How to Maintain a Pellet Stove
Pellet stoves are heating devices that slowly burn solid fuel---or pellets---to release heat via electrically controlled blowers that utilize heat exchangers and a combustion system. These devices are economical, but do require regular stove maintenance to keep them in clean operating condition. You should also have your pellet stove regularly serviced a minimum of once yearly by a professional technician, who will be able to adjust the stove settings with the proper meters and gauges in addition to cleaning and lubricating fans, motors and resealing the venting system, if needed. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Examine your burn pot daily and perform periodical cleaning of the pot in order to keep the air inlets clear and open. Read your manual for recommendations on how often you should clean it for your model.
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2
Empty the ash drawer before each new fire and also during regular stove operations, if needed.
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3
Clean the surface of the heat exchanger regularly, according to your manual instructions. Some wood pellet stoves must have the exchanger cleaned daily while others can be cleaned less often. Keeping it clean may only require moving a rod to scrape the tube inside of the stove while others must be professionally serviced.
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4
Examine your ash trap---the chambers that prevent excess fly ash that are located behind the fire chamber. Many stoves have an easy access design that will allow ash removal while others may need professional servicing.
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5
Keep the glass clean on your stove by using regular glass cleaner but only when the stove is completely cooled.
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6
Allow the fuel in the hopper to run out completely upon occasion in order to prevent auger blockage that is caused by sawdust fine particles. Remove accumulation of fine sawdust materials if an excess is noticed upon examination.
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Tips & Warnings
Use a clean, dry area to store the fuel for your pellet stove.
Use a non-combustible pail equipped with a lid in order to remove ash from your home safely. Do not use regular vacuum cleaners to remove ash---the particles are too fine for the filtering system on most standard vacuum cleaners.
