How To Bypass The Control Board On A Pellet Stove (Do This!)
Everyone enjoys a good wood-burning fire in their home, especially during the winter months. However, the chopping, storing, and relentless stoking that firewood requires can be a nuisance. Not to mention the worry associated with whether or not you remembered to put it out before you went off to bed.
Thankfully, there is an alternative that is both convenient, environmentally-friendly, and cost-effective. In a time where environmental awareness has taken center stage and families are monitoring their finances, wood pellet stoves have become increasingly popular.
Most, if not all, pellet stoves have some type of digital control interface on the appliance. If the control board on your pellet stove is malfunctioning or broken, you may be wondering how to bypass it and get your stove ignited. In short, the only way to bypass the electronics is to operate the stove manually. Knowing how to light your pellet stove manually is especially useful if your igniter is broken.
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What is a Pellet Stove and How Does it Work?
Wood pellet stoves may resemble conventional wood-burning fireplaces and stoves, but the likenesses end there. These stoves are sophisticated electronic appliances that offer a low-cost and “green” heating option for your home.
Pellet stoves require very minimal effort to operate and maintain and, due to the fact that they do not release smoke, they also don’t require a chimney. All pellet stoves are powered by the same type of fuel: wood pellets. Wood pellets are made from recycled wood shavings and sawdust, the byproducts of sawmills. They appear like rabbit food and earn their eco-friendly status because they are both inexpensive and easy to produce. To operate a wood pellet stove, the user fills a bin, or hopper, with the pellets and then the stove will automatically feed the necessary amount into the fire.
This automatic feeding system will continue until the hopper becomes empty. The ignitor on a pellet stove works much light a car’s cigarette light, or electric stove. By pushing the right button on the control board, the ignitor is engaged and the heat from the coil will start burning the wood pellets. However, lighting a pellet stove can be accomplished manually, and in some cases, it may be necessary.
What is a Pellet Stove Control Board?
In most cases, you’ll find that pellet stoves are equipped with some form of electronic control system on the unit. These digital controllers are great for the users, as they generally display what the stove is doing and any warnings, if a problem arises. Also, since the control board runs a sequence of set programs, the user can fine-tune the features on the stove and enhance the operation.
The major downsides to pellet stove control boards is that they can damage easily and are very susceptible to power surges. Because of this, they should always be outfitted with a surge protector. Should you ever need to bypass your control board, your wood pellet stove can be started by hand.
How to Bypass Control Board on Pellet Stove
If the control board on your pellet stove has become faulty, the best course of action is to replace it. However, there are some situations where you may need to ignite the stove to get through an exceptionally cold evening in your home. If this is the case, you can operate your pellet stove manually. Practice extreme caution, as this process can be dangerous if done incorrectly.
- Make sure that your pellet stove is plugged in and turned on.
- Open the door to your pellet stove and gather some wood pellets. Always opt for high-quality pellets, as the lower quality ones do not burn long or completely.
- Place about two to three handfuls of wood pellets into the burn pot.
- Apply fire starter to the wood pellets. While some recommend using a liquid fire agitator, this can be dangerous. Instead, use a gel or solid type material.
Quick Tip: Alternatively, you can sprinkle rubbing alcohol on the wood pellets or soak a handful in a jar of alcohol. Then, place the pellets back into the burn pot for lighting.
- Use a BBQ lighter or blow torch to manually ignite the pellets.
- Monitor the pellets so that the fire catches and grows appropriately. If you’re having some difficulty, add more pellets to the burn pot.
Without access to the control panel, you will not be able to use the auger. The auger on your pellet stove is what mechanically supplies pellets to the burn pot from the hopper. Since you’re operating manually, you’ll need to continuously add more pellets to the burn pot by hand to keep the fire going. You should consider repairing or replacing your control board to fully enjoy your wood pellet stove, as this only a temporary workaround.
Pellet Stove Tips and Precautions
The following tips and safety precautions will help you keep you and your family safe while getting the most out of our pellet stove.
- NEVER use accelerant in a pellet stove that has old pellets. Some of these may still contain cinders, which will may result in the accelerant flaring up dangerously.
- DO NOT use low quality wood pellets. Low-grade pellets produce more smoke, do not burn completely, and will not last you very long.
- Consider implementing a backup power system for your pellet stove. Mini generators or batteries will work great for this purpose. That way, your pellet stove can still operate in the case of a power outage.
- DO NOT leave the hopper lid open for too long. Otherwise, the pellets may absorb too much moisture from the air and be rendered useless.
- Clean the burn pot and ash drawer in your pellet stove AT LEAST once a week.
- ALWAYS use a quality solid fire starter. It is environmentally friendly, safe, and quick lighting. Whereas, liquid fire starter can produce black smoke when lit.
- Every three months, have your pellet stove’s vent pipe inspected and cleaned. This cleaning is generally best done by a professional.
- READ the user manual provided by your pellet stove manufacturer thoroughly before operating it.
- If you own a pellet stove, it is good practice to install a smoke and carbon monoxide detector to ensure the safety of your home and its inhabitants.
- USE a fire protection mat or pad underneath your pellet stove.
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Related Questions
Can I leave my pellet stove on throughout the night?
One of the major advantages of pellet stoves is that they pose almost no fire hazard. They can even be placed close to a wall, as they emit minimal external heat. Pellet stoves are the ideal choice for homes with children or pets. Pellet stoves with automatic feeding systems will continue running until turned off or the hopper runs out of pellets. If you have a properly functioning pellet stove, it is safe to operate unattended overnight or while you’re out.
Why is my pellet stove not lighting up?
If you have an auto light pellet stove, there could be a number of reasons why it’s not firing up. However, in most cases, a pellet stove that is not lighting can be attributed to the following reasons:
- A bad ignitor. This can be tested by confirming that it reads 50 ohms on an ohmmeter and approximately 2 to 3 amps on a current meter. However, your ignitor could still have good readings and be faulty.
- Poor or limited airflow. If the stove does not have enough airflow, it will not be able to light the pellets. To check for this, look out for blockages in the air inlet pipe or venting. Also, if the combustion or exhaust blower isn’t spinning this can limit airflow. In this case, you’ll need a replacement.
- Pellets are moist. Put simply, if your pellets are damp or moist, they will not ignite. Always keep your pellets in a dry place in your home.
When compared to a wood-burning stove, pellet stoves are much easier to clean and maintain. How often you should clean it will largely depend on how often it is used. However, your pellet stove should be cleaned every three days, or at least once every two weeks. This will help keep in functioning properly and prevent any future malfunctions.
Jessica considers herself a home improvement and design enthusiast. She grew up surrounded by constant home improvement projects and owes most of what she knows to helping her dad renovate her childhood home. Being a Los Angeles resident, Jessica spends a lot of her time looking for her next DIY project and sharing her love for home design.
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