Safety first: Disconnect the power cord and allow the appliance to go stone‑cold before touching any internal parts.
Because pellet quality, burn rate, and vent design differ from home to home, the intervals below are guidelines—use your own ash build‑up as the final judge.
Vermont Castings no longer produces pellet stoves, but many home owners are still keeping their discontinued VC pellet units alive by taking good care of the older units. The following article will describe maintenance procedures for these Vermont Castings pellet stoves. The pellet stoves produced by Vermont Castings were models Reliance 2220 and Reliance 2340.
Daily–Weekly Quick Checks (as needed)
Burn Pot Airflow
• Inspect the burn pot each day. If the air holes are capped with ash or clinker, use the factory scraper to clear them and shake debris into the chamber below.
• Dump what collects under the pot into the ash pan.
Ash Management
• Slide the ash gate open so combustion ash drops into the pan.
• When the pan is roughly two‑thirds full, empty it into a sealed, non‑combustible metal container kept outside.
Heat‑Exchanger Tubes
Once the stove is cool, hook the scraper rod through the hole in the burn‑pot tool, pull the rod toward the firebox until the scraper head reaches the opening, then return it. This motion keeps the tubes clean so they transfer heat efficiently.
Every 1–2 Months
Exhaust Stack & Internal Passages
Fly‑ash slowly coats the vent pipe and interior exhaust channels. Examine them every 30–60 days. On vertical runs, check the clean‑out tee; if more than a thin layer of ash/creosote is present, schedule a full sweep.
Every 6 Months
Thermal Low‑Limit Disc Switch
A bi‑metal disc switch mounted in the exhaust outlet senses when the stove has reached operating temperature. Every six months, vacuum loose ash around the switch, then (with the power still disconnected) pull the two spade connectors so you can wipe the disc face with a clean, dry cloth. Inspect the terminals for corrosion and make sure the wiring is tight. To confirm the switch is working, apply gentle heat with a hair dryer—listen for the tell‑tale “click” as it snaps closed around 120–140 °F. Replace the switch if it fails to close or the contacts look pitted. Re‑attach the leads securely before restoring power.
Motor Lubrication
Only exhaust blowers that feature oil ports (mostly older units) need attention. After six months of heavy use, add two or three drops of high‑temperature bearing oil. Auger and convection blowers arrive factory‑sealed and require no oil.
Yearly Deep‑Clean
Air‑Wash Slot
Dust and pet hair tend to lodge in the narrow channel that washes air over the glass. Slip a business card or similar stiff paper through the gap to push debris out, or remove the air‑wash bracket and brush the slot clean.
Baffle Plates & Firebrick
Once a season, pull the baffles and firebrick, then vacuum any ash or creosote hidden behind them. If this area plugs up, the fire will starve for air.
Door & Ash‑Pan Rope Gaskets
Catch a dollar bill in the closed door. A good gasket grips the bill; if it slides out easily, replace the rope. (Dollar‑bill paper is stiffer than printer paper, making the test more accurate.)