Fireplace & Stove FAQs
Most pellet stove have an adjustment called “trim” that adjusts the feed rate of pellets – usually 3 different speeds – while in the # 1 lb. per hour setting. The purpose of this is that all pellets are not the same, in terms of how quickly they burn and the effect of the air shutter position on how quickly they burn. Consult your owner’s manual on how to adjust the trim, to ensure the flame stays burning while in the #1 lb. per hour setting.
Yes. There are standards for pellet quality, and the best pellets produce more heat with less ash and waste. “Premium” rated pellets have a reddish hue to them which indicates a higher content of Douglas fir wood, which is considered one of the best woods for pellet fuel. They have a higher BTU content than other woods and produce less ash. Pellets that are more golden in color are a cheaper pellet comprised of other woods that produce more ash and do not burn as clean. Check the pellets before you buy. Lesser quality pellets will cause you to burn more and clean your pellet stove more often.
The most common cause is a blocked or restricted chimney. Even a new chimney and stove after only burning for a few weeks can have a blockage, usually at the chimney cap, caused by incorrect burning methods or most commonly by poor wood condition. Call a licensed professional chimney sweep to check ad clean your chimney and stove. He can check for other requirements such as combustion air into the stove, and be sure to check your wood moisture content and quality, using a moisture meter. Only good seasoned hardwoods should be burned with a moisture content below 20%. The chimney height is also critical to any wood stove, but assuming your stove has drafted properly in the past, this is not likely the sudden cause of the smoking.
For a gas burner to operate properly, it requires the proper amount of combustion air into the fireplace, the correct amount of gas pressure and lastly for the media and embers (logs) to be in the correct position. Over time, dust, bugs and other debris may find its way onto the burners, the pilot and air passageways which will inhibit the ability to burn efficiently as designed. A 17 point tune up, called a clean, check and adjust, is necessary at least every few years to insure all the components are clean and properly positioned to enable clean efficient burning within the fireplace.
The most common type of ignition system used for years in gas fireplaces is known as a “standing pilot” ignition. When the pilot is burning, the flame impinges upon a copper conductor know as a thermocouple (or a thermopile). The thermocouple reacts to the heat from the flame, generating a small amount of voltage, measured in millivolts. This voltage operates the pilot and main gas valve of the burner. Over time, the thermocouple may degrade and not generate adequate voltage to operate the pilot and main gas valves, and it must be replaced.