Sudden Blackening of Glass or Lazy Flame

1.  Check your exhaust cap to see if soot has built up on it. If so, clean it and we recommend that you cut out every other louver on the cap.  Check elbows and tees and any long run of horizontal pipe for fly-ash build-up.
2.  Check compartments behind brick on each side and at the back. 
   When cleaning side, vacuum out and tap with a hemmer to knock crust build-up down.  Then take cleaning brush and work it around making sure compartment is cleaned out. 
   When cleaning back, take plate of and use cleaning tube from our cleaning kit that is made for the purpose of getting the back and the right and left side of the opening.   For information and cost of cleaning kits, contact Jamestown Pellet Stoves.  This kit is a real help and a must for servicing the Jamestown stove. 
   After you have cleaned the compartment out thoroughly, (put plate back on), and replace brick and make sure you tighten screws so compartments are sealed or you could have a vacuum leak.
3.  Check your glass seal.  If it is loose, tighten it, or if you see a clear streak at one point, regasket the glass.
4.  Check door latch and tighten with 5/32 allen wrench.  Seal with a paper test, making sure door seals all the way around.  When you pull paper, it should not pull out or should have a real good drag.  If not, replace gasket.  When replacing door gasket and ash pan gasket, take ends and pull each strand so end is tight like a knot and cut off excess.
   Clean out gasket channel in door making sure it is clean.  Put ¼ to 3/8 bead of gasket cement all around door.  Now start in bottom corner and put gasket rope in, pulling a little to make it a little smaller at the back and then allow it to just flow in the rest of the way around.  Let it dry 30 minutes and reinstall door.
   If door will not close all the way, take a combination square ruler or flat piece of steel and put at hinge side of door place it between door gasket and face of stove and close gently so as not to break hinged, springing it.  Then check to see if it latches, if not try springing it again.  Don’t spring too much because remember the heat will shrink the gasket. When door seals, make sure allen screw in door latch is tight.
5.  Check ash pan to see if it is warped and that it seals by paper testing it on ends and center.  If not, straighten or regasket.
6.  Check fire pot to see that it sits down flat on base and does not rock.  Remember, front of pot goes on outside of base.
   You are now ready for a good, clean, brisk fire.  Light and set both high and low setting, making sure stove is hot before setting final setting.