Firepot & Exhaust System Trouble-Shooting - Hearth and Home Technologies PS35 Service Manual

ECO CHOICE PELLET STOVE SERVICE MANUAL
FIREPOT AND EXHAUST SYSTEM TROUBLE-SHOOTING
THE FIREPOT IS MADE OF CAST STEEL AND IS DESIGNED WITH AIR INTAKE HOLES THAT SWIRL THE
FIRE AND HELP TO REMOVE THE ASH CREATED FROM THE BURNING OF THE PELLET FUEL. THERE IS
ALSO A SLOT OR AIR PASSAGE IN THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE FIREPOT THAT ALLOWS HOT AIR FROM
THE IGNITER TO LIGHT THE PELLET FUEL. DURING THE BURN CYCLE PROCESS IN THE FIREPOT,
"CLINKER" MATERIAL WILL START TO BUILD-UP. (SEE *FIGURE 1) THE RATE OF THIS BUILD-UP WILL
DEPEND ON THE QUALITY OF THE PELLET FUEL BEING USED. OVER TIME THIS BUILD-UP OF CLINKER
MATERIAL CAN OBSTRUCT THE AIR PASSAGES AND CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS WITH THE OPERATION OF
THE FIREPOT. THIS CAN ALSO CAUSE THE FIREPOT CLEAN OUT DOOR TO BECOME HARD TO PULL IF
THE FIREPOT IS NOT CLEANED ON A REGULAR BASIS.
THE FIREPOT IS JUST ONE COMPONENT OF THE TOTAL COMBUSTION SYSTEM. COMBUSTION AIR
FLOWS INTO A ROUND OPENING LOCATED AT THE LOWER REAR OF THE UNIT. (SEE *FIGURE 2) THIS
AIR TRAVELS INTO THE ASHPAN AREA LOCATED BELOW THE BOTTOM OF THE FIREPOT. (SEE *FIGURE
3) COMBUSTION AIR WILL FLOW THROUGH THE AIR OPENINGS IN THE FIREPOT AND IS THEN TRANS-
FORMED INTO EXHAUST GASES. THE EXHAUST GASES WILL FLOW FROM THE FIREPOT TO THE
BAFFLE PLATES AND REAR FIREBOX AREA. (SEE *FIGURE 4) THE EXHAUST WILL FLOW FROM THE
BAFFLE AREA TO THE EXHAUST BLOWER HOUSING. (SEE *FIGURE 5) THIS COMPLETES THE NEGATIVE
PRESSURE OR VACUUM PORTION OF THE COMBUSTION SYSTEM. AFTER THE EXHAUST ENTERS THE
EXHAUST BLOWER HOUSING IT IS THEN PUSHED OUT INTO THE VENT PIPE OR CHIMNEY PORTION OF
THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. (SEE *FIGURE 6)
IF ANY PART OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM IS RESTRICTED, THE STOVE WILL BURN DIRTY WITH TALL
LAZY FLAMES. THE STOVE MAY ALSO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH LIGHTING THE PELLET FUEL DUE
TO THE REDUCED AIR FLOW THROUGH THE FIREPOT.
IF ANY PART OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM IS BLOCKED, THE STOVE WILL NOT FEED BECAUSE THE
VACUUM SWITCH WILL NOT ENGAGE. NORMALLY THE STOVE WILL HAVE BETWEEN .08 TO .16 INCHES
OF WATER COLUMN IN THE FIREBOX WITH STOVE SET ON THE HIGH FEED RATE.
* FIGURE EXAMPLES ARE LOCATED ON THE NEXT PAGE *
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