PF100 questions

[ididarod]

Yesterday I did a full cleaning on the PF100 including the vent pipe. The vent pipe had a little build up on it but not bad. What I seem to be getting is a lot of ash behind the lower baffle plate. The first time I cleaned it it was after 50 bags and it was pretty much full (there is no way I could make it to 2 ton per the manual). This time after 30 bags (I had nothing else to do) it was very close to being full. The funny part is the ash bucket has never gone over 1/3 full on either cleaning. Is it the pellets I'm using? I got 2 varieties, APPLING COUNTY PREMIUM GRADE PELLETS
BTU 8500 Hardwood less than 1% ash and PALMETTO PREMIUM PLUS HARDWOOD BTU 8500 Hardwood less than 1% ash. The latter is definitely more "dusty" and lighter in color and the pellet length varies (I sometime find pellets over 2" long). I mix every other bag going in so I don't end up with tons of one product that is not so good.

Do others notice this ash build up behind the baffle plate?

[Red Devil Fire]

On my last clean two weeks ago, I had about 6 inch buildup at the highest point. Last year I went through 7 1/2 ton and would say that I had about 3/4 full in my ash bucket. Have gone through about 3 1/2 ton so far this year and the ash bucket has been half full already.
Now I do have Greene Team which, while not dusy or any fines, has a lot of ash, so much that I have to clean the burn pot every day. I am now mixing 50/50 with what I had left over from last year, and I only have about 1/3 as much ash. It is definitely the ash from the Greene team pellets.
When I clean the baffles, I take a large piece of steel wool, reach up to the top and run down to the bottom. Works great. Also use a large sponge to run along the top and sides. Takes all the ash that has built up.
Have to use a mask, or a couple bottles of beer.!!

[ididarod]

[Red Devil Fire]

That 6 inches is in the last two weeks, was cleaned at that time. It was cold, and I keep track on a calander, with between 3 and 4 bags a day.
Usually I only use 2 bags, some days 3 bags.
There was no sun; that would definitely have made a difference, since the
house is 90% glass facing south. When the sun is out, it is low in the sky and shines into the house and warms it up, so much that sometimes the wife will open the door to cool it off. She can't stand the heat. I love it.
Days like that, I turn off the PF100. It could be zero outside. The rooms in the back get a little cool, but I run the fan on my propane furnace and it circulates the heat.
to answer your question, no, that 6 inches is within the last two weeks, never had to much ash as with the Greene Team.

[ididarod]

OK, that jives with what I'm seeing. Burned 34 bags since last cleaning Dec 27th and it was almost choked. Looks like every 40 bags or so under the heat exchanger/baffle plate will need to be cleaned out.