combustion blower

[r.man]

Just spent a few cool days fighting with my OWB. Couldn't get a good burn and therefore had a low water temp and a cold house. Tried cleaning, changing wood, cleaning, splitting wood, cleaning, nothing worked. Finally pulled the combustion blower, which I could hear working, and checked the squirrel cage. There was a build up of dust/insulation that looked like dryer lint on the blades. I almost missed it, no visual reference until you run a tool down the curve of the blades. Each one yielded a fine slice of fluffy material that was impeding the airflow just enough to cause a problem in the extreme cold. The total accumulation from all the blades fit in the palm of one hand but it is now 10 hrs later and I am up to temp for the first time in 3 days. Happy to find it finally, wish I had thought of it sooner. I remembered my brother talking about power washing fryer grease from McDonalds exhaust fans. Said they would stop moving air while still spinning properly.

[thecfarm]

I have that problem on my Heatmor. I check them every so often and clean the fins and oil the motor. I would call my more like dust than dryer lint. But it can still be a problem. I don't think mine has ever bothered about air,I'm just concerned and the added weight and maybe getting it out of balance and causing premature wear on the motor.

[Roger2561]

Thanks for the tip, r.man.  I have to keep that in mind when I'm cleaning mine later this week to check on it.  Roger

[NWP]

I've had the same thing happen. Drove me crazy trying to figure it out the first time too. I use an air hose to blow the fan out every so often now. Funny thing about it, I didn't have any problems with it the first 5-6 years I had the stove the last 2 years is when I've started having problems with the dust buildup on the fan.