Monthly Ash Removal

The large baffle plate (12-5/8” x 9-3/8”) that rests above and behind the burn pot (refer to the section on “Proper Impingement Plate Placement” and the exploded diagram in the rear of this manual – Illustration 6) should be removed monthly. This can be done by lifting up the plate and pulling it out. The area behind the plate should then be cleaned thoroughly, and the plate placed back in the original position.

Use a screwdriver or chisel and break any creosote build-up in the front of the unit, where the pellets are fed into the burn pot from the Bottom Auger Tube (see Illustration 2). Moisture in the pellets and resulting build-up in this area can cause the bottom auger to “squeal” or squeak.

Also inspect your flue pipes, and remove ash buildup from the clean-out tee.

Carbon Removal: During normal operation carbon from the combustion of pellet fuel will tend to build up on the tip of the auger, on the wear plate and sides of the fire pot, and in the mouth of the feed tube. It is essential that this residue be removed to ensure trouble free operation of the unit. The frequency with which this carbon must be removed varies with brands of pellets, depending on moisture content, wood type, foreign material (dirt, etc.) in pellets, and other factors.

To remove this carbon, simply scrape it off using the blade of a flat tipped screwdriver or similar instrument; also, to remove it from the feed tube, scrape as much as can be easily reached, then insert an emery board (i.e. fingernail file made from a popsicle stick and sandpaper) between the feed auger and the feed tube and sand out any residue not removed from scraping alone. Clearing this carbon residue from the feed tube is essential for proper operation of the feed auger, which is designed to float freely in the feed tube allowing smooth fuel flow, a lesser possibility of a jam, and a quieter unit.

Annual Cleaning

The stove and the flue system should be given a complete cleaning at the end of the heating season. Remove the burn pot assembly, clean it thoroughly, and re-install it (refer to Illustration 6); this will require new gasket for the burn pot. Be sure to tighten the set screws when you replace them, but do not over-tighten. In addition to the cleaning mentioned for semi-weekly and monthly, the Combustion (exhaust) Blower should be removed annually and the blower tube vacuumed of any ash build-up. Note: There is a Combustion Motor Gasket (Part PU-CMG), which allows you to remove the motor from the Combustion Blower housing, clean your stove, and replace the motor and gasket without having to remove the entire Combustion Blower. However, if you must remove or replace the entire Combustion Blower, a new blower flange gasket (Part # PU- CBG) should be added between the blower flange and the steel exhaust tube.

Soot and Fly ash: Formation and Need for Removal – The products of combustion will contain small particles of fly ash. The fly ash will collect in the exhaust venting system and restrict the flow of flue gases. Incomplete combustion, such as occurs during startup, shutdown, or incorrect operation of the room heater will lead to some soot formation which will collect in the exhaust venting system. The exhaust venting system should be inspected at least once every year to determine if cleaning is necessary.