Pellet Stove Flame Goes Up and Down [7 Reasons to Fix]

Your pellet stove flame goes up and down because of poor quality pallets, faulty gaskets, problems with damper adjustment, air circulation, stove auger, blown fuse, and dirty unit. All these issues may shut off your pallet stove also.

Go on reading. We will tell you the easy solution to all these problems.

Pellet Stove Flame Goes Up And Down [7 Reasons to Fix]

Pellet stove flame height should be around 4 to 6 inches above the top of the firepot. However, due to some issues, this flame height can increase and decrease frequently. Such conditions can hamper your pellet stove’s efficiency. Here are the 7 main reasons why your pellet stove flame goes up and down and simple solutions.

1. Poor Pellet Quality:

Pellet quality matters a lot when it comes to pellet stoves. It is, after all, the primary fuel of pellet stoves. Good pellets are usually sized in length of 0.25 to 1.5 inches. 

Smaller than the standard size will burn the pellet to ashes resulting in low flame. Wet pellets will give the same result. Large pellets, on the other hand, will result in large flames. 

Solution:

Using perfectly processed will keep the pallet stove flame in perfect condition. You should cut the pellet to at least 1 inch. Don’t forget to dry the pellets properly in the sun before using them.

2. Inappropriate Damper Adjustment:

The damper in the pellet stove helps to control the flame. It mainly allows air circulation inside the stove to keep the fire alive. If the damper is too low, then the flame will be below as well.

If the damper is set to higher than required, the flame will be higher due to excess air circulation. In addition, the fire may blow out due to too much air if the damper is opened too much.

Solution:

Adjust the damper and set it on a perfect level. You will find a handle set on the side of the stove. Regulating this handle will change the damper position. So use this handle and set the damper to the recommended position.

However, if this does not solve the issue, look for holes and cracks in the damper. If you find any deformation, fix it or replace the damper.

3. Faulty Gasket:

The gaskets’ purpose is to seal the pellet stove so that unnecessary air circulation doesn’t affect the flame. Unfortunately, gaskets tend to wear out with time. The seals in pellet stoves don’t remain as effective as before when this happens. As a result, the flame becomes inconsistent in the stove.

Solution:

The Pellet stove gasket needs to be changed at least once every 2 to 3 years. 

Replacing the gasket in a pellet stove is fairly easy. Just unscrew the bolts holding the gasket in its place and install a new one. Make sure that the gasket is strongly installed. This should solve the issue.

4. Problem With Air Circulation:

Air is an essential component to keep the fire alive in the pellet stove. Sufficient air needs to enter the pellet stove constantly. A pellet stove is designed to let this happen. 

But leakage or problem with the damper can hamper the proper oxygen circulation. It will definitely affect the flame. 

Solution:

Check if all the seals of the pellet stove are perfectly closed. If you find it difficult to close the seals properly then don’t struggle with it. Simply just replace the seals and doors.

Sometimes the ash build-up in the vent can cause such problems. Cleaning the vent should get you rid of this issue.

5. Blown Fuse:

The Pellet stove needs electricity in order to turn on and operate. This electricity comes from the circuit board. A fuse controls the flow of electricity here. 

A blown fuse can cause your pellet stove flame to die out properly. This issue is quite common with old pellet stoves. 

Solution:

If this problem arises, you need to fix the blown fuse. Here’s how you can fix a blown fuse in a pellet stove simply,

• Unplug the supply of electricity first
• Open the circuit board and locate the blown fuse
• Unscrew the blown fuse from its place
• Take a new fuse with the same amperage
• Place the new fuse in the same socket 
• Reconnect electricity supply

Call an expert if the fuse blows again. This indicates that there is a problem with your central power supply.

6. Filthy Pellet Stove Unit:

Pellet stoves can get dirty quite frequently. Ash build-up and air circulation is the main reason behind dirt accumulation. Such conditions can prevent the generation of fire and heat.

Air circulation can even stop properly due to too much dirt buildup.

Solution:

You should clean your pellet stove at least once a year. Just detach all the parts of your pellet stove following the manual and clean the following parts properly:

• Damper
• Burn pot
• Combustion blower
• Auger tube
• Hopper 
• Vents
• Fan

Cleaning these parts thoroughly will be sufficient.

7. Malfunctioning Auger or Feeding Too Many Pellets:

Hopper passes pellets to the combustion chamber with the help of an auger. These pellets burn there and generate heat. If the auger doesn’t work properly it may pass too many pellets into the combustion chamber. A pellet stove feeding too many pellets will result in a high flame.

The same can happen if you manually feed too many pellets into the stove.

Solution:

The main reason behind this issue is the faulty auger motor. So you basically have to replace the auger motor and get a new one. While fixing a broker auger motor is possible, it is just not worth it. Here’s how you can replace the auger motor easily:

• Detach the pellet stove from the electrical connection
• Remove the entire back panel of the stove
• Locate the auger motor and detach the auger
• Unscrew the auger motor and detach the wiring 
• Take a new auger motor and attach the wirings you previously detached
• Screw the auger motor in its place and install the auger as well

Now turn on the stove and see if everything is working properly. Call a professional if it doesn’t. Another point you must keep in mind: never put more than 70 pounds of pellets in the hopper.

So basically these were the most common issues with pellet stove and their solution. If you can deal with these problems according to our solution, you won’t have any trouble operating your pellet stove at all. 

FAQ:

What should my flame look like on a pellet stove?

A perfect flame in a pellet stove is steady, solid, and yellow.

Can you get carbon monoxide from a pellet stove?

Though you can get carbon monoxide from a pellet stove, the rate of it is not harmful.

What settings should my pellet stove be on?

Try to keep the pellet stove on a lower heat setting. 2/3 is a perfect position.

Why is my pellet stove not burning pellets all the way?

Your pellet may not burn due to many reasons such as,

• Bad air circulation
• Too large pellets
• Moisturized pellets
• Faulty mechanism

Is it safe to run a pellet stove all night?

Yes, running a pellet stove overnight is safe,  but it is recommended not to do that.

Final Words:

Nowadays, pellet stoves are more popular than ever. But due to improper maintenance or technical faults, you may face certain problems. Pellet stove flame goes up and down obviously is one such irritating issue.

However, if you can utilize the points discussed above, you will not have further difficulty with your pellet stove. If you face any problems or have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below.