Avalon Firestyles 900 PI-1993 to 1996 - Manual (Page 41)

T
ROUBLESHOOTING
(C
ONTINUED
)
P AGE 41
Air Leaks
If air leaks into the firebox from the door or ashpan not properly closing, the amount of air
flowing through the pellets will decrease. A good way to simulate an air leak is to open the door
just a crack while the heater is burning. You will notice that the flame gets very lazy and the
brightness decreases. Your efficiency with an air leak is very poor, flyash will increase, and the
glass generally becomes dirty. If your heater has a lazy, smoky flame or the pellets are stacking
up in the firepot and the A
IR C ONTROL is all the way open, you should first check for a plugged
firepot and then for an air leak.
Check the following two areas for an air leak.
Ashpan Check the ashpan seal by pushing against it on either side to see if it rocks. If
your ashpan can rock, you may need a new ashpan gasket. Another way to test
the seal is to run a lit match around the perimeter of the ashpan while the heater
is running. If there is an air leak, the flame will bend towards the leak.
Door To check the door seal, inspect the gasket around the door to see if it seals
against the face of the heater. If it does not, the door may need to be aligned or
the door gasket may need to be replaced. Another way to test the seal is to run a
lit match around the perimeter of the door while the heater is running. If there is
an air leak, the flame will bend towards the leak.
Jammed Auger
Augers can jam when an especially long and hard pellet gets caught, if the pellets are allowed to
back-up the feed tube, or if a piece of debris is allowed into the hopper (a nail or screw
especially). To check if the auger is jammed, clean and vacuum out the hopper. Turn the heater
on and turn the BURN RATE to "HIGH". Look into the hopper and check to see if the auger is
turning. If it is not, it could be jammed. Check for debris (e.g.: a screw or nail) caught at the
mouth of the auger tube opening. On inserts the hopper cover may need to be removed to check
for debris. If there is nothing there, insert a piece of large wire up the feed tube and poke it
around to dislodge any pellets stuck at the top of the auger tube. If pellets are lodged at the top
of the auger tube, the wire will dislodge them and they will fall out the feed tube.
Pay close attention
to removing all
sawdust and debris
from the bottom of
the auger tube.
Hopper
Auger Tube
Check for debris
caught here
Insert a piece of
large wire up the
feed tube and
poke it around
to dislodge any
stuck pellets
Front
Hopper Lid
Three
Phillips-Head
Screws
VIEW FROM TOP
HOPPER
COVER
FRONT
Two Phillips-Head
Screws (Accessed
with hopper lid open)
For inserts, the
hopper cover
may need to be
removed to
check for caught
debris.