Pellet stoves are great heat sources during the winter because they’re very easy to use and they can emit extremely strong heat.
Of course, even these appliances can’t take the elements for too long without maintenance– especially if they in outdoor areas like patios and yards. In fact, even the best pellet stove can succumb to wear and tear if you don’t know how to take care of it.
For this reason, we decided to create our very own pellet stove maintenance guide. This way, you’ll know exactly how you must maintain your pellet stove so it won’t go bust over time.
Pellet Stove Maintenance Guide: What Are the Steps?
In this pellet stove maintenance guide, we’ll list down some of the things you must do in order to keep your pellet stove in good working condition.
Refer to the tips below:
- Clear Out Any Ash
The first thing you have to do is clear out ash in the stove. Start off by clearing out any ash found in the ash trap or drawer so that the ash doesn’t stick there over time. When you’re done with that, make your way to the vents and chimneys. Inspect these areas for ash and then clean them up.
- Clean the Exterior
When you’re done clearing away the ashes from the stove, you need to clean the stove. A lot of beginners just use soap and water to clean the exterior but that won’t be enough.
To really clean your stove, you need to use a little vinegar and water as your “soap”. Wipe the vinegar and water with a cloth on the exterior then use a dry cloth to wipe over it when you’re done. Make sure you clean all parts of the stove including the piping.
Take note that if your stove is made of cast iron, you might want to use a brush and vacuum instead of just a cloth.
- Clean Out the Soot
Now that you’re done with the exterior, it’s time to concentrate on the interior of the stove. The biggest problem with the interior of a pellet stove is the build-up of soot.
After some time of using your pellet stove, soot can clam up in the insides of your stove. You need to locate areas where the soot accumulated and use a wire brush to clean them out. Remember not to accidentally use the wire brush to scrape on the glass doors.
- Empty the Auger Tube and Fuel Hopper
These two areas are where the pellets will be placed. That said, it’s very easy for pellet debris to build up in this area. When pellet debris and even sawdust accumulate in this area, the whole feed system is blocked. That’s why you need to make sure that this part is always cleared of any debris.
- Check the Flames
The last thing that you need to do is check the flame. There are times when your pellet stove may seem to work fine but has some kind of underlying problem. In order to diagnose, you need to check the color of the flame. If the flame is dark in color, then your stove is perfectly fine. But if the flame is yellow or white, then there is something wrong already. You may need to call in a professional to fix the problem.
Conclusion
These are some of the important maintenance tips that you have to take note of if you want your pellet stove to last a long time. If you buy the best pellet stove in the market and know how to take care of it properly, we can assure you that your pellet stove can serve you well for many years to come.
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