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Pellet Stove Not Feeding Pellets?

Posted by Wood Heat on

Here’s How to Fix It...

A pellet stove that stops feeding pellets leaves you without heat. The good news is most feed problems come down to a few quick checks you can do yourself before ordering parts or calling a tech.

Why Pellet Stoves Stop Feeding

Your stove moves pellets with an auger driven by a small motor and governed by safety switches and sensors. When the feed stops, the cause is usually one of these:

  • Empty hopper or pellet bridging that prevents pellets from dropping
  • Jammed auger due to debris or excess fines
  • Vacuum (air) switch not closing because of poor draft or a blocked hose
  • Low-limit (proof-of-fire) switch not closing with heat
  • Flame sensor issue: Whitfield photo eye, Quadra-Fire thermocouple, or Harman ESP probe
  • Failed auger motor (less common than assumed)
  • Control board failure (least common)

Quick Diagnostic Flow

  1. Hopper full and pellets dropping freely. Stir to break bridges.
  2. Unplug the stove and clear the auger tube of jams or compacted fines.
  3. Vacuum (air) switch test:
    • Inspect both ends of the rubber hose for cracks and ash blockage.
    • Reconnect to the switch. Apply gentle negative pressure to the hose; the switch should click closed and show continuity on a meter.
    • If it does not close, suspect a bad diaphragm (replace vacuum or air switch), or insufficient draft from a door gasket leak, blocked venting, or a weak combustion blower.
  4. Low-limit switch test:
    • This switch is normally open and closes when the stove reaches temperature.
    • After startup and warm-up, verify closure with a multimeter. If it never closes, replace it with the correct temperature rating.
  5. Flame verification by brand:
    • Whitfield: clean the photo eye lens so it can see the flame.
    • Quadra-Fire: confirm the thermocouple is positioned over the burn pot and seated in its ceramic cover; replace if damaged.
    • Harman: clean or replace the ESP probe if readings are off or it is sooted over.
  6. Auger motor evaluation:
    • If all checks above pass and pellets still do not feed, bench test the motor.
    • Replace a motor that stalls, hums, overheats, rotates inconsistently, or can be stopped easily by hand.

Signs the Auger Motor Is Actually the Problem

Many pellet feed issues come from switches, sensors, or jams rather than the motor. A failed auger motor shows specific symptoms:

  • Fails a bench test when powered directly, or can be stopped easily by light hand pressure
  • No pellet movement even with a clear auger tube, good switches, and proper sensor operation
  • Grinding, buzzing, or humming while energized with little or no rotation
  • Overheating or burnt odor during operation
  • Inconsistent rotation or stalling under normal load

What It Is Not

If the stove lights and then burns out, the auger motor already fed pellets. That points to the control not seeing proof of fire. Check the low-limit switch, confirm vacuum switch operation and venting, and inspect the model-specific flame sensor: Whitfield photo eye, Quadra-Fire thermocouple, Harman ESP probe.

Common DIY Mistakes

  • Working with power connected; always unplug before opening panels
  • Skipping a jam check; even a new motor will not turn a blocked auger
  • Mismatching wires; take a quick reference photo before disconnecting
  • Ordering the wrong motor; RPM and rotation must match the stove model

Choosing Reliable Replacement Parts

Quality matters for continuous-duty components. We stock OEM and high-quality replacements that match the correct RPM, rotation, and torque, include thermal protection, and fit without modifications. Cheap look-alikes often run louder, feed inconsistently, or fail prematurely.

Everyone should have their owner, tech and user manuals for your Make and Model.

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