If your pellet stove doesn't light up, what do you do?

When your auto light pellet stove does not fire up, there are many reasons and from my years of experience here is what I have found.

The igniter I tested read 47 ohms, but in the stove, it was causing the control panel to blow.I knew the igniter was bad when one of the wires burned off when I plugged it into an AC outlet.I have seen cases where the igniter is weak and can't light the pellet in some stoves with 400 watt igniters.The igniter is often not the reason why the stove doesn't light.There isn't enough air flowing through the stove to light the pellets.You can start by checking the air inlet pipe and the outside air kit for obstructions, but these are not the most difficult areas to clear.Down wind from the burn pot, look for any obstructions inside the stove.Behind the baffles, inside the air chambers, and the exhaust vent are included.Start by brushing the areas that are blocked.An air compressor can be used to clear the fire box and a leaf blower to suck out the exhaust pipe.Birds nest trapped in the vent may obstruct the air flow needed for ignition.A preventative bird cap termination can be installed to completely alleviate this issue, which is common on installations where the exhaust vent termination cap is approximately 20 feet off the ground at bird height.If the blower doesn't work when the stove is turned on, then the control panel may need to be replaced.

3.If the stove still won't light after checking the other possibilities, then the issue may be damp pellets.The pellets will not ignite if they are damp or moist.It's a good idea to keep pellets in a dry place.There must be 35 parts air to 1 part fuel for pellets to ignite.If the wood or corn pellets are stored in a damp basement or outside during a humid summer, they may absorb some of the humidity.If the pellet is moist, light it with starting gel or hand sanitizer and see if the stove runs properly.A bad igniter is one of the reasons why the stove doesn't light.Not always.The proper tests can help determine the issue.Poor air flow, moist pellets, and a bad igniter are some of the issues that prevent a stove from lighting up.It's a good idea to store pellets in a dry place.There are birds that may prevent the flow of air.A faulty control board can affect the flow of air.It's a good idea to have your stove professionally cleaned at least once or twice a year.