A Beginner's Guide to Stove Maintenance: How to Take Care of Yours
As the summer season approaches, it's time to give your trusty stove a well-deserved break. After working tirelessly throughout the winter months to keep you warm and cozy, it's important to show it some seasonal maintenance and tender loving care. It is recommended to have a HETAS registered and qualified engineer to perform your service, but there are some things you can do yourself by following the instructions in your stove manual.
By doing so, you can ensure that it's ready to go once the chilly season returns, without any delays in getting that roaring fire back on. Not only will this ensure that your stove is burning efficiently, but it will also keep it looking its best. So, take the time to give your stove the attention it deserves, and you'll be rewarded with a reliable and efficient heating source for years to come.
THE INTERIOR
Cleaning
Before you start any cleaning, ensure your stove has completely cooled down and always refer to your stove manufacturer’s manual for maintenance & care guidelines.
Inside The Firebox
A good place to start is to ensure the stove and air vents are free of debris and ash. Using a vacuum, remove ash and finer particles from inside the stove and empty the ashpan. The Stovax Ashclean Vacuum Cleaner offers a deep clean and is designed for the removal of ash and debris as this may damage a regular vacuum over time. A wire brush is useful for any hard-to-reach parts.
Door Glass
With regular use throughout the heating season, soot and tar build-up. Using a specialized glass cleaning product offers efficiency and convenience to remove these stains such as The Gallery Stove Cleaning Range. Before you start cleaning you glass, wear protective gloves and ensure your stove has completely cooled down. Always use a soft cloth, do not use any cloths or pads that are abrasive as these can scratch your glass and cause further build-up.
Firebricks
Using a soft brush, clean down your firebricks
Inspection
After you’ve cleaned the inside of your stove, a thorough inspection will enable you to establish if any parts need to be replaced which can be ordered in-store and fitted as part of your service.
Stove Glass Door
Carefully check for any signs of cracks or damage, if you see cracks on the glass it will need to be replaced.
Door Rope
Over time your door rope can become worn or loose which causes smoke to escape out into your room so it’s important to check this over. Look out for any obvious signs of damaged or loose rope.
A good test to perform to see if the rope needs replaced is the paper test. Get a thin piece of paper and and shut it in the stove door. If the paper is unable to move when you pull it then your rope is doing its job, However, if there is any movement when you pull the paper or it can be removed completely, your rope will either need to be reglued provided it’s not damaged or need replaced. A handy Rope kit can be purchased in store.
Firebricks
Check your firebricks for any signs of damage, Any large cracks or broken bricks will need replacing.
Grate Components
The center grate and grate bar take the brunt of the heat so check over them both and ensure none appear to be warped.
Clips & Seals
Check all clips and seals are still intact and safely secured
THE EXTERIOR
Even if your stove is not in use, it is still the focal point of the room, so make sure to maintain its neat and fresh appearance with these few simple steps.
Cleaning
Stove Body
Use a lint-free cloth to wipe away any soot or dust from the body. Avoid using any water or a damp cloth to clean your stove as this can cause rust over time.
A Little TLC
Paint Work
After cleaning, you may need to touch up parts of your stove which can be done using Stove Paint and have it looking as good as new! Before you start respraying, ensure you have a well-ventilated area, use gloves and mask and cover any close by areas to avoid staining such as your glass door, chamber and fire surround, walls. After spraying, leave to dry (always refer to the instructions for use on product packaging) then you will need to complete the same curing process that was done when your stove was installed. It’s important you burn a slow and steady fire to allow the paint to cure properly.
Polish
The Gallery range of stove and grate polish products can be used to clean, polish and protect black metals, cover minor corrosion and blemishes and protecting from rust. Always refer to the instructions for use on product packaging.
ALARMS
It is a must for households with any wood burning or multi-fuel appliances to fit both smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. It is highly recommended to check and test these alarms on a regular basis to make sure they are functioning properly. While smoke alarms are already a necessity, installing a carbon monoxide alarm is also essential, as it is capable of detecting any hazardous gases that cannot be smelled. A carbon monoxide can be purchased in store, please ask us for more details.
CHIMNEY SWEEP
All chimneys and flue-ways should be cleaned and checked during the summer months to ensure they are free from debris and in full working order before the heating season. A blocked or defective chimney can cause both chimney fires and carbon monoxide poisonings so it's very important to employ a professional qualified Chimney Sweep
A good sweep will remove any build-up of soot ensuring your flue is clean, safe, and efficient. HETAS recommends having your chimney swept at least twice a year when burning wood and at least once a year when burning smokeless fuels. The best times to have your chimney swept are just before the start of the heating season and after your stove has not been used over a prolonged period.
Keeping your stove clean and ensuring it regularly receives its yearly maintenance, will not only have it looking good but you'll enjoy those flames for longer and have it performing its best! We hope this guide proves beneficial to you; however, remember that maintenance for each stove model varies, so it's best to consult your manual or reach out to us if you have any questions.