Classic Bay 1200 burn pot filling quickly with ash

Good morning Everybody!
Long time lurker, 1st time poster. I have a CB1200 (free standing) the 2nd half of last burning season and now the beginning of this season the burn pot is filling up to the point of the fire going out within 12-18 hrs. I have searched on here and the rest of the internet and saw several people suggest replacing the firepot gasket. So i removed the firepot (cleaned it well) and replaced the gasket. Still, the same issue. I thoroughly cleaned the stove this summer, including both the blowers. I saw somewhere the idea that even though it is working the exhaust blower is weak? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

I know this question may arise, i have tried and had this issue with several brand of pellets. (AWF Soft, Lignetics and Stove Chow) The stove is going into its 5th or 6th season and is our main source of heat so i understand stuff fails, i just dont like throwing parts at it without some rhyme or reason.

Thanks in advance!

 

Welcome to the forum Joe.

In general, while most people say they "completely cleaned it!!" , most of the time when a stove starts filling up the burn pot, it's one of a few reasons. Main one is a "dirty"stove. Exhaust passages inside are full of ash. Other than that, if that isn't the problem, I would suspect a weak exhaust blower.

Questions: How long have you had it? Was it new to you, or used? Can you describe the exhaust piping arrangement.....how many bends, lengths of each run, are they vertical or horiz., etc. Has that been fully cleaned? Does the stove have outside air kit installed? If so, has that been checked for blockage? Have you ever heard of the 'leaf blower trick'? If so, has it been done to your stove?

Great group of people here, I'm sure more will chime in, but try the answers to those questions.....otherwise you'll hear them from others.

 

Thanks for the welcome.

So i bought the stove new, either 5 or 6 years ago. The exhaust goes straight out the back, has a clean out "t", then 90's into the liner in the pre existing chimney. Its just over 20 ft vertical (not including the added feet for the 90) The chimney has been cleaned, i disconnect that at the stove and use the leaf blower to blow it out. No OAK. As far as the leaf blower trick, i have heard of it but was hesitant to do it as i saw people saying it can ruin vacuum switches.

Hopefully those answers make sense.

 

Just pull the hose off the vacuum switch. If the stove has never been taken completely apart, or at least cleaned with the LBT mentioned above, you could have blocked exhaust passages. That's the MOST common problem, especially with a 5-6 yr. old stove that's never been completely cleaned inside. Yes, possible that exhaust blower is on the way out, but when the stove does function, does the fire seem the same as when it was new?

 

Welcome to the forum!

Is that 3 or 4 inch pipe?

 

Flame seems kinda lazy.

It is 3 in pipe.

 

Also, have you taken this cover off and cleaned this area?

 

3" all the way to the roof?

 

Yes, usually a few times a season. I see in your pic it looks like the one side has some red there like there maybe Hi Temp RTV.... Mine does not have any kind of gasket, should there be?

 

There should, at least, have a flat rope type gasket there. It's a very thin flat gasket

 

Yes 3" all the way.
Btw thank you for your responses! I appreciate any knowledge i can gain

Ok i will seal that up

 

Also, make sure the "second" ash dump door is closing with the one in the bottom of the firepot....also, if there's too large of a gap between the firepot bottom and the pot dump door, that will give you issues too.

 

This is potentially an issue too.

 

Glad Steveo chimed in....he's our pellet stove monkey....master class! LOL

 

I fixed it for you Pete...

 

Joe, from what I can see, if that cleanout door(s) don't have any gasketing on them, that could be a serious air leak. Be curious what you think after sealing that up. BTW, this is kinda what Steve is referring to as far as gasket material for the ash door(s):

Jamestown Glass Gasket 1/8" x 5/8" flat 3 Ft, 04CAA (RT 343A)

 

Thank you both very much. I will start with sealing that up properly and move on from there. Gonna have faith its something that simple i was overlooking

 

Hope that fixes it, or at least most of it. As Steve mentioned also, the 3" exhaust might be an issue. Not sure what those stoves start with at the back of the unit, 3" or 4", but if it's been reduced down to 3" from 4, that's not good. And that liner needs a good cleaning to boot. I highly recommend using something like a Lint Eater or Soot Eater to clean the entire liner.

EDIT: This is the model I bought. It even had a picture of a pellet stove on the box. The 2nd plastic collar is the one I used along with the rods & brush. DO NOT turn the drill in reverse UNLESS you have securely duct taped the rod sections together. I just kept it running clockwise and pulled the brush out.

LintEater Rotary Dryer Vent Cleaning System

 

So just an update... the other night i verified the gasket was on the clean out access plate and it was. I went to the other side and removed the exhaust blower and replaced the gasket (lesson learned going to replace it every time) with HI Temp RTV.... seems to be making a difference. I still think i need to give it the leaf blower treatment at some point, but things are surely looking better than before.