In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

Pellet issue?

Discussion in 'Pellet Stoves, Pellet Fireplaces, Pellet Furnaces' started by jlupi, Nov 19, 2014.

  1. jlupi

    jlupi

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2014
    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    17
    Castle is not pumping out the heat this year, and im blowing threw pellets. I picked up 3 tons of timber heat and the heat is not good. I will need to pick up some other brands and see if the problem persists as I never had this prob before regardless of brand. Only other reason I could think of is the end of last yr I had issues when replacing my combustion motor/impeller as documented here: http://firewoodhoardersclub.com/for...ombustion-impeller-question.5481/#post-132910
     
  2. jtakeman

    jtakeman Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    12,112
    Likes Received:
    54,559
    Location:
    NW CT foothills
    Timber Heat cranked lots of heat for me last season. I haven't seen them this season(things often change). I'd definitely try a few other known hot brands to see if the stove perks up. Before you go spending on parts or pellet, Try the simple things first.

    Have you set the flame height? See attached pic from the manual.

    Castile.JPG
     
    Last edited: Nov 19, 2014
    jlupi likes this.
  3. jlupi

    jlupi

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2014
    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    17
    can the new motor/impeller decrease temp if it is moving more air?
     
  4. jtakeman

    jtakeman Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    12,112
    Likes Received:
    54,559
    Location:
    NW CT foothills
    Moving more air could reduce temps as it might pull more heat out of the stove and send it out the venting. Moving more air through the stove faster isn't always good if you can't adjust the damper to reduce draft. If tha air passes over the heat exchanger to quickly, It doesn't allow the heat exchanger to sink the heat out of the air. Personally I wouldn't install a larger impeller on a stove that doesn't have an adjustable damper.

    Only one way to find out for sure, Try to find an original impeller(blade small) and replace that larger 11 blade. Only other thing you might do is try to reduce the blower speed, By installing a rheostat type blower speed controller. Reducing its voltage will slow the blower down and allow less air to pass through the stove.

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Variable-Sp...9?pt=US_Replacement_Parts&hash=item2a455c0e7f



    Keep us posted.
     
  5. imacman

    imacman

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2013
    Messages:
    6,581
    Likes Received:
    27,284
    Location:
    Denver, NC
    Yup, what he said.

    Also, just curious....what type of cleaning did you give the stove and entire exhaust pipe at the end of last year's heating season? Also, what type of flame are you seeing under "normal" burning conditions?
     
  6. jlupi

    jlupi

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2014
    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    17
    I cleaned it pretty good, esp because I was taking it apart around that time playing around w the combustion motor. The smaller blade impeller I was getting huge lazy flames and burnpot buildup. The larger angled blade gave me a good tight flame. Dollar test is good.
     
  7. jlupi

    jlupi

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2014
    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    17
    The outer casing of the stove doesnt match up well with the hole in the chamber for the combustion blower making removal and install a bit of a pain.
     
  8. jlupi

    jlupi

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2014
    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    17
    Is the "set screw" supposed to limit how far you can open the control rod or the rivit it hits?
     
  9. jtakeman

    jtakeman Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    12,112
    Likes Received:
    54,559
    Location:
    NW CT foothills
    If the rivet hits the setscrew, Thats about as much as it will open. IIRC. If your flame is still too small. I'd say to much air. At that limit the flame should be licking the baffle.

    Can you post a pic of the back of the stove? Its been too long since I seen one. Might be able to limit the air by partially blocking the stoves inlet port?
     
  10. RockyMtnHigh

    RockyMtnHigh

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2014
    Messages:
    641
    Likes Received:
    1,130
    Location:
    Bailey, Colorado
    Have you pulled out all the baffles and done an extensive cleaning in the heat exchangers? A paint brush can do a world of good around the heat exchangers in areas the pull rods can't get to. Flame should be around 4" above the burnpot on high heat mode. I'd also check the trap door under the fire pot to make sure it has rested fully back into position. I've gone out on a few where it didn't quite close and had a small 3/8" or so gap. This will do terrible things for your flame height.
     
  11. badbob

    badbob

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2014
    Messages:
    2,482
    Likes Received:
    9,946
    Location:
    bozeman pass,park county,MT 6500'
    As many hundreds(thousands?) use the aftermarket blower unit without any problems,I suspect a stove/cleaning problem.Perhaps you had trouble with new blower as it was installed in a dirty unit,went to bigger impeller,now burns too fast.(just going by your posts).Yes too much combustion air wastes a lot of heat up the stack.Can happen with most stoves(depending on install),have seen where this is a problem with harmans and enviros on both forums.When a pellet stove is installed in europe,the oak comes with an adjustable valve/flap,and they also shut the flap when stove is not running.
     
    RockyMtnHigh likes this.
  12. jlupi

    jlupi

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2014
    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    17
    I know as I read all the good reviews before purchasing. That said (and im sure you hear this all the time and think im prob wrong) the stove was not dirty. Im pretty diligent, even so because a blockage did come to mind I literally tore it appart and disconnected the exhaust and cleaned thoroughly from both ends. On a side note when the new motor did not work (create a vacuum) I lubed up the old motor and threw it back in and although noisey it would work fine for at least a few days untill it would start to grind to a halt.
     
  13. jlupi

    jlupi

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2014
    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    17

    do this all the time. trap door is good.
     
  14. jlupi

    jlupi

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2014
    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    17
    Not saying I need to have it wide open. what I am saying is that the set screw is not limiting the adjustability. A rivit hits the very top of the adjustment rod. Seems like it should be the notch for the setscrew not the top of the rod hitting a rivit.
     
  15. imacman

    imacman

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2013
    Messages:
    6,581
    Likes Received:
    27,284
    Location:
    Denver, NC
    Shot in the dark......does the stove have an OAK? If so, have you checked it for obstructions?
     
  16. Lousyweather

    Lousyweather

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2013
    Messages:
    2,798
    Likes Received:
    9,040
    also, another shot, but does your venting system have a spark arrestor? They plug, given time....oughta check that too!
     
  17. badbob

    badbob

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2014
    Messages:
    2,482
    Likes Received:
    9,946
    Location:
    bozeman pass,park county,MT 6500'
    You may have gotten a bad "new" motor,it happens.
     
    Lousyweather likes this.
  18. jlupi

    jlupi

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2014
    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    17
    No oak, no spark arrestor. Motor bad?????
     
  19. jlupi

    jlupi

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2014
    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    17
    Imacman where in hudson valley are you? Im in cornwall
     
  20. Lousyweather

    Lousyweather

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2013
    Messages:
    2,798
    Likes Received:
    9,040
    Bob's right it does happen, but its pretty infrequent......