Wood Stove Maintenance

If you have a wood stove, regular cleaning and maintenance help you consistently reach and maintain the heat you need. Still, the benefits don't stop there. You also enjoy improved fire safety, cleaner burning, and a longer-lasting stove. All combined, cleaning and maintenance ensures you get the most for your investment.

Not all stoves are the same, so your stove will come with detailed instructions for cleaning and maintenance for that specific unit, but overall some recommendations remain the same regardless of your unit. Here are some of the most popular tips for cleaning and maintenance.

General Maintenance Timing

In general, your stove should receive maintenance at least once a year, but some processes should be completed more frequently - even daily. Here are some key steps to follow during the year:

-Daily cleaning: Clear out ash near air holes and the combustion flow path at least once a day. Note that some ash should stay along the bottom of the stove to help insulate the stove and allow for easier reignition.

You should still remove most ash to improve burning performance, but your stove will also work better if you maintain a thin layer of ash along its bottom. The hot ash helps you relight a fire more easily. The cool ash also helps insulate the stove.

When disposing of extra ash, remember that ash may still be hot days after your last fire. Be sure to place it in a metal container and cover it with a metal lid. Once cool, it can be discarded into your outdoor trashcans.

-Every two weeks during use: Inspect for creosote buildup. Creosote is a blend of tar, vapors, and moisture that can stick to the inside of your flue and heat up to create dangerous fires. You should check your flue every two weeks when in use and do all necessary cleaning. You inspect it using a flashlight and mirror from inside or outside near the flue cap, or you can disassemble parts of the stove for a closer look. Make sure the stove is cool before doing any disassembly.

You can clean the flue using liquids such as soap and water and liquid chemical cleaners, cleaning powders, or creosote-busting fire logs. For more intensive cleaning, you can use a brush, power washer, or rotary cleaning device designed for cleaning flues. Any loose deposits will fall into the stove and collect at the bottom for easy cleanup.

-Every two months: Check the door handles, gaskets, leg bolts, and heat shield to ensure they are tight. Also, check the chimney and chimney connector and clean them if needed. Pay close attention to any angled areas of the chimney.

-Three times per year: Check the combustor for any damage. Also, look for any fly ash in the combustor and refractory package. If you find any, clean it out. You can clean the combustor by taking it outside and blowing it with air. It's best not to use a brush or other tool to clean the honeycomb.

-Annual cleaning: Check all the internal parts of the stove and look for any areas that show deterioration. Clean out any dust from the unit, piping, heat shield, and combustor, and touch up any paint. Also, remove ash buildup behind the combustor. An ash vacuum will help with this.

Your annual cleaning is also a good time to disassemble the chimney connector for a deep cleaning. You can do this work inside with plastic bags to keep the room clean or take it outside to make the job even cleaner and easier. While you are there, replace any damaged or broken parts.

While you are there, follow this up with a deep clean of the chimney itself. If you are experiencing less draw than usual, your chimney may need a cleaning, but an annual cleaning isn't always required. The exact frequency of cleaning will depend on your amount of usage. At the very least, you should do an annual inspection each year and a thorough clean at least every four years to prevent potential home fires from soot buildup.

As you do any of these inspections and maintenance, keep an eye out for other issues and do any repairs as needed. Here are some common cleaning and maintenance steps to do from time to time.

Remove Soot from the Glass

Soot on the glass door is common, but cleaning it is easy -if you do it regularly. Wait until the glass is completely cool (this is important) and take a piece of wet or dry cloth, paper towel, or newspaper and dip it into the cold ash. Wipe the paper with the ash side facing the glass. The ash will aid you with removing the soot. Follow this up with a clean piece of paper or cloth for a final clean. Ensure that the glass is completely dry before using your fireplace again.

You can also use chemical cleaners, but the cleaners should be non-abrasive and specifically designed for cleaning wood stoves. Also, avoid spraying the cleaners on the outside of the unit.

Replace the Glass

If the glass is broken or damaged, replace it right away so that your stove remains safe and works appropriately. Your stove should come with instructions for replacing the glass, but if not, you can remove the gaskets and slide the glass out from the side or top.

Remove the Plates

Remove soot from the baffle plate, burn plate, and burn chamber. This is another important step toward the avoidance of soot, helping you prevent unwanted fires. If your stove requires you to remove any mounting bolts, do it cautiously to ensure the bolts don't become damaged.

Before cleaning, make sure the stove has not worked for a prolonged area of time to ensure it is in no way hot. Then brush the areas and inspect them with your hand to feel for any other soot or creosote buildup that may require a more thorough cleaning.

Clean the Outside of the Stove

If your stove is cast iron, wipe it with a dry cloth. If the stove has a porcelain enamel surface, take a soft brush or a dry or slightly wet cloth and wipe away any stains. You can go a step further by using cleaning sprays, but be sure they are recommended for enamel. If you have chips in the enamel, use an enamel epoxy and touch-up paint.

Check your Fire Extinguishers and Detectors

You should have a fire extinguisher near the stove for easy access if a fire breaks out. You will need to ensure the extinguisher is up to date and that any fire early warning protection systems are operating correctly.

Simple and Easy Cleaning and Maintenance

Thankfully a wood stove is not a difficult item to clean and maintain. By doing the work regularly and consistently, you make each step of the process even easier to ensure you get the ideal heat you need and maximize the life of your stove.