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Quadra-Fire Trekker Series Care & Maintenance
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In this video, we go over the basic care and maintenance of the Quadra-Fire Trekker.
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I got my Trekker on October 12. It seems like its using a lot more pellets than I was told it would use. I was told I should clean it once a week, but I’m finding I need to clean it every 3 days, maybe 4. I don’t really know what to expect. It seems the soot buildup on the glass is more than the first few weeks with the stove, covers the glass in 1 1/2 days. The owners manual says to adjust Trim if pellet use is excessive or there is rapid soot buildup on the glass. Its also started to pop, like someone is hitting the back metal box with a mallet, sounds like the metal box is expanding and contracting, is this normal? At the rate the pellets feed now, when the weather turns really cold we’ll go through 2 bags a day. I’m just trying to find out if these things are normal. Im hoping the feed rate is not normal. I bought this stove to save money, at two bags a day, won’t be much savings if at all.
Thanks for contacting us Bart, happy to help. Few things here: There will be a very noticeable difference between pellet fuel; both in the amount of ash, glass cleaning, firepot cleaning, as well as the heat output/overall fuel usage. We recommend trying a few bags of a few different kinds to see the difference and to to determine what works best for you. Generally speaking most folks find softwoods such as pines and firs to be the hottest and cleanest burning pellets. So much of the fuel usage besides the type of pellets will be determined by how cold it is outside, how well insulated the area is, window quality, how large the area is you are heating, and thermostat temperature settings.
If you are seeing a black soot build-up on the glass there may be an issue. We are always looking for a crisp, torchy fire and generally a white/gray build-up on the glass. Much of this does depend on the pellet being used, but how does your fire look during operation? With all stoves there are points where the metal firebox is expanding and contracting where periodically there may be an audible pop. If you are hearing a mallet like banging, there may be something further that needs to be looked at.
Keep us posted – If needed we can arrange contact with a service technician if you are located in the Wisconsin area.
Thanks,
Thank You. Im in Green Bay. As far as insulation, our natural gas bills are generally lower than others in our neighborhood. There is black soot build up on the glass. At times it does appear to be a what the owners guide calls a lazy flame. We use Uncle Jeds Cold Remedy Softwood pellets. Recommended by you.
Right now we run the stove at 70 from 5-7am and from 5-9pm. Otherwise its set at 65. The stove is downstairs and total sq footage heating is 2400, maybe 2500 sq ft. Our neighbors who recommended you guys have a stove downstairs thats heating a bigger space, thermostat is at 72 and averages a bag a day. Again, Im trying to figure things out. Setting our thermostat at 65 over night keeps the house upstairs at 62 when its cold at night. I can change the settings to 70 and leave it there and see what happens.
Good Morning Bart. Just saw your additional messages this morning. If we are seeing a lazy fire at times and black soot on the glass and coming out the venting, we have something going on with our fuel to air ratio in the unit. In proper operation it should be a bright crisp torchy flame, whiteish/greyish build-up on the glass (unless it runs on low consistent), and the exhaust should be invisible for the most part except during start-up. I will pass along your messages to our tech team to set up an initial call with you.
Thanks,
Ive left a couple replies now, supposed to be checked /approved. Havent seen any replies. Then popping noise coming from the stove has become more frequent. Can I expect a reply to my other replies?
Thanks Bart. Sending off all messages now for our tech team to reach out to you.
Appreciated,
I have another question. There are times when a lot smoke comes out of the outside vent, is this normal. The owners manual suggests that smoke might be a sign that something needs to be adjusted. It seems like its only for a short time. Is this usually when the stoves starts up? Did you get my previous response to your questions from your response? There is black soot on the glass. The stove is set to 70 degrees 5-7am and 5-9pm. Otherwise on 65. Neighbors stove is set to 72 all the time. We use Uncle Jeds Softwood, its the one recommended when we got the stove. Should we try a different pellet?
Thanks for the message Bart. I just responded to the previous and will pass this along to our tech team to follow up with you on. Uncle Jed’s Softwood is one of the most popular pellets. Doesn’t hurt to try other pellets to see the difference, but I do not think it’s an issue with the fuel. Somewhere we have an air to fuel ratio that is not correct from what it sounds to me. We’ll get a call set up with technical.
Thanks,
I missed a few calls yesterday while I was working. I don’t recognize the numbers but they are green bay. Will the tech leave a voicemail so I know to call back? Want to make sure I haven’t missed the call, no messages were left.
Good afternoon Bart,
I spoke with management and our tech team the other day after the series of emails and instructed them to follow up with you. I’m not sure why voicemail messages were not left. If you still haven’t spoken to anyone you can either call in or message us back here and we can set up a time for one of our techs to call you. Happy to make sure you are taken care of.
Thanks,
In the past couple weeks the outside area
Where the stove vents has become covered with a thick layer of black soot. The vent pipe itself has deposits of soot built up on it. This wasn’t there a couple weeks ago. Is this normal? Should I be worried about this kind of build up on the inside of the pipe/chimney?
Thanks for contacting us Bart. In proper operation it should be a near invisible exhaust coming out of the flue vent pipe after ignition. If you are seeing a black soot coming out of the vent pipe, in the vent pipe, and in the stove firebox, this will be an indication that the stove is burning rich. Generally speaking this happens when we have an air flow issue (Fuel to air ratio is off). In most cases this is due to ash build-up in the stove and venting. In some cases the pellet fuel can be at play here as well. If you have been burning the same fuel and this issue just started, then most likely it’s an ash blockage somewhere in the stove or vent. We would recommend performing a thorough cleaning of the stove, combustion area, and vent pipe. See if anything changes once thoroughly cleaned. Also make sure the door seal and ash door seal are tight while the unit is in operation. We are always looking for a crisp torchy fire which indicates an efficient and clean burn. Keep us posted, happy to help!