Grainstoves from J. A. Mitchell Marketing

Chapter Twelve: Stove Cleaning



One of the major advantages the PC-45 has over its competitors is that Harman’s patented bottom-feeding auger system pushes the grain through the burn process and out of the burn pot. As a result, much of the ash is pushed harmlessly out of the burn pot and into the ash drawer. Our competitors drop the grain into the burn pot so there is no positive pressure system moving the ash out of the pot after it has burned. There are a few other stoves with a mechanism that dumps the entire burn pot when the thermostat shuts stove off. The problem with these systems is that the burn pot will not empty on cold days when the fire burns constantly and of course these competitors do not have a stir stick which breaks the grain down and keeps the burn pot clean.

Because of the bottom-feeding auger and the stir stick, the PC-45 does not need to be cleaned as often as its competitors. However, at the same time, proper cleaning is essential for effective grain burning. If the PC-45 is not properly cleaned it will begin to lose efficiency and eventually stop working. There are regular steps you need to take to keep the stove running like new. We will go over a couple of basic steps below, but for a complete cleaning discussion, see the manual and other service sections in the "Training" section under the "Harman Grain Stove" tab. The first, and most obvious, step is to clean the ash out of the ash drawer when it fills up. As we stated above, grain produces much more ash than pellets and so you need to be prepared to keep the ash drawer clean. There is also a certain amount of ash that will be sucked out and fall on the floor around the fireplace when you open the door, but this is easily cleaned up with a reliable ash vacuum.

The second, and most important, regular cleaning step you should take is to clean the burn pot and stir stick.

Clean off built-up ash

To clean the burn pot, you simply turn the stove off and wait for it to cool. You then remove the pot, clean off the built up ash and make sure the small air holes drilled in the pot are clear. If some holes are plugged, use a small nail or similar device to clear the hole.

Be sure small air holes are clear.

You also need to clean the ash that builds up on and around the sticks. The burn pot and stir stick generally need to be cleaned every three or four days, but the frequency will depend on the type of grain you burn. The grains that burn faster and produce more ash will require more frequent cleaning. As with most other aspects of grain burning, as you burn more and more grain, you will get a better and better sense for how often you need to clean the stove. Cleaning the stove every three or four days may seem like a little more work than you are used to, but when compared with our other grain stoves, it is very reasonable. Most of the grain stoves on the market require you to turn the stove off and clean it every day. These stoves have to be cleaned everyday because they have no mechanism to remove the ash and do not have a stir stick. The ash just builds up and has to be cleaned or the stove will not work.

You should also note that the stir stick is a disposable component of the stove and will eventually wear out and need to be replaced. When the stove is burning it is under constant heat and will wear down over time.

In addition, clinkers will form when you burn grain. There is nothing you can do about this. The clinkers are dirt and silica in the grain which get super heated and turn into a substance similar to glass (remember glass is made by super heating sand). These clinkers will grind around against the stir sticks in the burn pot and make some noise. The clinkers will not affect the burning process, but you will likely want to clean the stove regularly because the clinkers will build up and you will hear a grinding noise.

(print this page)

Warning, J.A. Mitchell Marketing Ltd. is not the manufacturer of the Harman PC-45 or any other product. J.A. Mitchell Marketing Ltd. is not responsible for any loss or damage caused by the Harman PC-45 or any other product. J.A. Mitchell Marketing Ltd. provides no representations or warranties. If you are confused or unsure at any point, contact your local Harman dealer.