I know the Firefox well, I'll try to keep it short.
It's likely 10 years old or more, as it was LOPI's first pellet stove design.
Solid build from durable proven components.
Given the units age an auger motor replacement is not unusual.
(I recommend lower flight bearing at the same time.)
Combustion air is regulated by the "stick".
It controls a shutter in the air passage leading to the firepot.
Pull it out to increase airflow for a more active fire which will blow the ash out of the firepot.
This should extend your cleaning time back to what you're use to.
Don't pull it out to far, the pellets burn too fast to maintain a constant burn. The fire goes out & the stove shuts off after continuing to feed pellets for ten minutes.
The window will stay a bit cleaner too.
A general rule, if the window quickly BLACKENS from soot the air/fuel mix is rich.
Opposed to light brown, or gray from ash & a balanced burn.
If you have the model with a removable firepot/air plenum, pull the plenum & check the condition of the gasket.
If it is loose air will bypass the firepot and give the same symptoms.
This can be a result of fuel density, exhaust motor wearing out, interior ash traps filling, heat exchanger plugging, flue needing swept, or control board calibration shift.
The rheostat fan control is strictly convection air volume.
There should be a noticeable change in air flow from the heat exchange tubes as the fan speed is changed
No effect on combustion air at all.
DK
