Wood Stove Tune Up | |
Ashes and half burnt pieces of wood collect moisture during the summer and promote rust. After the stove has cooled down and there are no live embers, remove as many of the internal parts as possible. Newer air tight stoves have air passages that can become clogged with ashes. Use a crevice tool and shop vac to remove ashes from the tight areas inside the stove. If your stove is equipped with a catalytic converter, follow the manufacturer's directions and disassemble the compartment holding the catalytic element. The small honeycomb passages of this element can become blocked by fly ash. If you've operated the stove at a low temperature, they may also be choked by creosote deposits. Under normal operating conditions the ceramic element should last several seasons. Inspect it for cracks and missing sections. One indication that the element is no longer functioning properly is an unusual build up of creosote in the chimney. Modern wood burning stoves have gaskets to prevent air infiltration. These gaskets become compressed and require periodic replacement. Manufacturers sell gasket replacement kits for their line of stoves or you can purchase the gasket material by the foot and a tube of gasket cement. Replacing a gasket on the griddle or doors of a stove is a straightforward project. Pull out the old gasket material and scrape away any dried cement from its groove. Apply new gasket cement and push the gasket in place. Close the door to seat the gasket and then open the door and wipe up the excess cement that may have squeezed out of the groove. To clean an enameled stoves, let it cool down completely. Then wipe off any dirt or soot with a half and half vinegar and water solution. Chipped paint should be repaired with a touch up kit sold by the stove manufacturer. Black cast iron stoves should be wiped down with a damp rag to remove any dirt and dust and then thoroughly dried with a rag. Apply stove polish to keep it from developing surface rust during the summer lay up. Interior chimney connectors (the inside stove pipe) take a beating because they get very hot. Standard stove pipe needs a dry wipe down followed by a light application of stove polish to prevent rust. Enameled pipe should be treated in the same manner as an enameled stove. Double or triple walled pipe that is painted to match a stove may eventually begin to discolor and peel near the stove collar. In this case, repaint the pipe. High temperature silicone based spray paint in a color that matches the stove is available from most stove suppliers or at some large paint stores. Two cans will give two coats on a typical 5 ft. high pipe. Have the paint store put the cans of spray paint on their paint shaker to completely mix the pigments with the silicone resins. Sandblasting the pipe is the easiest method to remove discolored oxidized paint and primer. A wire brush and sandpaper are also effective. High temperature paint gives off hazardous fumes so do your painting outside or provide good ventilation. Always wear a respirator. When applying spray paint shake the can vigorously while using it to keep it mixed. Allow the paint to dry for 45 minutes between coats. The first few times you use the stove in the fall, you may notice some smoking from the pipe but it will stop after the paint has cured. Written by the editors of HouseNet Copyright HouseNet, Inc. |