Pellet & Corn Troubleshooting

Pellet & Corn Troubleshooting
In order to operate a pellet appliance at its peak operational efficiency it must have the proper
airflow, the entire system must be clean, and a good quality pellet fuel must be used. Most
problems are solved with a good system cleaning.
The unit shuts down and there is smoke in our house
Probable cause: The pellet vent is clogged
Recommended solution: Clean the pellet vent or call a technician.
A dirty or sooty burn
Probably cause: Could be a number of factors
Recommended solutions:
Thoroughly clean the unit (see description under regular maintenance)
Clean the pellet vent
Adjust the air intakes into the unit
Examine stove for obvious air leaks or broken parts
Check gaskets (i.e. around the door)
Adjust the feed rate
The motors are noisy
Probable cause: Either the motors are dirty or need replacing.
Recommended solution:
Identify whether it is the convection blower (pushing heat into the home), the combustion
blower (pushing the exhaust outside), or the auger motor (feeds pellets into the burn pot)
Clean the motor
Change the speed of the motor, see if problem persists. Please note that sometimes it is a
loose metal component on the stove that is making a noise.
If problem persists, identify part number in your manual and contact Friendly Fires for
replacement.
Lazy dark yellow flame, unburnt pellets and glass sooting.
Probably cause: Inadequate draft.
Recommended solution:
Can venting be improved?
Is venting blocked?
Adjust air intake.
Before contacting a Friendly Fires technician, please have the following answers:
Who was operating the appliance when this first happened?
Does it only happen when ______ operates the appliance?
How often does this happen?
Was it working fine prior to this happening?
Have you made a pellet brand change?
Was there a significant temperature change outside coinciding with the problem?
Has the appliance been serviced recently?
What other appliances in your home were operating when the problem occurred?
For additional information, consult your owners’ manual and/or www.pelletheat.org.