or fire starts.
Usually 4 to 5 minutes is really good but it can take up to 8 to 10 mins. It is best to check your time with another stove of the exact same make and model.
Since ignitors can burn out at anytime, like on a snowy cold weekend, it is great to have spare ignitor on hand.