Low or Uneven "Flame"Updated 4 months ago
Flames uneven?
Flames non-existent?
Flames not as tall as they normally are?
If you have ever turned on your Aquafire or Aquafire Pro and the flames don't look quite right, then this article is for you!
The common culprit for uneven or low mist is high water levels in the mist tanks. First and foremost, your insert needs to be cleaned multiple times a year and run regularly to turn over fresh water. Please follow our Preventative Maintenance Guide to keep your insert running optimally! If preventative maintenance didn't solve the issue or your insert is within the first 90 days, then high water is usually caused by a stuck float sensor or a mist maker that needs to be cleaned or replaced.
To check the float sensor:
- Take off the top lid
- Open the mist maker tanks, there will be 1 tank per 20". A 20" water vapor fireplace insert will have 1 Mist Maker Tank, a 40" will have 2 and a 60" will have 3. The example below is for an Aquafire 40" (AWA-40-100) insert:
- Compare the water levels, ideally, the water should just barely come to the top of the black mushroom cap. Does the water look higher in the one that has uneven mist?
- If it looks a bit high, you'll need to remove some of that water. Then agitate the mist maker by lifting the mist maker up and down to create an internal wave to unstick the float sensor in the lower mist maker tank. This video shows that process starting at the 3:40 minute mark.
If that doesn't solve the issue, please check the condition of your mist maker:
- Take off the top lid
- Open the mist maker tanks. The example below is for an Aquafire 40" (AWA-40-100) insert:
- Unplug the mist maker and carefully remove the interior rack.
- When you are close to the top, tip the rack into the mist maker tank to empty excess water and prevent water spillage.
- Examine the mist maker, does it look like it needs to be cleaned - it should be free of debris and you should be able to see space between the bottom of the mist maker and the rack it is attached to.
- If it has buildup or sediment attached, the mist maker is not able to operate as it should and that results in a low or uneven mist. Please follow our mist maker cleaning videos, Part 1 and Part 2 and try turning on your insert again.
If none of these processes solve the issue, please reach out to our Technical Support at [email protected] and they will be happy go over additional troubleshooting techniques.