Cleaning and maintaining your wood burning stove

As warmer weather rolls around, you will rely on your stove less and so comes the ideal time to give it a good clean. By ensuring your stove is kept clean and well-maintained, you will help it to last longer, perform efficiently and safely, and, quite simply, it will look more attractive. To help you keep your wood burning stove in good condition, we’ve put together this cleaning guide.

Why is cleaning your stove important?

A stove which is looked after well will last for longer and perform more efficiently during its life, saving you money on operating costs and giving you better heat output. Not only does a clean stove have functional benefits, it will also look more attractive too. A sparklingly clean stove will always enhance a room and look more inviting than a sooty, messy one.

By carrying out maintenance regularly, you will also help to ensure that your stove is operating safely. Whilst you are cleaning, you can check the condition of various parts. During these checks, should you notice anything is broken or worn, it can be replaced in good time and you can gain peace of mind that your stove is functioning safely.

How to clean your stove

1. Make sure that your stove is cool before commencing any cleaning
2. Set down newspaper around your stove to catch any loose bits of ash or debris during the cleaning process
3. Empty out the ashpan into your ash container
4. Remove all the internal parts of your stove, including the firebricks, grate and baffle
5. Using a brush, carefully sweep out the inside of your stove, collecting up and disposing of any ash
6. Brush down the grate and baffle, wiping away any accumulated ash
7. Using a soft brush, clean the firebricks; surface wear is to be expected but should any be broken, these will need repairing or replacing
8. Clean the stove’s glass window using a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water or a specialist stove glass cleaning product and a soft cloth
9. Brush down and check the stove door rope seal – if this is worn then it should be replaced to ensure safe and efficient burning

Tips:

• You should use a metal ash container to store stove ash for at least 48 hours before throwing it away – this will ensure any small embers are completely extinguished
• This can be dirty work and so wearing gloves is advisable
• Instead of using a brush for clearing out the ash from your stove, you can buy specifically designed stove vacuums or buy filters to attach to your regular vacuum to make it fit for purpose
• To check whether your rope seal is worn, put a piece of paper in the door and close it; if you can pull out the paper or move it whilst the door is shut, your seals are worn down and need replacing

Maintenance

To clear out your flue/chimney – an important part of your stove’s workings – enlist the help of a chimney sweep. By choosing one who is a member of the NACS (National Association of Chimney Sweeps), you can ensure you are working with a professional.

Finally, it is worthwhile checking your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector at this point too. You should regularly check they’re both fully functioning to ensure you and your family will be alerted to a fire or gas leak, should it arise.  

Enviro-Flame are fireplace specialists, offering an exceptional range of fireplaces and stoves to customers in and around London. With our range of products, there is something to suit any taste and requirement. What’s more, once you’ve selected your perfect fireplace or stove, our talented experts can carry out a high quality installation for you. Get in touch with our team today with any enquiries.