Thelin Hearth GNOME PELLET E.I. User manual

GNOME PELLET E.I.
Pellet Heater Owner's Manual
Installation and Operating Instructions
SAFETY NOTICE
HEATER MUST BE PROPERLY INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED OR A HOUSE FIRE MAY
RESULT.
FOR YOUR SAFETY, FOLLOW THE INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS.
CONTACT LOCAL BUILDING OFFICIALS ABOUT RESTRICTIONS AND INSTALLATION
INSPECTION.
FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH OWNER'S MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS WILL VOID
WARRANTY.
PLEASE LEAVE THIS MANUAL WITH THE OWNER!!
Warnock Hersey Test Labs, Middleton, WI
Please read this
entire manual
before installation.
Save these
instructions.

GNOME PELLET E.I. PELLET HEATER
13
MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES
CAUTION: Moving parts may cause injury. DO
NOT operate with rear cover removed.
WARNING: Risk of electrical shock. Disconnect
all power before servicing.
Always turn your heater off and let it cool before
cleaning.
Your Gnome Pellet Heater requires routine
maintenance for maximum performance, and it is
mandatory for the warranty to remain in effect.
The following procedures should be studied
carefully and performed regularly as indicated.
FIGURE 13
1. Fly Ash: Some ash will accumulate in the heat
exchanger, firepot, and the flue. These should be
cleaned on a regular basis for best efficiency
and safety. When the heater is shut down and
cold, you should:
a. Vacuum inside stove ash pockets on both
sides of fire pot.
b. Open door and remove clean out cover. To
remove, simply lift up and out from
retaining notched cutout on vertical wall
(see Figure 13). Clean one side at a time.
With one cover removed, leave the door
open 1" and push the “Clean” button. Let
heater run 30 seconds, push to “Off,” and
replace cover. Remove the remaining clean
out cover and repeat procedure for other
side.
c. Vacuum inside stove ash pockets on both
sides of fire pot.
d. Remove fire pot by lifting up and out. It
may be brushed out or vacuumed. Fire pot
should be cleaned regularly. Make sure
slots in pot are not plugged. The area
around and below the pot should be
checked every five or six days depending
on how many hours a day you are burning
your heater and the quality of the pellets
being burned. After a few days you will be
able to determine the frequency required for
cleaning. You can also remove the fire pot
holder for thorough cleaning (see Figure
14). Scrape pellet feed chute with putty
knife to remove hardened material on
which sawdust can accumulate.
e. The tee connector on the vent pipe must
have a clean out cap and this must be
checked every four to six weeks or
whenever you utilize the "Clean" mode on
the control dial.
f. Fly ash can also accumulate in the vent
pipe. Inspect the exhaust system frequently
to maintain free flow of exhaust fumes.
This depends entirely on the quality of the
pellets, so you will initially monitor the
buildup in the vent pipe. Those installations
going into an existing flue must be installed
with a tee connector to allow access to
clean the ash from the pellet vent pipe.
See Item b. below for Routine Maintenance Instructions

GNOME PELLET E.I. PELLET HEATER
14
2. Hopper Clean Out: Vacuum the accumulated
saw dust in the hopper weekly. Keep free of
debris and foreign material. An accumulation of
saw dust can cause irregular pellet feed. For best
results this should be done on a regular basis
depending on how often the heater is used. If
you burn the heater all of the time, you should
do this every eight to ten days.
3. Cleaning the Exhaust Fan Blade & Heat
Exchanger: The exhaust blower should be
checked for excessive fly ash buildup. Regular
and routine maintenance utilizing the clean out
feature will keep the exhaust blower housing
and fan blades clean. This cleaning can only be
done when the heater is not burning. For best
results, run the fan in the "Clean" position with
the door open for approximately 45 seconds or
until ash is no longer being picked up by the
fan. Remember, you must always check the
clean out cap on the tee after utilizing the clean
feature (see Figure 13).
(See Figure 17 for routine stove clean out and
maintenance.)
4. Cleaning the Fan Guard: The plastic fan guard
on the bottom of the stove must be kept free of
lint and dust. Check weekly for lint build-up and
vacuum as necessary.
5. Keeping the Glass Clean: If soot deposits
accumulate on the glass, clean with window
glass cleaner and a paper towel when the glass
is cold.
6. Polishing the Gold and Chrome: All gold and
chrome plating used on the Gnome can be
cleaned with a soft cloth and non-abrasive
cleaner.
7. Cleaning and Polishing Gold-Plated Parts:
Gold is a soft metal and, therefore, a fragile
surface. It will not discolor from heat, but it can
easily be scratched. Prior to the first burn it is
important to use Windex or comparable product
and a soft clean cloth to wipe any fingerprints
off all gold surfaces or the heat will cause the oil
in the fingerprint to remain in the surface
permanently. Always clean the gold surface
when the heater is cool!
This Gnome Pellet Heater has been tested and
approved by Warnock Hersey Test Labs in
Middleton, Wisconsin.
TROUBLESHOOTING
The following scenarios are provided in order to
help you locate a difficulty if the heater performs in
a manner that would seem to indicate a malfunction:
1. Problem: I loaded the heater for start-up, lit the
fire starter and pellets, but the fire did not light.
Solution: Check power cord to see that it is
plugged in tightly to the bottom of the stove. Is
the LED light blinking when you push the Low,
Medium, or High button? If not, check the fuse
for the ignitor located on the bottom of the stove
in the red fuse holder. Remember that the timer
on start-up runs about six minutes and if the
pellets have not lit, then you may have to repeat
the start-up sequence. Also, the stove only runs
on one speed until a temperature is reached that
activates the run mode. This usually takes 15 to
20 minutes, and in extremely cold climates, you
might have to repeat the start-up procedure for
the stove to reach this temperature.
2. Problem: The heater was lit and burning
properly, then suddenly it stopped feeding
pellets.
Solution: Check pellet supply in hopper. If
empty, fill and follow start-up procedure.
Occasionally, a foreign object, debris, or an
excessive amount of sawdust can enter the feed
mechanism and jam the feed chute. If this
happens, you must empty the hopper and check
the feed chute to see what is causing the jam.
Remove any foreign material or object and
restart the heater. CAUTION: Keep fingers and

GNOME PELLET E.I. PELLET HEATER
15
hands clear of the feed mechanism when heater
is on.
3. Problem: The fire was burning well and then it
began to overfeed pellets and started backing up
into the pellet feed chute, smothering the fire.
Solution: When the pellets are overfeeding, it
usually means that the air flow has been
reduced. Check the fire pot air intake holes to be
sure they are clear. Check to see if fire pot was
properly seated in the pot tray. If you use a low-
grade pellet and clinkers (fused ash and dirt)
form in the bottom of the fire pot and chock the
air intake, you might consider changing the
brand of pellets to one that burns cleaner. You
must let the fire go out before removing and
cleaning the fire pot. Never vacuum out the
heater when the heater is in operation! The hot
ashes can lodge in your vacuum cleaner and
cause a fire! You must clean the heat exchanger
manifold (see Figure 13) regularly to ensure a
good air to fuel ration, thus allowing the heater
to "breathe" properly. You must also check the
tee and vent pipe to see that they are not clogged
and full of ash.
4. Problem: The heater was burning well and then
soot began forming on the door glass.
Solution: Black soot forming on the door glass
means that the combustion is not right and the
heater needs a good clean out. Some brands of
pellets burn much richer than others and you
might have to change brands of pellets and/or
have the air/fuel settings readjusted by your
dealer. It is normal to have the glass cloud up
after several hours of burning, but it should
wipe off with a good window cleaner. If the
glass turns black quickly, then the heater needs
a good clean out.
5. Problem: We had a power failure and the heater
emitted smoke for about five minutes.
Solution: If the heater emits smoke during a
power failure and you have frequent power
failures, then we suggest you purchase the
battery back-up system. If the vent pipe is
installed according to these instructions, the
smoke will siphon out of the pipe in most
instances.
6. Problem: After several weeks of outstanding
performance, the heater suddenly stopped and
the red light under the control panel came on.
This light is the High Temp/Flue indicator light.
Solution: The High Temp/Flue indicator light
indicates that fly ash has built up in the exhaust
system and/or there is a restriction in the
exhaust/flue system. Check the pipe system for
excessive ash and clogging, particularly the vent
cap. Remove the clean out cap on the tee and
make sure that ash has not blocked the exhaust
air flow. This automatic shut down in case of
flue clogging is a safety feature, and if the shut
down occurs it means you have a problem and
should consult a service technician and/or clean
your pipe and heater thoroughly. If you feel the
fly ash build-up is excessive, we suggest you try
another pellet brand. In most climates the pellets
and fly ash can absorb moisture from the air and
create creosote and a severe clogging problem.
Keep this in mind when you store and handle
your pellets. The heater warranty does not cover
the quality of the fuels used or the way they may
be handled, either before or after you've
purchased them.
7. Problem: I turned off the switch and the heater
continued running.
Solution: This is normal. The exhaust blower
will keep running until it cools down and then it
will automatically turn off. This can vary by the
temperature the exhaust has reached and the
temperature of the cooling air.
8. Problem: Fan motor speed varies, sometimes
running low and sometimes surging. Will run on
"High" or "Clean" but not on "Low."

GNOME PELLET E.I. PELLET HEATER
16
Solution: Fan motor brushes are wearing out.
Brushes in fan motor need to be replaced.
Contact your dealer or call factory for
replacement brushes.
9. Problem: Stove shuts off at night when running
on low.
Solution: Feed is to low. Adjust feed trim
button (turn clockwise) until feed can maintain
fire.
10. Problem: I see a flashing green light behind the
outer shield. What does this mean?
Solution: The flashing green light behind the
outer shield means the circuit board is
energized. This is okay. “Green means go.” All
systems are ready and operational.