Comments on: Pellet Stove Primer

By: Victoria

Victoria — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 21:20:20 +0000

I know this is a couple years late for a reply but you really must take into account how old the home is? Is the basement above or below ground? If it is below ground it is going to take more for the stove to heat up the basement and the rest of the house. If it is above ground you may try insulating to get more heat upstairs. The type of pellets you are using is also a factor, they have to be a low ash content, no addatives pellet. The higher the ash content and other misc the less heat you will actually get from the pellets. We have found that Packsaddle, Goldenfire, and Natures Fuel if you can get any of these brands are the best. Least ash content and most btu’s per bag of pellet. Also check your heat exchangers and your combustion fan, if your heat exchangers are plugged or if you dont check the combustion fan and oil it when you put it in you could be losing heat there. The main thing to consider is what your trying to heat downstairs and how much heat your actually going to get upstairs. Alot of pellet stoves only have a 66-75% heat return rating, so you can also anticipate that you will lose some heat there. If you are going to turn on any forced air systems fan always check the duct work, uninsulated, and/or duct work with holes can also add to your heat loss factor. Enough of my babbling though!

By: Kim

Kim — Fri, 13 May 2011 22:42:28 +0000

I had a Quadrafire for 11 years.Went through 2 computers and some other items.We had to finally take it out this past winter.No one could figure out why it kep shutting off.I was being nickle and dimed to death.My girlfriend just bought one and already having shut off problems as well. Along with a computer replacement.The stove is only a couple of months old.The service tech told her that these stoves are becoming a problem.Go figure.. Now made in China.

By: David

David — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 03:44:24 +0000

I had a problem with pellets missing the burn pot as well. On my Breckwell there is an screw on the bottom of the burnpot assembly . Minor adjustment and no more problems —100% in the burnpot now.Another tip is to make sure that the area below the ash pan — on the bottom of the stove — is fairly clean of ashes –otherwise the burnpot assembly will not be seated squarely at the back of the stove— if that happens you will have pellets everwhere.
Had to change bearings in my blower motor– trick to get set screw loose on blower wheel is to get it hot and then while its hot apply candle wax to the set screw — long handle T20 screwdriver –prefer the factory motor because of the bearings!

By: Pete

Pete — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:43:24 +0000

I tried the Breckwell collar described above, but it sticks up too far and occasionally a pellet falling out of the chute would hit the back edge (just under the chute). I was able to cut a part of that back edge off with a Dremel cutting disk, and it seems to now work OK.
I still wonder, though, whether a stove which feds the pellets in from the back, instead of dropping them into the burn pot, might have been a better buy. Watching a Harmon stove in the dealer’s showroom, I don’t see any of the sparks that constantly swirl inside my stove. Oh well…

By: Mike K

Mike K — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 20:24:02 +0000

I had the same problem with a new stove. The fire was so hot outside the pot that it warped the panel below the door. That can’t be good. In fact, hot burning coals fell onto the floor. I called Breckwell. They sent a rectangular metal sleeve that fits over the burn pot. It sticks up about a inch and a half and catches 99% of the pellets and keeps them in the fire box.

By: Pete

Pete — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 02:50:51 +0000

Spoke with the dealer today – he claims it’s a matter of too much air, which I don;t believe. BUT … Breckwell apparently has an adapter for one of their large stoves. It’s a welded steel collar that sits on top of the burnpot, and has a slanted front to catch the extra pellets. My dealer had one in stock for $34; I haven’t had a chance to try it yet, but it looks like it might work on the Tahoe as well. I will try it tomorrow…

By: Pete Stark

Pete Stark — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 03:13:17 +0000

My 2-day old Breckwell has the same problem – the fresh pellets often miss the burn pot and collect next to it. Aside from the waste of good pellets, I think it may also be a fire hazard since they sometimes smolder. Tmorrow I’m going to se the dealer… wish me luck.

By: Brian

Brian — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 21:21:48 +0000

I have a brand new Brickwell pellet stove. alot of pellets keep missing the pot all around and then catching on fire. I have changed the feed, Tried different pellets I am lost on what to do.

By: Dee

Dee — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 23:25:31 +0000

We bought a Harman P 43 in September 2010 and have had to have it serviced 4 times for a loud squealing noise. They replaced the auger, then came back and filed the edges of the new auger, now they’re telling us to spray the hopper with something that will turn the creosote to powder so it won’t rub and create the noise. We run the stove HOT all the time and scrape the burn pot every day or so, so it’s hard to believe creosote is the issue. Anyone have any experience with this?

By: Anne

Anne — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 00:50:21 +0000

Can anyone tell me which is ideal for a pellet stove—-sparks or flames. In the past we had sparks but try as we might flame is our only option which produces a very sooty window