A pellet stove is a great way to heat your home, but it’s important to keep it burning properly. Pellet stoves are great because they are highly automated and don’t require a lot of input from the user. However, if there are any problems with the fuel or air supply, the stove can easily start to burn out.
One of the many great things about pellet stoves is it’s ability to keep on burning even when you’re not there. However, sometimes there are problems and the stove starts to burn out.
Here are a few tips on how to help keep your pellet stove burning properly:
- Use high quality pellets that have a low moisture content.
- Use the right type of pellets for your pellet stove model.
- Keep the stove on a higher heat setting when you are not home.
- Clean the stove regularly to remove any built-up residue.
- Make sure the chimney is clear and in good condition.
- Keep the hopper full of pellets.
- Have your pellet stove serviced regularly by a qualified technician as outlined in your manual.
Why Does My Pellet Stove Keep Burning Out?
It can be frustrating when your a pellet stove to keep on burning out. There are several reasons why this may be happening, but some of the most common include:
- Unsatisfactory quality pellets, clogged auger and/or hopper, or slow auger feeding are all examples Problems with the fuel or the supply of fuel.
- Damp or low quality pellets
- A blocked-up auger and/or hopper
- An auger that’s not feeding pellets fast enough.
- There might be problems with the air supply to the fire, such as a blocked air inlet, blocked-up burn pot, failing combustion blower/fume extractor, or a leak in the system.
How To Keep A Pellet Stove Burning
Now that we have looked at a few reasons why your pellet stove keeps burning out, lets look at some solutions on how to keep it burning properly.
1) Use high quality pellets that have a low moisture content.
One of the main reasons why pellet stoves burn out is because they are using damp or low quality pellets. If you are using pellets that have a high moisture content, it will be difficult for the stove to keep burning.
It’s important to use high quality pellets that have a low moisture content in order to help keep your stove burning properly. You can usually find these pellets at your local hardware store or pellet stove dealership.
I do suggest only buying a bag or 2 first to test them out. If they don’t seem to be working well in your stove then switch brands until you find one that works best for you.
2) Use the right type of pellets for your pellet stove model.
Not all pellets are created equal, and not all pellet stoves can use any type of pellet. It’s important to use the right type of pellets for your stove model.
If you are using the wrong type of pellets, it can cause the stove to burn out. You can usually find the type of pellets that your stove uses in the owner’s manual.
In most pellets stoves, you should use pellets that have a diameter of 6mm and a length of 25mm. Be sure to check your owner’s manual to see what the specific requirements are for your stove.
3) Keep the stove on a higher heat setting.
Pellet stoves vary in what they allow you to control in their settings. If your pellet stove keeps going out when you are using it on a low setting, try keeping the stove on a higher heat setting.
Our pellet stove allows you to choose the output from 1 to 5. 5 being the hottest and 1 the lowest. We found that when the stove was running at 1 or 2, the pellet stove would frequently go out.
Until we figured out the cause, we would run it at 4 or 5. This worked because the stove drops more pellets when it is run at 4 or 5 vs 1 or 2.
4) Clean the stove regularly to remove any built-up residue.
Pellet stoves require regular cleaning in order to keep them working properly. If you don’t clean the stove regularly, it can cause the stove to burn out.
The build-up of residue can affect the airflow and the fuel supply, which can cause the stove to stop working. Cleaning the stove should be outlined in your owner’s manual, but typically you will want to clean the burn pot and ash tray.
Be sure to clean the burn pot. Sometimes pieces get stuck in there and restrict the airflow. You want to make sure that the holes in the burn pot are not clogged so that the pellets get the proper air flow when being burned.
Emptying the ash tray is another thing you should do on a regular basis. Ash can cause the pellets to not burn properly and can also block the airflow.
You also want to make sure you vacuum the hopper every so often. This will help keep the dust down, which can lead to blockages in the auger. And of course if your auger has a blockage, it can’t move the pellets to the burn pot and the stove will go out.
5) Make sure the chimney and pips are clear and in good condition.
It’s important to keep the chimney clear and in good condition in order for your pellet stove to work properly. If the chimney is blocked, it can cause problems with the airflow and with the draft of the stove.
This will make it difficult for the stove to operate correctly and can cause it to burn out. Be sure to have your chimney checked regularly and cleaned as needed.
6) Keep the hopper full of pellets at all times.
One of the best ways to keep your pellet stove from burning out is to keep the hopper full of pellets at all times. If the hopper runs out of pellets, the stove will stop working.
It’s important to keep an eye on the hopper level and refill it when necessary. You can usually find the level indicator on the side or top of the hopper.
Each model will have a different capacity, but most hoppers can hold around 40-50lbs of pellets. Check your owners manual to see what the capacity is for your specific model.
7) Have your pellet stove serviced regularly by a qualified technician as outlined in your manual.
Pellet stoves require annual service in order to keep them running properly. If you don’t have your stove serviced regularly, it can cause the stove to burn out.
Service should be done by a professional and should include cleaning the stove, checking the system for any leaks, and making sure all the parts are working properly. You can usually find a list of authorized service centers on the manufacturer’s website.
In Conclusion
Pellet stoves are a great way to heat your home and can be a more affordable option than other types of heating systems. However, in order to keep your pellet stove running properly, it’s important to clean it regularly, keep the chimney clear, and keep the hopper full of pellets.
You also want to make sure you have it serviced by a qualified technician annually. If you follow these tips, your pellet stove should run smoothly and provide you with years of heat.