Whitfield Pellet Stoves Troubleshooting [9 Easy Solutions]

Whitfield pellet stove users commonly face these issues like stove won’t turn on, the igniter not working, a stuck damper, the control board flashing, and a jammed auger.

Sometimes the users find the stove blower begins to malfunction, stove producing lazy flame, auger overfeeding pellets and the stove shuts down automatically.

However, read our today’s Whitfield pellet stoves troubleshooting guide and fix the problem you are facing in no time.

Whitfield Pellet Stoves Troubleshooting [9 Easy Solutions]

In this section, we will take an in-depth look at the common Whitfield pellet stove problems. We will also provide you with simple solutions to each of the issues. So, let’s just get started.

1. Stove Won’t Turn On

The possible reasons why your Whitfield pellet stove won’t turn on are- 

• Tripped GFCI
• Bad power outlet
• Faulty control board

Solution:

Here’s how to fix a Whitfield pellet stove that won’t turn on-

• Check that the pellet stove is securely plugged in and that the power outlet is in good working order. 
• Make sure your GFCI circuit is working. Replace the switch in the on position if it has tripped. Get an electrician to take a look if the switch keeps tripping after you turn the stove back on.
• If everything else appears to be in order, your control panel is most likely to blame. Get it replaced.

2. Igniter Not Working

Your Whitfield pellet stove won’t ignite? The igniter takes the hot air from the convection blower through the igniter housing and over the hot igniter probe to light the pellets when it’s working properly.

If the igniter probe heats up in the stove but fails to ignite the pellets, it is a sign that you have restricted airflow.

Other causes behind this issue can be damp pellets, a bad convection blower, an incorrectly wired igniter probe, a blown fuse, and a bad igniter.

Solution:

Follow the instructions below to solve ignition failures.

Step 1: Ensure that the igniter tube’s air intake apertures aren’t clogged by ash or sealant. If the problem persists, carefully clean the stove, including the burn grate, heat exchangers, ash pan, air passages, and exhaust vents, and remove any ash build-up. 

Step 2: Uninstall and clean the combustion blower, including the impeller and the combustion blower housing, after the stove has been fully cleaned. We also recommend bench testing the blower by connecting it to wall power outside of the stove.

Step 3: Inspect the wiring connection between the probe and the timer if the igniter does not heat up. 

Step 4: In case the inline 6-amp fuse is blown, it should be replaced. Make that the pigtail between the wire harness and the control board is correctly attached.

Step 5: Bench-test the igniter outside of the stove if there is no change. Connect the igniter to 120 volts from a regular socket after making sure it’s on a non-combustible surface. The probe should light cherry red when attached directly to wall power. Otherwise, replace the igniter. 

3. Damper Stuck

The damper on a pellet stove allows you to control the quantity of oxygen that reaches the flame.

A slight change in the damper position is enough to make a noticeable difference in the flame. So, if your Whitfield pellet stove damper is stuck at a position, you can’t adjust the flame. 

Solution:

Use a wire brush to clean your damper. If your damper is still stuck, take a pipe that is about 20-24 inches in length. Slide the pipe on the damper’s handle and with a sledgehammer, beat the pipe down to move the damper.

Use WD-40 which is an oil that cuts through rust and corrosion. Hopefully, our damper will get unstuck at this point.

Work it back and forth while lubricating all of the joints and moving parts with a high-temperature lubricant. To avoid future rusting, spray-paint the damper with black high-temperature paint once it’s clean and in good operating order.

4. Control Board Flashing

Blinking red lights on the control board’s LED means that the stove’s thermostat circuit is open. 

Solution:

A jumper is required between the two thermostat terminals if a wall thermostat is not installed. Contact your authorized Lennox Hearth Products dealer if the jumper is missing. 

If you are using a wall thermostat, then there is a break in the connectors/thermostat wire, or the wall thermostat is malfunctioning. Check the wiring to make sure there isn’t a gap. Replace the thermostat if necessary. 

5. Jammed Auger

A jammed auger may be the result of a malfunctioning auger motor or moist pellets that have solidified and swelled up. 

Solution:

Here’s how to fix a jammed pellet stove auger.

• Remove the obstruction that is stopping the auger from turning. 
• If there isn’t an obstruction, the problem is the motor itself. Replace the auger motor to fix this issue.

6. Malfunctioning Blower

There are two ways in which your Whitfield pellet stove malfunctions. Your blower can either keep running continuously or not run at all. Let’s explore these issues in detail.

(i) Blower Keeps Running

It is normal for blowers to keep running after the heater has shut off. This is to transmit the heat to the surroundings. Later, the lower limit switch in the cool-down cycle is supposed to turn the blowers down.

In case your blower doesn’t stop and keeps running, your lower limit switch is most likely set to manual or has gone bad.

Solution:

Reset your limit switch to auto. If your limit switch is already set to auto but the fan keeps running, call in a professional to have your lower limit switch replaced.

(2) Blower Doesn’t Run

The possible causes for your Whitfield pellet stove blower not working are- you may have a dirty stove, incorrect or loose wiring, a malfunctioning high-limit switch, a bad blower motor, or a faulty control board.

Solution:

If your blower keeps shutting down, set the convection fan to a speed equal to or higher than the fuel flow rate. In case that doesn’t work, try the following-

Step 1: Start by checking for power to the stove if the blowers do not come on when the stove is turned on. 

Step 2: The wire connections between the high-limit snap switch and the terminal block should then be inspected. If the cables are in good condition,  bypass the high-limit switch for testing. 

Step 3: The first step in bypassing is to unplug your stove so you don’t short out your control board. After that, build a connection between the two contacts with a jumper wire or a paperclip. After you’ve completed this, plug your stove back in to see if your problem has been resolved. If it has, this is the sensor you’ll need to replace. 

Step 4: In case the high limit sensor is bypassed and no change happens, you may have a malfunctioning blower. We recommend bench-testing the blower outside of the stove by plugging it into a wall outlet. The impeller should start spinning extremely quickly as soon as the motor is connected to power.

Step 5: Let’s say, you did all these tests and your blower isn’t still working, which means your control board is bad and needs replacing.

7. Lazy Flame

When your Whitfield’s fire is burning with a lazy flame that is orange in color, you will notice pellets building up in the stove’s UltraGrate and soot building up on the windows. The possible causes are- insufficient air for combustion or a high fuel feeding rate.

Solution:

Follow the instructions below to fix your Whitfield pellet stove lazy flame issue.

• Remove any clinkers or ash from the UltraGrateTM’s bottom that may be blocking the primary airports.
• If necessary, switch to a higher-grade fuel.
• Check to see if the damper has been opened wide enough to accommodate the amount of fuel being fed.
• Make sure the heat exchange tubes aren’t ash-coated.
• Examine the ash accumulation behind the side firebricks. If required, clean.
• Check the door’s gasket seal. Use a 1-inch broad strip of paper. Close the door on the paper strip after opening it. When pulling the paper strip, there should be some friction. Rep to this procedure at several points on the door gasket. If necessary, replace the door gasket.
• Inspect the air inlet tube, exhaust pipe, and termination for obstructions. As needed, clean.
• Have a Lennox Hearth Products authorized dealer take a look at the convection blower and control board.

8. Stove Shuts Down Automatically

The possible reasons why your Whitfield pellet stove won’t stay lit are-

• The stove is out of pellets.
• Auger not feeding pellets
• The high-temperature limit switch has tripped.
• For the amount of fuel available, there is too much combustion air.
• The fuel feed rate is insufficient.
• The Low Limit disc hasn’t been locked in.

Solution:

Here’s how you can solve this issue.

Step 1: Refill hopper if necessary. Make sure the auger is feeding pellets.

Step 2: If the room air blower has been turned down low and the stove has been functioning at a medium to high burn rate, the Exhaust Blower should be turned up higher. If the problem persists (especially at lower burn rates), your authorized dealer should replace the high limit disc.

Step 3: Reduce the combustion airflow by adjusting the damper.

Step 4: Check that the ash pan is properly locked and that the gasket seal around the ash pan door is intact in the same way that it was before. 

9. Auger Overfeeding Pellets

Your pellets are probably damp if you are having this issue. Other possible things that could be wrong are- ash buildup, faulty auger motor wiring, insufficient airflow, and a bad vacuum switch.

Solution:

To solve the Whitfield pellet stove overfeeding pellets problem, try the following things.

• Make sure that the pellets you have in the auger are completely dry. 
• Clean up any ash buildups. 
• Check on the auger motor wiring and fix it if needed. 
• Increase airflow by adjusting the damper.
• Replace the vacuum switch in case it is broken.

FAQ:

How to turn off Whitfield pellet stove?

Simply push the ON / OFF button to switch the unit off. This will stop the pellets from being fed. The blowers will continue to run in order to cool the stove. The stove will turn off when it is cool enough.

Is Whitfield a good pellet stove?

Whitfield offers a lot of performance in a low-cost, high-efficiency package. But as Whitfield pellet stoves have been discontinued, you should look into newer options.

How to calibrate a Whitfield pellet stove?

A button called “Calibration” is located at the bottom of the control panel. When the Calibration button is pressed, the controller enters “Calibration Mode,” which allows adjustments to the fuel feed and combustion blower of up to 20% (increments of 5%).

Is there a reset button on a pellet stove?

Most of the pellet stoves have reset buttons while some of them don’t. If your pellet stove lacks a reset button, let the pellets run out. This will reset the stove.

How long should a pellet stove auger motor last?

On average, auger motors last about 6-8 years when used consistently every winter in severe or moderate weather. If you maintain the auger properly, you can expect up to 10 years of service.

Conclusion

Troubleshooting a pellet stove can be complex work. We don’t recommend you try fixing it on your own if you don’t have any experience with them.

However, if you have a basic understanding of pellet stoves, follow our Whitfield pellet stoves troubleshooting guide carefully. Your pellet stove will be running in no time.