St. Croix YORK User manual

York Insert
Operation & Maintenance
Manual
Table of Contents
ST. CROIX FEATURES.......................................................................................2
INSTALLATION.................................................................................................. 3
PREVENTING CHIMNEY FIRES .....................................................................3
SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE................................................................. 3
Pellet Fuel ...............................................................................................................3
Add Corn to the Mix..............................................................................................3
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS......................................................................... 3
Control Board Features.............................................................................4
Thermostat Function – How does it work?.............................................5
Pre-Lighting Instructions..........................................................................6
Lighting Your Stove ................................................................................. 6
Shutting the Stove off ............................................................................... 6
Diagnostic Features....................................................................................6
Safety Features...........................................................................................7
Combustion Air Damper ......................................................................7-8
Flame Pattern Characteristics..................................................................8
MAINTAINING THE STOVE ............................................................................9
Daily Maintenance ........................................................................... 10-11
Periodic Maintenance ...................................................................... 11-13
Yearly Maintenance ......................................................................... 13-14
SAFE OPERATION........................................................................................... 14
TROUBLESHOOTING AND FAQ............................................................ 15-19
PARTS LAYOUT ..........................................................................................20-22
WARRANTY....................................................................................................... 23
1205

Dear St. Croix Pellet Insert Owner:
Congratulations! Your purchase of a St. Croix pellet insert places you among a select
group of individuals who have demonstrated their concern about residential heating
efficiency and our environment.
This owner's manual is designed to help you obtain maximum benefit from your St. Croix
wood pellet stove.
Please read this manual in its entirety BEFORE operating your pellet stove. During the
manufacturing process every effort has been expended to ensure that each St. Croix pellet
insert meets the highest quality standards of material and workmanship.
Here are some important aspects of pellet insert installation and operation, which you
must observe in order to obtain maximum comfort and safety from your new St. Croix
wood pellet stove.
1. Have your new St. Croix pellet insert installed by trained, qualified personnel.
2. Use only clean, dry quality wood pellets that are known to burn satisfactorily in your
stove.
SAVE THIS OPERATIONS AND
MAINTENANCE MANUAL
3. Faithfully adhere to the maintenance program described in this manual. Thank you
for selecting a St. Croix pellet insert as the environmentally preferred answer to your
residential heating needs.
York Operations Manual
Page 1

York Insert
Bay Front Pellet Insert
Features:
45 Lbs. Hopper
Digital
Control Board
With
Diagnostic
Features
Exclusive
“SmartStat”
Full
y
Automatic
Auto Ignite
System
Versa Grate
System
Tube
Scraper
Rod
Large
Viewing
Glass
With
Air
Wash
System
3 Tray Ash Pan System
with
Quick Release Latch
York Operations Manual
Page 2

Operation and Maintenance
York Insert Pellet Stove
CAUTION: Operate this unit only with the fuel hopper lid closed. Failure to do so may result in emission
of products of combustion from the hopper under certain conditions. Maintain hopper seal in good
condition.
INSTALLATION
Proper installation is essential for safety, effective
operation, warranty coverage, and insurance
requirements and to meet local building codes.
Installation requirements are described in the
Installation Manual included with your new
stove.
PREVENTING CHIMNEY FIRES
Chimney fires can be prevented by properly
operating the stove and by periodic inspection
and cleaning of the chimney. When wood is
burned it produces tar and other organic vapors,
which combine with expelled moisture to form
creosote. The creosote vapors condense in the
relatively cool chimney flue associated with a
slow burning fire. As a result, creosote residue
accumulates on the flue lining. When ignited this
creosote can result in an extremely hot chimney
fire.
The chimney and chimney connector should be
inspected at least once every two months during
the heating season to determine if a creosote
build-up has occurred. If a significant layer of
creosote has accumulated (3 mm or more) it
should be removed to reduce the risk of a
chimney fire. Use of an appropriately sized
chimney brush or the services of a professional
chimney sweep are recommended.
SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE
The keys to satisfactory performance are: proper
operation of the stove, diligent maintenance and
burning only dry, clean, quality wood pellets.
PELLETS
Clinkers and ash are a by-product of pellet
combustion and are not caused solely by your
stove. Stove performance can be quickly and
severely reduced if poor quality pellets are used.
Contact your dealer for more information on APFI
approved wood pellet fuels.
NOTE: Pellets with excessive sawdust should be
screened by sifting with 1/4" mesh screening.
Store Pellets under cover on a wooden pallet or other
methods to ensure they do not become rain soaked
or absorb moisture from damp or wet floors. Do not
store pellets within stove installation clearances or
within the space required for ash removal.
The stove is not warranted against damage caused by
poor pellets, incorrect operation, poor maintenance
or incorrect installation.
ADD CORN TO THE MIX
The Prescott Series is approved to burn a mixture of
pellets and corn (maximum 50% corn). The
Thermostat Switch should be set to the Manual
position. (See Fig. 2 on page 5) Operation of the
stove doesn’t change when burning a mixture of
pellets and corn. The burn pot will need to be
cleaned on a daily basis, using the “Pot Scraper
Tool” shown in figure 5 on page 9. Use the Pot
Scraper Tool to remove any clinkers that build up
because of the corn when needed. For more
information, read the Daily, Periodic and Yearly
Maintenance section towards the back of this
manual.
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
A different type of heater. The pellet stove is neither
a cord wood stove nor a furnace. Its operation and
maintenance differ from the traditional wood stove.
FOLLOW THESE OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
EXACTLY AS STATED TO ENSURE SAFE AND
RELIABLE OPERATION.
1. Carefully read this “Operation and Maintenance”
manual in its entirety BEFORE lighting your stove
for the first time.
2. Obtain final inspection and approval of
installation from local building officials.
York Operations Manual
Page 3

3. Carefully clean all marks off the gold plated
parts before the first fire is lighted. Use a soft
cloth and a “Windex” type cleaner. Caution:
Never use an abrasive cleaner on any plated or
painted parts of the stove.
4. Have your dealer demonstrate all the opera-
tional and maintenance steps necessary for proper
use of the stove. Sign and return the warranty
card, to the address listed on the back page.
5. Some odors may be given off during the first
few hours of burning during initial break-in.
These odors are normal and not harmful.
However, ventilating the room until the odors
disappear is recommended.
6. The stove will become HOT while in
operation. Keep children, clothing and furniture
away from all stove surfaces. WARNING: Direct
contact with the stove while operating may
cause skin burns.
7. To avoid the possibility of smoke and/or sparks
entering the room always keep firebox and de-
ashing doors closed whenever the stove is
operating.
8. A certain amount of carbon monoxide may be
produced within the stove as a by-product of
combustion. All exhaust vent connections must
be sealed with RTV silicone to assure a gas tight
seal. Any leaks into a confined area caused by
faulty installation or improper operation of the
stove could produce dizziness, nausea and in
extreme cases, death.
9. An outside source of combustion air is required
on all mobile home installations. If room air is
used to supply combustion air, room air
starvation, operation of exhaust fans and icing of
air vents can adversely affect proper stove
operation. If these conditions exist, outside air
should be used.
10. Smoke detectors, installed in the same general
area as the stove, may be activated if the stove
door is left open and smoke is allowed to enter
the area.
Control Board Features
READ “FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS”
ON PAGES 15-19 BEFORE OPERATING THE
STOVE.
The Control Board controls all functions of the Stove by
monitoring sensors that are in the system. These sensors
serve 2 purposes.
a. General Operation of the Stove.
b. Safety Features, to shut the unit down in the
event the sensors detect a problem in the unit.
The Control Board also has Diagnostic Capabilities to
help in diagnosing 3 areas in the Stove. These areas are:
1. High Temperature Limit.
2. Proof of Fire Sensor
3. Vacuum in the Firebox
A closer look at the Control Board on page 5, figure 2
will explain how the board works. There are five buttons
labeled 1 through 5, a slide switch labeled 6 and a LED
Light bar with 5 Heat Settings. The LED Light bar is also
used during the Diagnostic process, see page 6 and 7
for more details.
The buttons on the board function as follows: (Refer to
Figure 2. The touch pad buttons and Slide Switch are
labeled with the white numbers 1 through 6)
1. The Heat Level button (1) will advance the
setting between level 1 and 5. Once you reach level
5, it will drop back to level 1. Each level has a LED
light to indicate where the board is set.
2. The On/Off button (2) turns the Stove On and
Off. It will also reset the board after the board has
sensed a problem and is flashing a Diagnostic code.
3. The auger button (3) will allow the customer to
manually auger pellets into the burn pot on start up
when needed. This is particularly helpful in priming
the Auger Tube when it is empty
4. The Draft Trim button (4) allows for
adjusting the Exhaust fan voltage on Heat Level 1
only. Push the button and the all of the LED Lights
in the light bar will flash once. This decreases the
Exhaust fan voltage approximately 5 volts below the
default setting. Push the button a second time and all
of the LED Lights in the light bar will flash twice.
This decreases the voltage approximately another 5
volts. Pushing the button a 3rd time will reset the
voltage to the default setting. This adjustment is
available to fine tune the #1 Heat Level draft
setting only. This would only be used in the case the
Stove was hooked up to a tall Vertical Chimney (see
point 9 on page 18 for more information)
York Operations Manual
Page 4

York Operations Manual
Figure 2
5. The Feed Trim button (5) will allow the Fuel
feed rate to be adjusted on Heat Level 1 only.
Heat Level 1 should be seen as the Pilot setting of
the Stove, when operating on a Thermostat.
Pushing the Feed Trim button (5) will switch
between the different adjustments. Heat Level
one can be adjusted in the following ways:
a. The first LED only indicates the Normal
#1 setting. (1.5 second on time). This is
the default setting.
b. The first and fourth LED lights indicate
the #1 Low setting. (1.25 second on time)
This will reduce the heat output on the #1
setting. This setting will also create more
buildup on the glass. (See point 9 on page
18)
c. The first and fifth LED lights indicate the #1
High setting. (1.75 second on time) This
will produce the most heat available on the
#1 setting. This is helpful in keeping the
glass a little cleaner when burning on low.
The adjustments described in points 4 and 5
remain in effect as long as the unit is plugged in.
If the unit gets unplugged or if there is a power
failure the settings are lost and the adjustments
would need to be reset.
Thermostat Function – How does it work?
6. Thermostat Slide Switch. Use this switch to
change the Operations mode between a
Manual Mode, T-stat Mode or a fully
Automatic “SmartStat” Mode.
Manual Mode – The stove is controlled by the
control Board and the operator, no thermostat is
involved.
T-Stat Mode – This is where a thermostat controls
the stove, but the stove never shuts down. In this
mode the stove will advance to the Heat Level that
has been selected when the thermostat calls for heat
and drops to the #1 Heat Level and pilots when the
thermostat doesn’t call for heat.
SmartStat Mode – How does it work?
The SmartStat Function on a St. Croix Pellet stove is
the way a St. Croix operates as a Fully Automatic
stove. A stove operating as a Fully Automatic stove
works great when constant heat isn’t needed. The
stove lights when heat is needed and shuts off when
it isn’t needed. However this is not the way to
operate a stove once the Heating Season arrives.
Then a constant source of heat is what you will be
looking for. This is where the “SmartStat” puts the
St. Croix in a different category. The stove operates
on a Thermostat and once the heat demand has been
met the stove will drop into the #1 Heat Level and
pilots there for one hour. If the thermostat doesn’t
call for heat during that one-hour period, the stove
will shut down and wait to re-light itself when the
thermostat calls for heat again. The control board
automatically switches back and forth between a
“Piloting Thermostat System” and a “Fully
Automatic Thermostat System” based on how often
the thermostat calls for heat. This eliminates the On
– Off cycle of an Automatic stove, once the Heating
season arrives.
Page 5

Pre-Lighting Instructions
When lighting your stove for the first time, or any
time you have run out of Pellets, you will need to
fill the hopper. Pellets are fed from the hopper to
the burn pot by an auger. A high torque motor
that is capable of doing SERIOUS harm to
fingers drives the auger. Keep fingers and other
objects away from the auger.
WARNING: The Auger can start at any
time while the stove is running
WARNING: The Ash Pan Door must be in
the latched position during normal
operation.
WARNING: The Firebox Door must be in
the latched position during normal
operation.
Lighting Your Stove. (Refer to Figure 2)
1. Make sure there are pellets in the hopper and
the viewing door and ash pan door are closed.
2. Push the On/Off button on the control board.
(Button #2)
At this point all that needs to be done is to
monitor the burn pot to make sure the stove starts
up properly. Once the On/Off button has been
pushed the Start Up program takes over.
The Start up Program works as follows:
a. The Combustion fan and Room fan come on
at high speed and the control board checks to
make sure the Vacuum switch locks in. (See
Diagnostic features in column to the right.)
b. When the board senses the Vacuum switch
the Combustion fan drops to the #1 setting
and the Room fan shuts off.
c. The Igniter and the Auger come on (the
Auger only runs for 2 minutes). The stove
will typically light in the first 3 - 4 minutes.
After 5 minutes the board checks for “Proof
of Fire” and starts feeding pellets on the #1
setting (See Diagnostic Features in the
column to the right). Once the board senses
P.O.F. the Igniter shuts off and the stove has
started successfully.
d. If the board fails to sense P.O.F. it will repeat
the previous step and continue feeding pellets on
the #1 setting for 5 more minutes.
e. The board will check for P.O.F. one more time.
If the board still fails to sense the Proof of Fire
switch, the stove will go into “Safety shutdown”
(See Diagnostic Features in the column below).
If this happens, repeat steps 1 through 4 from the
section on Lighting Your Stove.
CAUTION: NEVER ADD FIRE STARTER TO
A HOT STOVE.
Shutting The Stove Off (Refer to Figure 2)
1. Press the On/Off switch (2) once; the lights will
go off and the fire will go out in a few minutes. The
board essentially goes into “Safety shutdown”.
2. As long as the Exhaust Temperature within the
stove remains above 110°F, the Room Air Fan, the
Combustion Exhaust Fan and the Versa Grate motor
will continue to run. Once the P.O.F. switch drops
out the Combustion Fan runs for another 10 minutes
and finally the stove shuts down completely.
3. NEVER unplug the stove to shut it off. Doing so
may cause a significant amount of smoke to enter
the room.
Diagnostic Features of the Control Board
The #2 LED and the #3 LED lights on the LED
Light bar as show in Figure 2 will flash to give a
diagnostic code to help in diagnosing problems that
may occur.
These conditions fall into 2 categories:
a. Heat related issues.
b. Vacuum related issues.
The Diagnostic Lights flash as follows:
The Proof of Fire switch. This switch will sense
the temperature of the Exhaust rising during start
up. If the Exhaust temperature does not reach
110 degrees F, or if during use the temperature
drops below 110 degrees F, the Stove will go
into “Internal Alarm” and the Auger will quit
feeding fuel. Once the stove completes the
York Operations Manual
Page 6

safety shutdown, the #3 LED will start
blinking. (See Figure 2 on Page 5 and point 3
on page 15)
1. The High Limit switch. This sensor will
sense if the unit reaches temperatures that are
too high for normal operation. If this happens
the Auger will quit feeding and the #2 and #3
LED lights will flash simultaneously. (See
Figure 2 on Page 5 and point 4 on page 16)
2. The Vacuum Switch - For the stove to
operate, the Firebox needs to be sealed.
During the first 30 seconds after the stove has
been turned on the Control Board will check
if the switch senses negative pressure
(Vacuum) in the Firebox of the stove. If there
is no negative pressure, the stove will shut
down and the #2 LED will start blinking.
(See Figure 2 on Page 5 and point 2 on page
15).
“Power Reset”. If the board becomes
unresponsive you must unplug the stove, wait 10
seconds and plug the stove back in to reset the
board.
“Internal Alarm”. When the control board
becomes unresponsive, the control board is in
Internal Alarm. The control board has sensed one
of the Safety sensors. This may cause the stove to
go out. In some cases, after waiting
approximately 45 seconds the stove will start
responding to the control board again. Many
times, the cause of this is a change in the vacuum
inside the stove. This may be caused by excessive
wind, opening the Firebox door or opening the
Ash Pan door. The control board will monitor the
vacuum switch and resume normal operation if
the vacuum returns to normal.
Safety Features
York Operations Manual
WARNING: These safet
y
features are
designed to protect life and propert
y
.
B
y
passin
g
these features voids all warranties
and the safety listing of the stove.
1. ”High Limit” switch”, an overheat
safety switch will shut off the fuel feed if the
Stove reaches temperatures above normal
operating temperature. This is a “Normally
Closed” switch and is part of the Fan limit
control. If the High limit switch trips several
times, the problem in the Stove must be
diagnosed before the Stove is put back in
service, (Defective Room Fan, dirty Room
Fan, dirty Return Air Filter, defective Fan
Limit Control or possibly a bad Control
Board)
2. Proof of Fire switch also called the P.O.F.
This senses the temperature rise in the exhaust
system. The switch is “Normally Open” and
closes the circuit at 110 degrees. The Stove will
shut down if temperatures above 110 degrees F
are not sensed during start up or if the
temperature drops below 110 degrees during
normal operation.
3. Vacuum switch also called the Negative
pressure switch. When the stove is turned on
the Exhaust fan will create a negative pressure in
the firebox. The control board continually
checks to see if Negative Pressure (vacuum) is
present during operation of the Stove. If the
exhaust venting system becomes clogged or
obstructed, the firebox door or ash pan door are
left open or the exhaust fan quits working the
control board will go into “Safety shutdown”.
There is a 60 second window to allow for
cleaning the glass and removing the clinker
before then Stove shuts down. This is sufficient
for the Daily Maintenance
The St. Croix Pellet Stove has been Safety Tested
by an accredited, independent laboratory.
Damper Adjustment
When burning pellets make sure to check for the
formation of creosote in the unit and venting
system. Constantly running the stove on a low
setting with too much combustion air may cause
creosote to form. Burn pot temperatures can be
“too cool” when burning on low with too much
draft.
Adjusting the Damper may take a little time and
patience, but only needs to be done once. After the
damper has been adjusted to the venting system in
your home, the control board will do the rest.
The purpose of this damper is to adjust combustion
airflow to match the characteristic of each specific
air inlet and chimney configuration. The damper has
been preset at the factory and is about 80% closed.
This setting will work with most installations. Tall
Page 7

vertical runs might need the damper to be closed
a little. To adjust the damper, use the Damper
knob on the right side of the insert, just above the
control board (See Figure 3 and 4). To make an
adjustment, turn the knob clockwise to close the
damper and counter clockwise to open the
damper. The knob only turns 90 degrees. Do not
move the indicator more than 1/16” at a time.
After making an adjustment wait at least 15
minutes to see how the burn pot reacts to the
change. Additional Draft Adjustments can be
made for Heat Level 1 by using the “Draft Trim”
button on the control board (See point 4 on page
4). Adjusting the damper during the break in
period is very important (See “Preventing
Chimney Fires” on page 3). Break-in requires
the burning of 15 bags of pellets or continuous
burn for two weeks. If during the initial break-in
period you experience difficulty keeping the
stove burning or there appears to be an excessive
amount of burning pellets being evacuated from
the burn grate, it may be necessary to close the
damper some more. Once the damper is adjusted,
the stove will run fine without having to make a
change to the damper setting, unless the stove is
run on 5 for extended periods of time (See
“Flame Pattern Characteristics” in the column
to the right). It is normal for ash and some
sparks to be continually evacuated from the burn
grate. This is how the grate continuously cleans
itself.
Figure 3
The equivalent of a teacup of unburned pellets a day
in the ash pan is considered normal.
Flame Pattern Characteristics
Correct Flame Pattern - Bright yellowish-white
flame with a brisk movement, having sharp pointed
end tips extending up towards the Heat Exchange
Tubes while forming a fan-like shape. Small
amounts of ash and some live sparks being blown
out from the Burn Pot area is considered normal
operation.
Incorrect Flame Pattern - Dark orangish-brown
flame with a lazy movement, having black smoky
end tips curling up and over the Heat Exchange
Tubes while forming a fireball-like shape. Some Ash
or Live Sparks not being blown out from the Burn
Pot area is considered abnormal operation.
Extremely black soot forming on the ceramic glass
surface is a sign of very poor combustion (not
enough combustion air) and should not be
overlooked. At the other end of the spectrum; an
extremely brisk flame which blows large pieces of
live coal out from the Burn Pot area and causes
stubborn shiny black build-up on the glass (too
much combustion air) is also considered undesirable.
If you experience problems adjusting the stove
during the Break-In Period, contact your dealer.
Figure 4
York Operations Manual
Page 8

MAINTAINING THE STOVE
The stove requires a minimum amount of daily
maintenance. Required maintenance depends
largely upon the quality of pellet fuel burned and
the rate of burn. The amount of daily
maintenance will increase if fuel quality
decreases and/or the burning rate of pellets
increases.
NOTE: FAILURE TO KEEP YOUR STOVE
CLEAN, AS DESCRIBED IN THIS
MANUAL, COULD RESULT IN POOR
OPERATION, INEFFICIENT FUEL
USAGE AND A POSSIBLE SAFETY
HAZARD! IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
TO DETERMINE NEEDED MAINTE-
NANCE FREQUENCY.
All models are equipped with the Versa Grate
System (see Figure 5 below). The benefit of this
feature is that the stove can operate for longer
periods of time, with most fuels, without the grate
requiring cleaning. If the flame becomes dark
orange, is accompanied by black smoke or burns
with a lazy motion - it’s time to clean the grate.
Remember, cleaning frequency may change
dramatically from one fuel to another. Pellets with
high ash content or that have increased amounts of
impurities or high moisture content will require
more frequent cleaning.
When you first operate your stove or whenever
you change fuels check to determine needed
cleaning frequency.
The Versa Grate System – First, let’s become
familiar with the burn system in a St. Croix Pellet
stove. The system in the York Insert is a little
different than in the Freestanding models (See Fig 5
below). There is a 2-piece burnpot. The top Part is
called the “Grate Weldment”. This sits on top of
the “Shaker Plate”. This in turn sits on top of the
“Shaft/Cage Weldment” and is held in place with
the “Spacer” & “Self Locking Twist pin”. The
Shaft/Cage weldment is moved towards the front of
the stove and then towards the back of the stove by
the “Cam” that is connected to the “Versa Grate
Motor”. This motion is constant while the stove is
in operation. The only parts that may need to be
removed for cleaning purposes during the Daily or
Periodic Maintenance are the “Grate weldment” and
the “Shaker Plate”. The holes in the burnpot will get
plugged with use and should be checked regularly.
Figure 5
York Operations Manual
Page 9

York Operations Manual
Page 10
To reinstall the Ash Pan
Door see fig. 7 on page 11
Daily Maintenance
1. Check Grate Weldment and Shaker Plate (See
figure 5) to determine if holes are plugged. Clean
as needed. With proper precautions the grate may
be partially cleaned while the stove is hot. Follow
these steps:
CAUTION: THE DOOR AND FRONT PART
OF THE STOVE WILL BE HOT. DO NOT
TOUCH ANY PART OF THE STOVE THAT
IS HOT!
a. Wear a leather glove that covers the lower arm.
b. Turn the Stove to Heat Level 1 and allow the
flame to burn down to a low burn.
c. Open the firebox door slowly to prevent
drawing ash or odors into the room.
d. Use the “scraper” provided to move the
burning pellets to one side of the grate, leaving
the ash in the bottom of the grate. (See Fig 5 & 6)
e. Rake the ash & clinkers out over the grate into
the ash pan.
f. Rake the burning pellets across the bottom of
the grate.
g. Close the door.
h. Re-select the desired heat setting.
CAUTION: NEVER ADD FIRE STARTER TO
A HOT STOVE.
2. There are 3 separate ash pans (See figure 7) in the
York insert. Be sure to empty the center ash pan
before it is allowed to plug the burn grate. If stove is
burning with a lazy flame be sure to check the
center ash pan. Check Ash Pans frequently to
determine how often they need to be emptied.
NOTE: Do not use a vacuum cleaner for this
purpose. Hot coals may cause your vacuum filter to
catch fire. Place ashes in a metal container with a
tight fitting lid. The closed container of ashes should
be placed on a noncombustible floor or on the
ground, well away from all combustible materials,
pending final disposal. If the ashes are disposed of
by burial in soil or otherwise locally dispersed, they
should be retained in the closed container for at least
two days until all cinders have thoroughly cooled.
To access the ash pans rotate the “Quick Release”
ash pan handle 90 degrees away from the stove (See
Figure 6) and tip the ash pan door out 45 degrees.
This allows the ash pan door to lift away from the
stove and be set aside. Empty Ash pans one at a time
into a small container. When replacing the ash pan
door remember to tip the door at a 45-degree angle
as shown in figure 7 before placing the Ash Door
Hinge Points, small half moon notch in lower
corners of the ash pan door, on the hinge pins (see
figure 7). Press the door into the pins and rotate up
at the same time. Rotate the handle 90 degrees to
latch ash door.
Fi
g
ure 6

York Operations Manual
3. Once or twice daily pull the Heat Exchange
Tube Scraper (See figure 6) out and back to clean
heat exchange tubes. Failure to operate the tube
scraper daily may result in poor combustion and
loss of heat output. This should be done when the
stove is cool or operating on the low temperature
setting.
4. Clean the Glass. The rate of burn and the
quality of fuel will determine how often the
window needs cleaning. Prolonged burning at a
slow burn rate will result in the need for more
frequent window cleaning. Burning poor fuel also
increases the need to clean the window. Cooling
the stove and wiping the window daily with a
cloth or paper towel will normally keep the
window from accumulating difficult to clean
residue. Use of a glass cleaner ONLY permitted
when the stove is cold. Tip: Dip the damp towel
in the ashes to remove stubborn buildup on the
glass.
CAUTION: Do not slam the door. Do not
operate the stove with a broken or cracked
glass. Replace only with heat resistant
ceramic glass supplied by the
manufacturer.
5. Burn the stove at the HI fuel setting for at
least 20 to 30 minutes each day. This helps keep
the glass, brick panels and firebox area clean. A
daily high burn also aids in maintaining the
overall efficiency and performance of the stove.
Periodic Maintenance
CAUTION: Periodic maintenance should only be
done while the stove is shut off and cold.
Press the door into the pins and rotate up at the same time. Rotate the handle 90 degrees to latch
ash doo
r
Figure 7
1. Empty the ash pans (see figure 6). The frequency
of cleaning the ash pans will depend on the quality
and amount of pellets being used. Carefully check to
make sure the bottom hinge pins are engaged after
closing the ash pan door.
2. Clean the Ash Traps. The York Insert has 2
exhaust cleanout covers (see figure 8) located below
the rear brick panel. IT IS CRITICAL THAT YOU
KEEP ASH CLEAN OUTS CLEAN FOR
SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE. Remove
covers and clean regularly. To access the Ash traps
for the first time remove the shipping screws that
attach the Decorative Grates on both sides and
discard them. Remove both side grates and pull
Page 11

York Operations Manual
the bottom of the ash trap covers towards the
front of the stove. This will allow the covers
to slide out of the slot that holds them in
place. Vacuum area behind the covers
regularly and do not allow area to become
plugged. If stove is burning with a lazy
flame be sure to check the ash traps.
Frequency of cleaning Ash Traps depends on
the amount of fuel being burnt and the
quality of the pellets. Fuel with low ash
content is recommended. Failure to clean
the ash traps can cause the stove to
become plugged with fly ash and could
result in a Safety Hazard.
3. Clean holes in the Grate Weldment and
Shaker Plate at least weekly. Remove the
burn grate and use a small metal object to
clean out plugged holes (See figure 5).
Figure 8
4. Remove the baffle and clean the ashes that
accumulate on a regular basis. Once a month or
sooner, depending on the quality of fuel being
used.
Fi
g
ure 9
Page 12

To remove the baffle (See Figure 9), lift the
baffle and move it towards the front of the
stove. The baffle rests on the side brick in the
stove and is not attached with any fasteners.
Clean the baffle on a regular basis.
Frequency of cleaning depends on amount of
fuel being burnt and the quality of the pellets.
Fuel with low ash content is recommended.
Failure to clean the baffle can cause the
stove to become plugged with fly ash and
could result in a Safety Hazard.
York Operations Manual
5. Periodic cleaning of the exhaust system is
required. Under certain conditions creosote
buildup may occur rapidly. Low quality
pellets and poor installations require more
frequent chimney cleanings. See Page 3
“Preventing Chimney Fires”. The products
of combustion will also contain small
particles of fly ash. The fly ash will collect in
the exhaust vent and restrict the flow of the
flue gases. Determine the frequency of
cleaning by checking the amount of ash that
accumulates in the elbows or tees of the
exhaust system. Ask the dealer for suggested
frequency of cleaning, equipment needed and
procedures for cleaning.
Check the exhaust system at least once
every two months during the first heating
season or whenever switching to a new
fuel, to determine how often this is needed.
Yearly Maintenance
Many dealers offer a Service Contract that
will cover needed Periodic and Yearly
maintenance. Contact your St. Croix dealer
for assistance in maintaining your stove in
top condition.
Yearly maintenance is designed to assure
safe operation, prolong the life of the stove
and help preserve its aesthetic appeal.
1. Spring Shutdown. After the last burn in
the spring, cool the stove. Remove all pellets
from the hopper and the auger. Thoroughly
clean the burn grate, burn grate box, ash pan
and ash traps behind the ash pan. (To locate the
ash traps see Figure 8 on page 12)
2. The exhaust system should be thoroughly
cleaned at least annually. Call your dealer for
this service.
3. Oil the Damper control shaft and the holes
in the 2” tube, to make sure the mechanism
moves freely (see figure 10).
Figure 10
4. The motor/fan area behind the Firebox and
under the Hopper should be vacuumed annually
(See figure 10). NOTE: UNPLUG THE
INSERT. Slide the Insert out of the Fireplace
and carefully clean or vacuum any sawdust,
cobwebs and household dust. Carefully vacuum
around the fan motors. Call your dealer for this
service.
5. The Exhaust fan should be removed and
cleaned annually. Figure 10 shows the Vacuum
Switch removed for easier access to the Exhaust
fan. Remove the Motor and Impellor from the
housing as shown (may require a new gasket) to
clean that area of the exhaust system. Clean the
Exhaust fan motor with compressed air. Be sure
to remove any heavy build-up on the impellor at
this time. Call dealer for this service. Annual
oiling of the motors is not needed.
Page 13

6. Remove the Room Fan on a Yearly basis
(may require a new gasket) and clean the
Squirrel Cage and motor with compressed
air. The room fan has 2 oil ports and should
be oiled yearly.
7. With the Room Fan removed you have
easy access to the Versa Grate system. This
should also be lubricated on a yearly basis
with some High Temp Anti-Seize (can be
purchased at a local car parts store). There
are several areas to lubricate (see figure 11
below). They are: the Cam, Rear Bushing &
Rod of the Shaft/Cage Weldment and the
Front Bushing (for location of the front
bushing see figure 5 on page 9, it is located
in the front of the stove, below the Grate
Weldment and Shaker Plate in the Firebox).
York Operations Manual
These are all moving parts and over time may
start making a high-pitched “Squealing”
sound.
Figure 11
8. Periodically inspect the condition of the
rope gasket around the door, window and ash
door. Replace as needed.
SAFE OPERATION.
1. Disposal of Ashes. Ashes should be placed
in a metal container with a tight fitting lid. The
closed container of ashes should be placed on a
non-combustible floor or on the ground, well
away from all combustible materials, pending
final disposal. If the ashes are disposed of burial
in soil or otherwise locally dispersed, they
should be retained in the container until all
cinders have thoroughly cooled.
2. Never use Gasoline, gasoline type lantern
fluid. Kerosene, charcoal lighter fluid or similar
liquids to start or “freshen up” a fire in this
heater. Keep all such liquids well away from the
heater while it is in use.
3. Creosote, Soot and Fly Ash: Formation
and Need for Removal. The products of
combustion will contain small particles of Fly
Ash. The fly ash will collect in the venting
system and restrict the flow of flue gases.
Incomplete combustion, such as occurs during
start-up and shut-down, or incorrect operation of
the room heater will lead to some soot or
creosote formation which will collect in the
venting system. The exhaust system should be
inspected regularly during the heating season to
determine if creosote buildup has occurred.
Check more frequently at first to determine a
schedule for cleaning the venting system based
on individual use of this Pellet-burning heater. If
creosote has accumulated, it should be removed
to reduce the risk of a chimney fire.
4. Do not over fire this unit. Follow all
instructions regarding the proper use of this
heater
Fall Startup. Prior to lighting the first fire check the outside area around the exhaust and air
intake s
y
stems for obstructions. Tr
y
all controls to see that the
y
are workin
g
p
rior to li
g
htin
g
a
Page 14

TROUBLESHOOTING & FRQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The stove is very trouble free in operation when properly maintained and quality pellets are used.
When the stove fails to operate properly, troubleshooting by the operator of the stove is limited. Please
read the following guide for answers to frequently asked questions
1. When first starting the stove remember the auger tube is empty, which will delay feeding fuel to
the burn pot. This will in some cases prevent the stove from starting.
Solution: Prime the burn pot if the auger tube is empty.
2. My stove isn’t burning and the number 2 Feed Light is blinking. This diagnostic light
indicates the vacuum switch no longer senses negative pressure in the firebox area of the stove.
What caused the stove to go out?
a. The door of the unit was left open longer than 60 seconds. (See solution)
b. The ash pan door was left open for longer than 60 seconds. (See solution)
c. The combustion fan is not running. (Defective fan or control board)
d. The vacuum switch is defective.
e. The vacuum hose is disconnected
a. The vent system is plugged with fly ash.
Solution: If the fire is out, re-light the stove. If the fire is still burning make sure all doors
are securely latched and hold down the On/Off button (approximately 5 seconds)
until stove starts up again. This will restart the stove in the start-up program.
Occasionally use the auger button to manually feed fuel until the auto-feed takes
over (Auto feed will start 5 minutes after the stove has been restarted).
3. My stove isn’t burning and the number 3 Feed Light is blinking. This diagnostic light
indicates that the Proof of Fire Switch no longer senses a fire in the stove. First check to see if
there are pellets in the hopper. If there are pellets in the hopper, why did the stove go out?
a. Unburned fuel in the Burn Pot means the fire went out before the Auger
quit feeding.
Solution: There is too much combustion air, adjust the air damper or the Draft Trim on
Level 1. Pellets would still feed until the P.O.F. switch eventually shuts the stove
down (See Damper Adjustment in the Operations Manual and point 8 on page 18).
b. If the Burn Pot is empty means the Auger quit feeding fuel while there
was still a fire in the burnpot. Check to see if there is fuel in the hopper. If
the hopper is empty, fill the hopper and re-light the stove.
c. If there is fuel in the hopper, check to see if there is an obstruction in the
auger system or if the auger set screw is loose.
Solution: Remove obstruction and re-light the stove or tighten the setscrew on the
auger shaft.
York Operations Manual
Page 15

4. My stove isn’t burning and the #2 and #3 Feed Lights are blinking simultaneously. These 2
LED lights diagnose the High Limit Switch and will indicate the stove reached an Over Temp
situation.
a. Check to see if the High Limit switch needs to be reset. If the High limit
switch needs to be reset, do not use the stove until you find out why the High
Limit tripped.
b. The room air fan could be defective or the fan may need cleaning.
c. The high limit switch also may be defective. It is best to call your dealer for
support when trying to troubleshoot the High Limit Switch. Do not use your
stove if the High Limit switch frequently trips.
5. I lit the stove and the # 2 Feed Light immediately started blinking and smoke spills out of
the stove. How do I get the stove to quit smoking?
Cause: The stove did not establish a vacuum and shut down. With the fuel in the pot
burning, the smoke finds the path of least resistance and leaks out into the house.
(See Installations Manual. Minimum vertical height needed to establish some
natural draft and prevent smoke spillage)
Solution: Pull the Slide-Out Bottom out and drop the fuel into the ash pan. This will
minimize the amount of smoke that can spill into the room.
6. I turned the stove on with the On/Off switch and nothing happens. First check to see if the
stove is plugged in and the receptacle has power to it.
Solution: Check the fuse on the back of the control board. Replace with a 250 Volt, 5 Amp
fuse. Part Number 80P20057-R
7. Why is my glass dirty? Normal operation of your St. Croix stove will produce a white/tan
build-up on the glass that wipes off with a dry paper towel. However, extended burning on the
low setting only, will produce a darker tan color. These types of build-up on the glass are normal.
A heavy black build-up on the glass could indicate a problem.
Solution: Adjust the combustion air setting to the proper setting. If this doesn’t seem to
help, make sure the clean out cover plates are installed in the stove. It also could
be an indication that the stove is getting plugged and needs a good cleaning. Refer
to the section in the manual that covers the Daily, Periodic and Yearly
Maintenance of the stove.
York Operations Manual
Page 16

8. How do I adjust my low burn (#1 setting)? Not all pellets
burn at the same rate. The quality of the pellets and the BTU
content greatly influences the burn. Following is a
description of the function of the auger trim button. The
type of fuel used will determine the solution needed. Higher
BTU fuel may require a reduction of the federate. Lower
BTU fuel may require an increase in the federate.
Solution: The auger trim button on the control board
allows the feed rate on #1 to be increased or decreased
depending on the type of fuel used.
a. Pressing the auger trim button once will turn
the #1 and #5 light on at the same time. This
is an increase of .25 seconds to the On-Time
of the #1 setting.
This is the #1-High setting, 1.75 seconds
Using the auger trim button is also helpful when trying to
keep the glass cleaner when burning on the #1 setting. The
more fuel on low will usually mean less build up on the
glass.
b. Pressing the auger trim button again will turn
on the #1 and #4 light at the same time. This
will decrease the feed rate by .25 seconds.
This is the #1-Low setting, 1.25 seconds.
The #1 Low setting will give less heat, but will also cause
more build-up to form on the glass.
York Operations Manual
Page 17

9. Why is my glass dirty and how to use the Fan button to help
correct it? Normal operation of your St. Croix stove will produce
a build-up on the glass that should be wiped off on a daily basis.
However certain types of pellets or extended burning on the low
setting will cause the glass to smoke up faster.
A heavy black build-up on the glass could indicate a problem.
You will find two types of heavy build-up that should be looked
into further.
a. A heavy black sooty build-up that wipes off
easily with a dry paper towel.
Solution: This type of build up usually means not enough
combustion air. First look at the condition of the
burnpot to determine that it doesn’t need
cleaning. If the pot is plugged the burning
pellets will be lacking in combustion air and
produce black soot. Clean the pot and only adjust
the damper after observing the burn. If you see
black tips of smoke on the flame open the
damper in small increments (Read “Damper
Adjustment” on page 8). After adjusting the
damper wait 15 minutes for the pot to balance out
before making another adjustment.
b. A heavy shiny “glazed” build up on the glass usually means too much air when
the stove is burning on the lower levels (levels 1 & 2). When burning the stove like this the pellets
“flame-out” every so often, when the auger feeds more pellets they tend to smolder too much
causing this stubborn build-up on the glass.
Solution: First trim the combustion fan voltage for level 1 by pressing the fan button once
(see button in figure to the right indicated with the arrow). You will see all five
lights on the light bar flash once. This will reduce the combustion fan voltage by
approximately 5 volts. Stoves hooked to tall vertical chimneys may need another
adjustment by pressing the fan button again. All five lights on the light bar will
flash twice. This will reduce the voltage again. Pressing the fan button again or if
the stove is unplugged will reset the voltage to the default setting. This will help
compensate for the natural draft in the chimney. Secondly read the section in the
Operations Manual on adjusting the damper. close the damper until the flame gets
lazy with black tips on the flame. Now open the damper in small increments of
1/16th of an inch or less. Wait 15 minutes after each adjustment to observe the
burn. Once the flame becomes brisk without black tips you have the correct
amount of air. Do not open the damper too far (Read “Preventing Chimney Fires
on page 3 of this manual)
Remember: Any of the above mentioned adjustments to the #1 setting using the Draft Trim
or the Feed Trim on the control board will be lost if the unit gets unplugged or if there is a
Power Failure.
York Operations Manual
Page 18

10. The ON/OFF light blinks under certain conditions. Does this mean anything?
a. The ON/OFF light blinking will mean one of two things.
When the stove is first started and the stove is in the
“Start-up” program, the light blinks until the “Proof of
Fire” switch locks in. This indicates the “Normal
Operation” and the light stays on constantly.
b. If the stove is running on a Thermostat, it will start up as
described in point (a), but during “Normal Operation”
when the Thermostat is not calling for heat the stove
drops to the #1 setting and “Pilots” until the thermostat
calls for heat again. The LED light indicating the Heat
Level will not drop to the #1 setting during “Pilot
Mode”. During this time the ON/OFF light will be
blinking and the auger light blinks when pellets are
feeding into the burnpot, indicating that the stove is in
“Pilot Mode”. If the stove is running in “SmartStat”
Mode, the stove will shut down completely 1 hour after
the Thermostat called for heat the last time. Once the
stove has completely shut down, all lights on the board
are off with the exception of the On/Off light. It will be
blinking.
11. The ON/OFF light is always blinking and the stove only runs on with a low fire, even
though I have the Heat Level on #5.
If the stove is operating on a Thermostat, this usually indicates a problem in the Thermostat
circuit. There is either a bad connection in the wires or the Thermostat itself has a problem.
Troubleshoot all of the components in the system.
If the stove is not operating on a Thermostat, make sure the slide switch on the control board is in
the “Manual” position.
12. I am running my stove on the SmartStat with a Thermostat and I can’t shut the stove down.
This may also be an indication of a problem in the thermostat circuit or of running the stove
incorrectly. If the slide switch with #6 (See figure 2 on page 5) is set to “SmartStat” and the
thermostat circuit is calling for heat, the stove cannot be shut off at the control board. You must
first shut the thermostat off and then shut the stove off at the control board. If this isn’t possible it
may indicate a problem in the thermostat wires from the stove to the Thermostat or a defective
Thermostat.
These questions and answers will usually solve most problems that you run into during the break-
in period of the stove or if a component fails in the stove. Before calling your dealer for
assistance, please read your Operations Manual and perform all the maintenance issues covered
in the Daily and Periodic Maintenance section of the Manual. If the stove still does not operate
correctly call your Dealer for Assistance.
York Operations Manual
Page 19