To get to know your stove’s innards, see How a Pellet Stove Works and consult your owner’s manual; there should be a diagram showing where all the parts are located. Following are three of the most common repairs a pellet stove requires, plus tips on how to maintain a pellet stove.
Pellet Stove Repairs1) If the stove motor runs for 30 minutes or so and then turns off even though pellets are still burning, you likely need to replace the low-heat temperature switch, also called the low-limit disc switch. Unplug the stove and allow it to cool for about 20 minutes. Find the switch inside the blower housing. Unscrew the switch, disconnect the wires, take the switch to a stove supplier, and buy an exact replacement. Rewire the new switch in the same way the old one was wired.
2) If the stove does not shut off when the desired high temperature is reached, replace the high-heat temperature switch, also called the high-limit disc switch. Remove the screws that hold the switch in place, pull it out, and purchase and install an exact replacement.
3 If the stove is not feeding pellets consistently, clean the pressure-sensing switch. If that doesn’t work, clean the vent pipe as restricted airflow could be the problem. If those measures don’t work, replace the pressure-sensing switch.
Pellet Stove Care & Cleaning
Because pellet stoves receive constant use during the heating season, regular and proper care and maintenance are necessary to keep them operating efficiently. Just how often a pellet stove will need inspection and cleaning will depend on the design of the stove and the grade of fuel burned. Consult your owner’s manual.
Before each heating season, have a qualified pellet stove/chimney professional inspect and, if necessary, clean your pellet stove’s flue. If you are buying a new pellet stove, ask about a service contract.
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In addition to annual servicing, pellet stoves need regular maintenance. Here are some tasks you should perform on a weekly basis during heating season:
• Empty the ash trap or drawer, usually situated behind the fire chamber.
• Look for “clinkers” that form when ash melts and hardens. Clinkers can impede air flow and upset the proper mixture of fuel and oxygen to the burn pot. Remove them with a special rake or ash tool made for this purpose.
• Look for a build-up of soot on the inside surfaces of the stove. (As little as 1/10th inch of soot can drop the heat transfer by 50%.) Clean the soot off with a wire brush, but do not use the brush on the glass doors.
• Clean the heat exchanger as advised by the owner’s manual.
• Clean the glass so you can tell whether the fuel is burning efficiently. Turn off the stove, wait for it to cool, and then use a commercial glass cleaner and paper towels to clean both inside and outside surfaces.
• Check the flame—if it is orange or dark instead of bright yellow or white, it is time to call in a service professional.
• Allow the auger tube and fuel hopper to completely empty on occasion so that sawdust and pellet debris don’t build up and block the feed system.
• At the end of the heating season, empty unused pellets from the stove hopper and feed system as they can collect moisture and cause rust that can damage the stove. Fresh pellets will also be easier to start at the beginning of the next heating season.
