How to Troubleshoot Your Wood Pellet Stove

There are many different brands and styles of wood pellet stoves – so the best way to start learning about your particular stove is to read the entire manual. If you’re a new pellet stove owner, or have switched to a different model – it could take some trial and error to learn the right process for your home.

You might be surprised to learn that many common issues pellet burners face with their stoves can be solved with making some adjustments. Again – start to troubleshoot and learn by reading your manual! It has the best stove-specific advice on operation, maintenance, recommendations and best practices.

Take a look at our quick cheat sheet below to review the pellet stove problems we hear about the most.

The Problem Possible Cause Possible Solution
Poor burn quality Dirty stove Clean your stove according to your manufacturer’s recommendations, or schedule a professional stove cleaning and inspection.
Blackened glass Burning on ‘low’ Adjust heat setting to medium or medium/high.
Excessive clinkers Airflow leak Clean all vents, check and repair/replace all gaskets, adjust damper or airflow setting.
Trouble igniting Air-to-pellet ratio Adjust air-to-pellet ratio by increasing air flow.
Lazy or small flame Air-to-pellet ratio Adjust air-to-pellet ratio by increasing air flow and/or decreasing feed rate.
Low heat output Air-to-pellet ratio Adjust air-to-pellet ratio by increasing air flow and/or increasing feed rate.
Sparks flying / embers in the ash pot Air-to-pellet ratio Adjust air-to-pellet ratio by decreasing air flow and/or decreasing feed rate.
Whole, charred pellets left in the burn pot Air-to-pellet ratio Adjust air-to-pellet ratio by decreasing air flow and/or decreasing feed rate.
Auger jamming / stove shutting down Long pellets Drop bags on the floor – this can break long pellets into a manageable length.
Excessive ash build up / whole, charred pellets in burn pot Short pellets Reduce feed rate.

As you can see, many burn issues are directly related to your stove’s airflow. If you have reviewed your owner’s manual to make the proper settings adjustments, but you’re still experiencing problems…you might have a leak. Wood pellet stoves operate through a system of air intake and exhaust, and the exhaust fan sucks air out through the burn pot to cause combustion of the pellets. It’s important to inspect your venting setup to see if it’s properly sealed, but it’s more likely the leak is through your door gasket.

It’s simple to test the door seal efficiency with a dollar bill. While holding on to one end of the bill, insert the other side into the door, and shut it. Pull out the dollar while the door is still shut, and note the resistance. You shouldn’t be able to remove the bill without a good amount of resistance. Repeat this method all around your door to check the full effectiveness of your gasket.

If you ordered your wood pellets from Woodpellets.com and you find damage to the actual wood pellets – call 1-800-PELLETS within 30 days of delivery to speak with a Quality Assurance Representative.  All Woodpellets.com Quality Certified fuels are backed by a Physical Quality Guarantee, which is valid for 30 days after the delivery date.

Questions? Call 1-800-735-5387 to Speak to the Experts at Woodpellets.com!

 

 

Coming Soon: A Special Tarp Designed to Cover and Protect Your Wood Pellet Fuel!

Many folks don’t have space in their homes, sheds or garages for bulky pallets of pellet fuel. For years we’ve been reminding our customers that it’s safe to store your wood pellets outside, as long as you secure a sturdy tarp over them.

Read >> How to Store Your Wood Pellets Outdoors

Read >> The Basics of Proper Wood Pellet Storage

But what if the tarp isn’t properly treated to keep the sun from damaging the inner layers of plastic? Or what if the tarp’s shape doesn’t fully cover the pallet of pellets? Will the edges of the tarp fly up and expose your fuel to the elements? Won’t it be difficult to access the pellets if I properly secure the tarp?

Woodpellets.com Pallet Cover

We have heard your concerns and we have designed a solution, which will be exclusively available from Woodpellets.com! These sturdy UV-treated tarps are made to fit perfectly over your wood pellets as they’re delivered on pallets. Plus, one side has a very convenient strip of velcro to make opening up the tarp to access your fuel a breeze.

The entire Woodpellets.com team is very excited to announce these special pallet covers will be available soon – in both 1.5 ton and 1 ton sizes!

Woodpellets.com Service in Maine via D&J Home & Hearth

 

Wood Pellet Delivery in Maine

In the early 1970’s, Romeo Jr. and Maggie Pimpare moved to Sanford Maine with their three young children and started a car repair business. The business eventually expanded into manufacturing custom made portable buildings, and when wood pellet stoves were added to the shop for sale in 1997, D&J Home & Hearth was born.

In 2015 Wayne, Wendy & Randy bought the thriving business from their parents. Today the company is a leading distributer of Harman, Ecochoice, Vermont Casting, DutchWest, Majestic pellet, wood, gas stoves, inserts and fireplaces.

In order to offer expert wood pellet customer service along with the convenience of ordering premium wood pellets online, D&J has recently partnered with Woodpellets.com.

Now any wood pellet stove owner within D&J Home & Hearth’s pellet delivery service area can now place an order through Woodpellets.com online or by calling 1-800-PELLETS.

Woodpellets.com is excited to partner with a family-run business that values customer service as much as we do!

Woodpellets.com Now Accepting Northwest Wood Pellet Orders via Ziggy’s Home Improvement

It was 1965 when Vern Ziegler established the Ziegler Lumber Company after building hundreds of homes in the Inland Northwest as a general contractor.

Using his vast experience in residential construction, Mr. Ziegler pioneered the do-it-yourself concept with his first store in Spokane Washington. Having been called “Ziggy” much of his life, Vern’s company soon became well known as “Ziggy’s.”

His goal at that time was the same as it is today – to offer the customer the highest quality merchandise at contractor prices, along with excellent service and good advice for the homeowner to do his own projects.

In order to offer expert wood pellet customer service along with the convenience of ordering premium wood pellets online, Ziggy’s recently partnered with Woodpellets.com. Now any wood pellet stove owner within Ziggy’s pellet delivery service area can now place an order through Woodpellets.com online or by calling 1-800-PELLETS.

We’re proud to be working with Ziggy’s and are thrilled to expand our services to the Northwest!

Woodpellets.com Delivery Drivers Compete in the 2019 CHaD Battle of the Badges Fundraiser

The Woodpellets.com team came back with family and friends for another CHaD Battle of the Badges game in Manchester New Hampshire to fundraise for the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock.

Each year, a team of local NH police officers take on a team of local firefighters in a battle of “Good vs. Good”, and this year’s event raised over $136,000! We are very proud to have several firefighters on our Woodpellets.com delivery team, and we were thrilled to cheer them on while supporting such a great cause.

To learn more about the incredible work of CHaD, and to see how you can get involved, visit https://www.chadkids.org/donate

Woodpellets.com’s Newest Driver: A Woman with a Work History to Admire

Woodpellets.com

As a company focused on customer service, home delivery is a significant piece of the Woodpellets.com experience. After a pellet stove owner discusses fuel options with us, or clicks through the website to place an order, delivery is the next big step in the process. Our drivers are responsible for loading up the customer’s fuel, safely transporting it to the home and following the customer’s placement instructions.

Liz was brought onboard this year by JPO Trucking, a small business outside of Poughkeepsie New York and one of our trusted contractors. When asked if we could highlight her in a blog due to her position not typically being held by women, she agreed and said, “Guess I have a history of being employed in male dominated jobs. I am a retired police sergeant.”

Chatting as she walked her rescue dog Daisy after a day’s work, Liz explained she always had an interest in the trucking industry. She knew it was “either that or become a cop”, since she grew up with an NYPD homocide detective father. Instead of choosing between the two paths, she ended up with both.

After nearly 5 years in corrections and 22 years in the police force, 18 of which were as a Sergeant, Liz retired last year. But during that time, she went to school to obtain her CDL knowing she would seek a trucking job following her retirement.

During the years serving her community, she dealt with serious, depressing situations and crimes. “My old job was everyone’s problems all day long. People don’t call the police to help cut a birthday cake.” Talking about the difference between that role and her current trucking job, she says “This is none of that negativity. Now I can worry about myself!”

According to the American Trucking Association, the number of women in the industry has only increased slightly in the last 15 years, from 4.5 to roughly 6 percent. Liz was surprised to hear just how low the numbers are for females in this industry, and said she wishes more women would sign on.

As for her, she doesn’t plan on fully retiring anytime soon. We are lucky to have Liz and our whole network of drivers out there representing Woodpellets.com.

 

 

Match Up Your BBQ Grilling with Your Wood Pellet Smoke Flavor

Always feel free to use any flavor of Bear Mountain BBQ wood pellets for your grilling and/or smoking, no matter what you’re cooking up. However, the following chart is a helpful guide on tried and true pair recommendations.

Bear Mountain BBQ Wood Pellet Flavor Grill Guide

Gourmet Blend

This is Bear Mountain’s signature BBQ flavor and most popular pick. The time-tested Gourmet Blend is a perfect balance of smokiness blended with subtle, sweet notes to enhance meat, fish and veggies. This flavor of bbq wood pellets is an essential to have on hand, since it pairs great with anything you’re grilling.

>> Hot Smoked Salmon Recipe

Hickory

The robust hickory smoke flavor is an ideal match for all the beloved BBQ meats like ribs, butts and brisket. It’s classic choice sure to please even the pickiest eaters.

>>Beef Brisket on the Grill Recipe

Mesquite

A bold choice for the expert griller, Bear Mountain BBQ Mesquite wood pellets inject an earthy, distinct smokiness into every cut of beef. Have you tried blending flavors of grilling pellets? The strong mesquite flavor can be smoothly enhanced by a milder flavor – like Apple.

>>Bone-In Pork Chops Recipe

Apple

Never heavy, always a crowd-pleaser. Take a walk on the mild side! Apple is a delightfully light flavor perfect for ham, fish and poultry.

>>Grilled Apple Chicken Recipe

Cherry

Add a sweet, fruity pop to all your favorite meats and veggies with Bear Mountain BBQ Cherry Wood Pellets.

>>Smoked Lamb on the Grill Recipe

Bear Mountain BBQ Pellets: 5 Gourmet Flavors, USA Made, Shipped Free by Woodpellets.com

How to Stretch Out the Cost of Wood Pellet Fuel Over Several Months

Much like with any fuel purchase – buying your wood pellets or wood bricks for the heating season can be a significant expense. The Flex Savings Plan (FSP) was created to make saving up for that large order easier.

Enrolling in the FSP gives you the ability to save up over time with adjustable monthly deposits to your Woodpellets.com account. Once you decide you’re ready to order, all those deposits have added up to an account credit which will be applied to your fuel order.

 Flex Savings Plan Benefits

  • Custom Plans: Your monthly payment amount can be adjusted at any time, and you decide how long to participate!
  • Easy Budgeting: Spread out that large payment over months! Your accumulated credit will be applied to your next order. 
  • No Risks: This plan was designed to help our customers, but you might change your mind. Suspend or cancel at any time!

The Flex Savings Plan is still new and unique within the wood pellet market – so we understand you might have some questions. We have compiled the most common questions about the FSP below. Feel free to post your own questions in the comment section!

How does the Flex Savings Plan work?

The plan works by automatically making a monthly deposit using an electronic check or credit card into your credit account in any amount over $25 that you are comfortable with. Each deposit is added to your Woodpellets.com account as credit to use on your next purchase. When you are ready to order, your accumulated credit amount will be deducted from the order balance.

The only wood pellet budgeting program in the industry!Are there any fees or hidden costs?

The FSP is a free way to help you budget for your fuel purchase. Your payment amounts are decided by you, and there are no extra fees. Think of it like a Christmas Club savings account; but one you use for your wood pellet fuel instead of presents.

How long does the plan last?

You can participate for as many months as you wish! When you place your order, you can just let us know if you’d like to continue or not. If you discontinue your plan, you can sign back up again whenever you’re ready. At any point, you can decide to opt out of the Flex Savings Plan, too. You’ll be refunded all of your accrued credit, less a 5% transaction fee.

Do I have to save a certain amount before ordering?

No – it’s up to you how much you want to save up. Most enrollees design their plan to cover the entire fuel order cost – but that is not mandatory. The duration of your specific plan and your monthly amount is completely up to you! We just require payments of at least $25.

I want to enroll now – but I don’t know what type or how much fuel I’ll be ordering yet.

That’s okay – because when you sign up for the Flex Savings Plan, you are not placing an order. When a Woodpellets.com professional helps you start your plan – you’ll just choose your payment type, the day you’d like your first payment to go through, and the amount you’d like to contribute each month. Later, whether you’ve accumulated $100 or $1000 in account credit, you can place your order whenever you’re ready.

Can I place my order now and apply FSP payments to that order?

No, sorry. The Flex Savings Plan is for future orders only – and we are unable to apply future payments to current orders.

Is it too late to change my payment amount? 

As long as your amount is at least $25, you can change your amount at any point during your plan. We named this program the Flex Savings Plan for a reason…it’s flexible! Just call 1-800-735-5387 to speak to a Woodpellets.com professional. He or she can make adjustments for you, and answer any questions you might have.

 

How do I sign up?

Getting started is easy. Call 1-800-PELLETS to enroll now!

 

Please see more FAQs and Terms and Conditions, here.

Maximize Your Pellet Heat Efficiency and Budget with a 3 Ton Bundle

Are you a hardwood burner curious about the high heat and low ash of premium softwood pellets? Have you never experienced the exceptionally clean burn of pellets made with douglas fir wood fiber?

We created our 3-ton pellet bundles to help our customers be economical…and strategic! Heating your home through the season by matching the pellet heat output with the time of year will maximize efficiency.

The Savvy Saver includes two tons of the always reliable Cleanfire Hardwood and one ton of Cleanfire Pacific – a premium softwood pellet fuel and Woodpellets.com best seller.

The Power Pack best sellers bundle is a convenient option for jumpstarting your strategic wood pellet heating plan – perfect for anyone thinking about trying the “Cadillac of Wood Pellets”.

The Blazin’ Bundle includes one ton of Cleanfire Pacific – a Woodpellets.com best seller, and two tons of Hot Shots Douglas Fir – a super hot wood pellet with a fast-growing fan base.

Treat your beloved pellet stove to a season of clean, powerful heat! Choose the bundle that fits your needs AND choose the month you’d like delivery!

 

Questions? Call 1-800-PELLETS to Speak to an Expert!

 

 

*Product availability and pricing vary by region. No substitutions on bundles. Offers can’t be combined.*

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