Hi Guys -

Running a MT Vernon and this year I'm having issues with smoke backing up in the house (coming from the ash pan) and the fire pot not getting cleaned out during a cleaning cycle. I found the fact that the firepot wasn't getting cleaned out when I went to clean the stove and the filter on my shop vac started on fire. Now the house REALLY stinks.

I noticed that there is a small gap on the floor plate of the fire pot, on the left hand side. I'm wondering if maybe the pot isn't sealing up well any more?

Any advice what to look for? I thought that the heat sensor in the firepot was supposed to keep active coals in the pot until everything was cold? Maybe that thermocouple is going?

thanks!
Joe

The firepot tc has to sense 550 degrees before it will start an auto-clean cycle. You say there is a gap on left side. Do you mean pot floor is not closing all the way or pot floor is not seating tight against pot bottom? If not closing all the way, you may have some carbon build-up on pot floot that needs to be cleaned so it will close all the way. You can also check the auto-clean motor mounting bolt to make sure it is tight. It is behind the ashpan on left side. I had mine come loose and did the same thing. Could also be the auto-clean micro switch. You can assist the pot floor closing with a screwdriver thru pot floor hole. Just put a magnet on door switch so it thinks door is closed, and will run an auto-clean then. If it is a gap from not touching pot bottom, you may need new springs. And am wondering if hot coals in ashpan was from a retry on starting? Kap

Since you vacuumed the pot out and got coals, i am wondering if the stove had even dumped yet, or if a clinker got stuck that was hot yet? Let us know what is going on. Kap