How Do You Light and Put Out a Pellet Stove? Manual and Automatic, Step by Step

Short answer: a manual (non-electric) pellet stove is lit by hand and, according to the manufacturer, settles into steady burning and full output in about 10–20 minutes depending on the model. The order is: fill the hopper with dry pellets, put some pellets in the burn pot, light them with a solid fire starter, close the door and keep the air inlets open; once the flame is established, set the pellet flow and air for the heat you want. To put it out, reduce the pellet flow and let the pellets in the pot burn out; never pour water on the stove. An automatic (electric) pellet stove is turned off with the off button on the panel or remote; the fans keep running for a while and you do not unplug it until they stop.

This is a general method. Where the air dampers and the pellet flow control are, what they are called and how much goes in the pot vary by model; check your manual for your own stove.

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How does a manual pellet stove work?

In an automatic pellet stove an auger feeds the pellets, an igniter lights them and fans need electricity. In a manual model the pellets drop from the hopper into the burn pot by gravity, you light the fire and set the combustion air with dampers. The U.S. EPA also notes that some stoves feed the burn box by gravity instead of electricity and need no electricity to provide heat. For the Natural Mini and Natural Atlas the manufacturer lists a "pellet flow adjustment mechanism" and "heat comfort dampers". For the Baba's Stove Eco the data sheet gives the operation as "Manual" and the fan as "None"; on the Eco Fan electricity is for the fan only (220 V / 80 W).

Step by step: how do you light a manual pellet stove?

How do you put out a manual pellet stove?

• Reduce the pellet flow: Turn the flow to the minimum, or close it if your model has a shut-off; once the pellets in the pot have burnt out the fire goes out by itself. Whether the flow shuts off completely depends on the model: check your manual. Do not add pellets to the hopper if you want the stove to go out.
• No water: Never pour water on the stove, the burn pot or the glass. The manufacturer says the ceramic glass must not be wiped with a wet cloth while hot.
• At night: The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) recommends putting the fire out before you go to sleep or leave home. The Turkish Coal Enterprises (TKİ) guide also asks for the stove to be put out at bedtime if possible, and otherwise for the air inlet and the flue damper to be left open.
• Ash: Once cool, put it in a metal container with a lid and keep it outside, at least 3 m (10 ft) from the house (USFA).

How do you turn off an automatic pellet stove?

Press the off button on the panel or remote. The stove stops feeding pellets and starts a shutdown cycle: the pellets in the pot burn out, the fans run until the stove cools, then it stops on its own. The time varies by model: check your manual.

• Do not unplug it until the fan stops: One manufacturer's manual says smoke may escape from the stove if it is unplugged while the combustion fan runs; switching off the breaker is the same.
• Leave the settings alone during the cycle; wait for it to finish before relighting.
• With a thermostat the stove may switch itself off the same way once the room is warm; this is not necessarily a fault.
• If the power goes out the stove goes out and partly burned pellets may stay in the pot; once it is cool, clean the pot and relight.

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How long does one hopper last?

Hopper ÷ hourly consumption. The manufacturer gives a 4.5 L (8 kg) hopper for the Natural Mini and Natural Atlas; on the Mini consumption is adjustable from 1 to 3 kg per hour, so a hopper lasts about 8 hours at the lowest setting and about 2.7 hours at the highest (8 ÷ 1 and 8 ÷ 3). The manufacturer states "up to 10 hours from one hopper in economy mode". The table below is built from the product records:

Common mistakes

• Damp or dusty pellets: They catch late, smoke and clog the pot: how to recognise ENplus A1 pellets.
• Closing the air too early: Turning the damper down before the flame settles chokes the fire and soots the glass: pellet stove smoking: 10 checks.
• Full ash pan, blocked pot: Air cannot pass; for cleaning see pellet stove maintenance.
• Weak flue draught: Smoke comes back into the room: what the flue should be like.

What does it depend on?

• Model: Where the flow control and dampers are, how much goes in the pot and how to shut down are in the manual.
• Pellets: Dry, dust-free pellets light faster and leave less ash: pine pellets.
• Flue draught: In a stove without a fan, only the flue's draught carries the smoke away.
• Room and output: For the kW you need, see the stove sizing calculator and how many m² a pellet stove heats.

Safety note

No stove is "smokeless"; pellets, wood and coal all produce smoke and carbon monoxide when they burn. A flue of the right diameter that draws properly and sealed pipe joints are essential. Use a carbon monoxide detector at home; with headache, dizziness or nausea, ventilate, get outside and call 112: stove gas symptoms and carbon monoxide detectors.

Frequently asked questions

What do you light a manual pellet stove with?

The manufacturer mentions wood-wool fire starters or a blowtorch lighter. Do not use liquid fuel such as petrol or kerosene; the EPA says fires must not be started with them.

Does a manual pellet stove work without electricity?

Yes, the pellets drop by gravity. Models with a fan need electricity for the fan; for the Eco Fan the data sheet gives 220 V / 80 W.

Can you leave a manual pellet stove burning overnight?

The USFA recommends putting the fire out before you go to sleep; if you do not, leave the air inlet and flue damper open as the TKİ guide says, and use a carbon monoxide detector.

Why does the fan keep running after turning off an automatic pellet stove?

The stove is in its shutdown cycle: the pellets in the pot burn out and the fan runs until it cools. This is normal; do not unplug it before the fan stops.

Can you put out a pellet stove with water?

No. Reduce the pellet flow and let the pellets in the pot burn out; keep water and wet cloths away from the hot glass and body.

Sources: manufacturer pages Natural Mini and Natural Atlas (lighting, 10–20 minutes, flow control, hopper, glass care), Eco 8 and Eco Fan 8 data sheets; U.S. EPA Burn Wise, "Pellet Stoves" (gravity feed, cleaning, pellet quality) and "Best Wood-Burning Practices" (liquid fuels, smouldering fires); U.S. Fire Administration, "Heating Fire Safety"; Turkish Coal Enterprises (TKİ), “Guide to Using Coal in Stoves”; Sherwood Industries (Enviro), "Pellet Stove Service Manual" (shutdown cycle, unplugging).