The Pelletstove Corner

Yes, you can indeed have a flue fire in a pelletstove. Several factors can create this scary event. Improper air to fuel ratio (a continued lazy flame), constantly running the stove on low, poor quality pellets and failure to properly maintain your stove are all things that can result in a flue fire. These are things though that you can easily correct. Other factors may include a restrictive venting configuration or a venting system that in uninsulated. We recommend insulated pipe be used on all installations, including fireplace insert installations. Insulated pipe keeps the flue gasses from cooling, condensing and glazing.

The pellet particles are called “fines” and they can accumulate on the sides and the bottom of the hopper. I recommend that you run the stove completely out of fuel and vacuum out any remaining fines. You can then rub wax paper on the inner surfaces of the hopper to make it slicker. Do this every month or so.

My typical Willamette Valley (Oregon) customers consume 2 to 2 and a half tons of pellets a year using their stoves as a sole source of heat. At $200 per ton that works out to be $400.00 to $500.00 dollars annually. Interestingly, on low, where most stoves are run most of the time, pellet consumption is equal between almost all stove brands because 1 to 1 and a half pounds per hour are required to keep the stove operational. The greater consumption differences are found when running the stoves on high.

Many stoves have a 10-15 minute start-up cycle. At the end of the cycle the stove seeks confirmation that there is a viable fire in the burnpot. Typically a heat sensitive switch called a bimetallic snap disk is used. Heated up it closes, allowing electricity to pass across it. If the switch fails to close during start-up, the stove, lacking proof of fire, shuts down. This is an inexpensive part and should not cost more than $20.00 dollars.

The flame should be bright and active, more white than orange, low and compact not tall and wispy. The pellets may roll around a bit lazy but should not “popcorn” out of the burnpot. If your flame is lazy make sure the holes in the burnpot are open and all access doors are sealed. If you have an air inlet control (damper) try pulling it out a bit. Have your pelletstove and flue annually professionally cleaned to ensure maximum efficiency.