Why Does My Pellet Stove Keep Shutting Off [Solved]

Wondering why does my pellet stove keep shutting off? Insufficient fuel, dried-up fire, faulty wiring, low drafting, and the problem with the combustion blower are the main causes of shutting off your stove after a few minutes. There are a few more reasons behind the shut-up.

Read the whole article. We will tell you all the possible causes and show simple solutions to fix them.

We hope, by the end of this article, you won’t struggle with your pellet stove shutting off issue. Let’s get started…

Why Does My Pellet Stove Keep Shutting Off [Fix Now]

Here are the most common reasons why your pellet stove is going out frequently and what you can do about it. 

1. Insufficient Fuel In The Hopper

The hopper is an essential part of a pellet stove. A pellet stove works only by feeding pellets to the hopper. The pellet is the fuel.

In case there is no fuel in the hopper, the pellet stove will automatically shut off. Here are the solutions to this situation:

i) Feeding Pellets

Keep feeding pellets in the hopper. This will keep the hopper active and the pellet stove running.

ii) Clean The Hopper

Dirt and debris can clog the hopper. This may in turn prevent the pellet stove from functioning properly. So keep the hopper clean and free from any kind of obstructions.

2. The Fire Has Died

This is the most common reason behind the pellet stove shutting off. If you don’t feed pellets in your pellet stove every 20-30 minutes, the stove will shut off. The status light will let you know if this happens. What you should do is:

i) Properly Feeding Pellets

Maintaining the pellet feeding duration is not enough. You have to make sure that the pellet you are using is perfectly dry and perfectly sized. Only quality pellets will keep the pellet stove fire alive. 

3. Faulty Stove Wiring

Faulty stove wiring can be one of the most common reasons why your pellet stove keeps shutting off at night. Every pellet stove has an outlet. These outlets provide energy to run the thermostat and fans.

If the wiring of these outlets or the wiring of the internal circuit board is damaged, your pellet stove may not function properly. If this is the case, then here is what you can do:

i) Check The Switches and Circuit Breaker

If the outlet voltage doesn’t reach its limit, it can cause your pellet stove not to work at all. Measure the power and make sure that nothing is preventing proper power supply.

ii) Proper Voltage Reading

Take a multimeter and set it to AC voltage. Use it to read the power from the terminal strip. The voltage should be 120V.

iii) Check All The Wiring

There are specific points where wires are very likely to lose connection. Check the following points in your pellet stove for faulty wiring-

• All the wiring points in the combustion & convection blower
• Wiring at the end of the igniter and auger motor
• Most importantly check the wiring at high and low limit thermodisc

If you find any frayed or cracked wires in these points, fix them as soon as possible. Change the wires if necessary. Replacing the wires can be the most effective solution in this case. 

4. Pellet Stove Draft Is Too Low

The draft’s position determines the condition of the flame in the pellet stove. A low draft leads to a weak flame in the pellet stove.

However, if the draft is too low, then there may not be any flame at all. If that’s the case then here’s the solution to that:

i) Adjust The Draft

You will find a handle preferably on the right side of the stove. If you pull that stove, the draft will open up, and the flame will increase.

Don’t set the draft too high though. It will turn off the pellet stove.

5. The Damper Issue

A combustion air damper is a pipe that goes to the flame of the stove. Its function is to increase or decrease oxygen circulation.

So, it plays the role of adjusting the air to the fuel ratio so that the pellets burn at a desirable rate. If the damper loses its adjustment, the stove will shut off. So, here is what you can do:

i) Adjusting The Damper

The feed ratio determines what amount of pellets would lead from the hopper to fuel the flame.

If the ratio is high, there would be too much ash, whereas a very low ratio would lead the flame to go out. Here it’s recommended to set the ratio above low to have an ideal flame effect.

ii) Fix The Dampers

Check if the damper’s hinges are damaged or not. There can be holes in the damper as well. It might not close properly. Make sure to deal with all these issues.

6. Problem With Burn Pot

Burn pot helps your pellets to burn and radiate heat properly. If the burn pot is not precisely mounted, it can cause obstruction. This issue can prevent the pellets from burning. Here’s how to fix the issue:

i) Clean The Burn Pot

Throughout the burn process, a huge amount of broken pellets and small fuel particles remain in the burn pot.

Plus, clinkers and ashes fall through some of the ports of drawing air. All these create a jam and thus hamper the airflow.

Cleaning all these obstruction particles will fix the flame falling issue if it happens from this part. Here you can use an air compressor to clean the burn pot. Also, you can clean the pot by shaking it. 

ii) Position The Burn Pot Correctly

Now check if the pot position is okay or not. If you have a perfect-sized burn pot, it should perfectly fit over the combustion air tube.

It needs to be placed about ⅛” away from the wall of the firebox. Make sure it’s positioned this way. 

7. Problem With Combustion Tube

The system works with a tube which is known as a combustion air tube. The tube receives fresh air to operate in perfect combustion.

This process of combustion can be hampered if there are obstructions inside the tube. It may malfunction if there are any problems with the wires. Here’s how to fix the issue:

i) Remove The Obstructions

To clean any jam inside the tube, first, remove the damper and see if there are any obstructions inside the tube, even in the damper.

There can be elements restricting the airflow of the combustion air tube. If found, clean the jam particles.  

ii) Check The Wiring

Make sure that all the wirings are properly connected. Faulty wiring can shut off the fan of the combustion air tube.

Plus, find out if there is any cut-up or damage in the whole wiring. If any damage is found, repair the wiring. 

8. Feed Motor Or Combustion Blower Failure

Fire needs air to burn fluently. The combustion blower or the feed motor sucks air into the burn pot to allow combustion.

Pellets won’t burn properly if the feed motor fails to supply air. You can solve this issue in the following method:

i) Clean The Feed Motor

The feed motor may fail to supply air if it is clogged or covered by too much dust. As a result, the stove will shut off.

Here, you should clean the feed motor perfectly. To clean the dirt from the feed motor, you can use a blower to make the cleaning process simple and easy.

ii) Fixing The Motor Wiring

Faulty wiring can result in combustion blower failure. Check if the wiring is okay. Sometimes it may not be possible to fix the wiring. Replace the blower in that case.

9. Check The Air Flow

The Pellet stove requires an outside air supply in the stove. A pellet stove draws in air through the grills on the sides of the fireplace cover.

The stove may not work if the airflow is restricted. Here’s how you can deal with it:

i) Clean The Blockages In The Stove

Even tiny insignificant elements can block the airflow. It can be the unwanted obstruction in your pellet stove preventing the airflow.

Cleaning them thoroughly will make your pellet stove function better. 

ii) Reposition Your Stove

If your pellet stove is located inside of the fireplace, then it can be a reason why the pellet stove keeps shutting off.

Reposition it. Move it ½” out of the fireplace. This will improve the airflow and prevent your stove from shutting down.

Basically, these were the main reasons why your pellet stove keeps shutting off. Our solutions will definitely help you deal with it.

How To Avoid Pellet Stove Shutting Off

It’s never a good sign if your pellet stove lights then go out. Such conditions can damage your pellet stove permanently. In that case, you will have to replace your pallet stove. That will be an expensive solution.

The best option for you is to prepare your pellet stove to avoid it shutting off abruptly. There are two ways for you to do that. The first option is to set up your pellet stove in the proper way.

And the second thing to do is, avoid setting up the pellet stove in the wrong place.

Setting Up Pellet Stove In The Right Way

It’s not hard to set up a pellet stove perfectly so that it doesn’t shut off. But it is possible only with accurate instructions.

You will find that here. But before getting into the setup process, gather the following tools first:

• Grinder
• Adhesive
• Utility knife
• Drill and drill bit
• Jigsaw
• Stepladder
• Stud finder

After you have collected all these tools, you can get started. Even if you have already installed your pellet stove, it’s not too late.

You can reinstall it very easily. Here’s how to properly set up a pellet stove in 5 easy steps:

1. Setting Up The Position

Take a non-combustive heat pad and position it where you want your pellet stove to be. While choosing the perfect position, there are specific points you should avoid.

We have discussed those points in this article. However, make sure that the pad extends 6 inches in front and on each side of the stove.

2. Drilling

A different pellet stove requires a different drilling process. The best thing to do in this case is to consult the user manual.

Follow the instructions in the user manual and do cutting or drilling according to the prescribed measurement. 

3. Making Way For The Vent

Firstly, use a stud finder to ensure that the vent path is clear. Any form of obstruction can cause your pellet stove to shut off. Use the utility knife to cut the wall and use a jigsaw to do further cutting.

4. Setting Up The Vent

Now install the vent thimble first. It helps to install the venting pipe properly. Slide the vent into the slot you cut previously, and that would be all. 

5. Installing The Pellet Stove Pipe

Take help from your pellet stove instruction manual to make sure you are installing the recommended pipe. Install the thimble according to the user manual.

If you put up your pellet stove following these steps, you will not have the problem of the pellet stove shutting off anymore. 

But this is not all. There are certainly more things you must keep in mind to keep your pellet stove burning. 

What To Avoid While Installing A Pellet Stove

Even if you follow the points discussed above, you may make mistakes while setting up a pellet stove. These futile mistakes can cause your pellet stove to shut off every now and then.

You must not install a pellet stove in the following positions:

• In the bedroom
• Near a window
• Directly in front of a door
• In the middle of the room
• Near any water source

Instead of placing your pellet stove fireplace in these positions, try the following place for the best outcome. 

Here are the best places to install a pellet stove fireplace:

• Beside any exterior wall
• Near the stairways
• Inside a basement
• In one corner of the room

These are the points you should keep in mind while installing a pellet stove fireplace. If you can maintain it all, you can rest assured that your pellet stove fireplace won’t shut off anymore. 

FAQ:

How do you reset a pellet stove?

Pellet stoves usually have a reset button. You can reset the stove by pressing that button. However, if your pellet stove doesn’t have such an option, you can still reset your stove by letting the pellets run out.

Can you leave a pellet stove running 24/7?

Yes, with proper maintenance, you can leave your pellet stove running 24/7.

Do pellet stoves turn off automatically?

If you don’t feed your pellet stove every 20-30 minutes, it will automatically turn off.

Can you get carbon monoxide poisoning from a pellet stove?

Yes, but there is a low risk of carbon monoxide poisoning from a pellet stove.

How often should I clean out my pellet stove?

You should clean your pellet stove at least once a year.

Final Words:

Still, wondering why does your pellet stove keep shutting off? We guess not.

If you have read our guideline thoroughly, it shouldn’t be an issue for you. Now you know why your pellet stove shuts off and how you can fix it. 

But if you have any confusion, then let us know in the comment below. We’ll be back to you soon with a solution.