Find this answer here.
The biomass grill is not to be left unattended. You must use the fuel auger at least every 10 minutes.
Your unit is relying on natural draft, opposed to the forced air offered by a fan. There are ways to optimize your stove/grill's draft and heat:
1. Open the primary air gate as much as possible.
2. If necessary, completely close the openings in your lower secondary air (#2 air)
3. Make sure your cooking openings are completely covered
4. Is your chimney using its full length? If not, add all the provided extensions
Suggestion
1 will increase the primary air intake. Suggestions
2-4 will make the flow of air more direct, improving draft quality.
These changes should give you a fuller burn and higher heat.
This occurs when there is an overwhelming amount of pyrolisis gas (smoke) being created. There are some simple ways to control this:
1.
Decrease the amount of gas being made. Do this by starving the gasifier
of primary air. After some time (up to 60 seconds) the gas will be at a more
appropriate and manageable level for complete combustion.
2. Increase the amount of secondary air intake. Do this by opening the lower secondary air (#2 air) all the way. The added air helps combust more of the smoke. This solution works best mostly when combined with suggestion 1.
3. Starve the stove of fuel. Most times, the excess smoke comes from there being too much hot fuel in the gasifier. While attempting to eliminate the released smoke, do not feed in more fuel.
These
suggestions individually, or combined, should solve the problem.
No. You can determine when to empty the ash/char by the performance of the unit. If it seems the air flow through it is somewhat blocked, or the fuel level does not go down as fast as you're used to, then it is probably because of ash/char build up. If you like to play it on the safe side, Chip Energy suggests you empty it after no more than approx. five (5) hours of usage.
**A warranty plan is in development**
Wood Pellets contain the most energy per pound but are the most expensive at 10 to 12 cents per pound. To find the most cost effective fuel visit a local chip dump. Wood chips cannot be dumped into landfills now and are being gathered in specific areas. It is likely you can take certain amounts for free or a very low cost.
Very soon Chip Energy will have wood chips (and other fuel mixtures) available for purchase through us and our dealers.
Another possibility is to make your own. The FUELS page will soon host a number of ways to acquire biomass and make it suitable for your grill or furnace.