Category: Cast Iron | Published: 19 Dec, 2021

Wood-burning stove maintenance tips

Here at ELB Fireplaces, we want you to love your contemporary wood-burning stove as much as we love all of our stoves, fires, and fireplaces. So, today we thought we would share our wood-burning stove maintenance tips.

Here at ELB Fireplaces, we want you to love your contemporary wood-burning stove as much as we love all of our stoves, fires, and fireplaces. So, today we thought we would share our wood-burning stove maintenance tips.

If you’re able to treat and maintain your stove regularly, you will be able to use it for years to come with no issues. Thus, getting the most for your money and optimising safety and fuel consumption.

We think a regular routine is what it takes to keep your wood-burner in good order. And, these are some of our top tips when it comes to keeping stoves working as good as the day they were installed!

Wood-burning choices

When it comes to fuel, you’ll get out what you put in essentially. That’s why we would always recommend using a high-quality fuel source. Look for sustainably sourced, well-seasoned firewood. Always, avoid any firewood that has been treated or is damp.

It is important to stay away from damp wood as it produces heavy smoke that condenses onto the cooler sides of the flue or chimney, producing tar and acidic residues which cause thick deposits to build up.

This is a major cause of chimney fires and these compounds also cause damage to the stove and flue. Additionally, burning damp wood can tar up your flue, making chimney fires a danger.

Wood-burning Stove Maintenance Tips

When it comes to maintenance, there are a few different things that you need to make sure you do to keep your stove running as smoothly as possible.

• It’s recommended that you get the chimney swept at least once a year.
• During the sweep try and get a quick health check done on your stove to make sure everything is looking well.
• When cleaning the external part of the stove yourself, do not use water or any liquid. Instead, give it a good brushing with a lint-free cloth or a clean shoe brush.
• When cleaning the internals, make sure you clean the roof of the firebox. A small wire brush would be perfect for getting into any small and awkward places.
• For the larger, open areas you could use your vacuum and suck up the remaining ash and soot.

And finally, when you know you won’t be using your fire for a few weeks (normally around Summertime) you can remove the throat plate and leave the air inlets open to allow a flow of air through the stove to prevent rust.

Woodburning Stove Retailers

You might be looking to upgrade your home comfort levels and you’ve chosen to do this with a brand new wood-burning stove. Having contemporary wood-burning stoves in your home can really bring your surroundings to their next level.

ELB Fireplaces always have state-of-the-art wood-burning stoves in stock in our showroom! There is a huge selection we offer, allowing you to choose a design that suits you best.