Repeated failed lighting cycles indicate the need for maintenance or professional service. After control panel or air inlet adjustments and a quick performance check, the stove is set to provide hours of even, comfortable heat. Stoves equipped with a remote wall thermostat respond to owner setting and room air temperature by cycling on and off or by cycling from a low to high burn, depending on stove startup design. Properly operated and maintained pellet stoves experience few, if any problems. Most of pellet stove operation is automatic, but sometimes combustion air adjustment is needed.
Performance problems are more likely to be caused by neglected maintenance than by operation.
Problems related to mechanical failure usually result in safety switches shutting the appliance down. Unexplained, repeated appliance shutdowns call for professional advice and service. Shutting the stove down is typically a matter of simply setting the control to the Off position according to operating instructions. The fuel feed stops delivering fuel right away, and after the stove cools sufficiently, all motors and blowers cease operation. The stove should NOT be shut down by unplugging the power cord.