A pellet burner that isn’t cleaned regularly loses efficiency, chokes the flame, and eventually blocks. Pellet combustion leaves ash at 0.5 to 1.5% of fuel mass (about 1 kg of ash for every 100 kg of pellet). In a home burning 3 to 4 tons of pellet per winter, that’s 20 to 40 kg of ash. Without an automatic mechanism, all of it has to be removed by hand.
What auger auto cleaning is
Auto cleaning is a mechanism that activates at programmed intervals (typically every 24 or 48 hours, adjustable) and removes ash from the combustion grate without user intervention.
In AXINAR’s Apoplim (AP) series, the mechanism is an auger that rotates at grate level. As it rotates, it sweeps ash into a collection bin, which the user empties every 2 to 4 weeks instead of every 2 to 3 days.
In the Tsovea (TS) series, the mechanism is dual: two augers turning in opposite directions, for larger burners where ash volume is higher.
Why it matters
1. Consistent combustion efficiency
When ash builds up on the grate, combustion air doesn’t reach the bottom of the flame properly. Combustion becomes “rich” (excess fuel), CO and unburnt particulates form, and efficiency drops from 90% to 80 to 85%. For a typical user this translates to 300 to 500 extra kilos of pellet per winter.
2. Zero user attention
Without auto cleaning, the user has to check the burner every 2 to 3 days, open the combustion door when cold (about an hour after shutdown), and remove ash. It’s an easily forgotten chore, especially in commercial settings.
3. Extended grate life
Unremoved ash combined with flame temperature creates slag that sticks to the grate. Over time, this slag damages the grate lining. With auto cleaning, the grate stays clear and lasts 2 to 3 times longer.
4. Flashback safety
Accumulated ash can act as a fire bridge behind the grate, toward the feed auger. Modern burners have multiple safety layers, but a clean grate is the first line of defense.
How it works step by step
- The burner controller counts operating hours or kilos of pellet consumed.
- When it reaches the programmed threshold (e.g. 24 hours, or 30 kg of pellet), it commands the burner to stop the flame.
- It waits 15 to 30 minutes for the grate to cool so cleaning doesn’t ignite the ash.
- The cleaning auger motor engages, sweeping ash to the collection bin.
- The burner relights after the cycle completes.
On dual-auger burners (Tsovea), the two augers usually run alternately for better cleaning efficiency.
What the user should check
- Empty the ash bin: every 2 to 4 weeks in typical use. The bin holds ash from about 500 to 1000 kg of pellet.
- Visual smoke check: if black smoke comes out of the chimney, something is off (maybe the pellet changed, maybe the refractory bricks are worn).
- Boiler heat-exchanger cleaning: 1 to 2 times a year, not by the auto-cleaner but by a service technician.
When auto cleaning is not enough
- Using poor-quality pellet (>2% ash, or uncertified wood source)
- Oversized burner running permanently at 30 to 40% load (the flame is unstable, more residue is generated)
- Chimney with insufficient draft, creating overpressure in the chamber
AXINAR pellet burners ship with auto cleaning as standard, not as an optional extra. Forget the daily grate cleaning.
- AP20 / AP30 / AP45: single auger for homes
- TS75 / TS95 / TS120 / TS150: double auger for commercial
- Adjustable cleaning intervals (12 to 72 hours)
- Large-capacity collection bin
Request a quote
Tell us your square meters and installation type, and we’ll propose a burner with the right size and automation options.
See also: Boiler power per square meter, Pellet burner 20 to 150 kW power selection.
