Your Quick Guide To Proper Wood Stove Maintenance

We have all types of electricity-based technology nowadays. For instance, some have electric fireplaces, and others have wood-burning stoves. There is still a certain level of charm that comes with using old-fashioned equipment. Whether you use it to cook or stay warm in winter. But with all that old school appeal comes important things such as wood stove maintenance.

So if you have a wood-burning stove, you have to know how to properly take care of it! So here’s a quick guide on proper wood stove maintenance service.

Keeping Things Clean

You have four main areas to keep clean. That would be the interior, exterior, flue, and the glass door. Each area will require a different cleaning method and tools to make sure you clean them right. So without further ado, here’s what you need to do.

1. Interior: To keep the interior clean, you must watch for ash levels. If the ash gets too thick, get a metal scoop and a metal bucket or container. All you have to do is scoop up the ash into the bucket. That’s it. Easy peasy!
2. Exterior: Everything and anything can get the exterior dirty. It might be spills, dust, or whatever else. But as soon as you see it looking worn and tired, take some polish or stove paste and paper towels to wipe the exterior down.
3. Flue: You must clean this twice during the winter and once during summer. And the one thing you have to look out for is creosote buildup, which is a dark-brown oily substance that comes from burning wood. To clean this off, you need to wipe it down with a creosote destroyer, as well as scoop up larger buildups with a scoop and a bucket.
4. Glass door: When the glass starts to blacken, that’s when you need to clean it. All you need to clean it is with a clean cloth and a cleaning solution or soapy water. But if you’re using the latter, make sure to thoroughly rinse the glass to avoid the buildup of soap grime.

What Should You Burn?

If you have a modern wood burning stove, chances are the manufacturer has a list of things that you can safely burn in it without damaging the thing. Some stoves can only burn wood, while others can burn way more than just that. So stick to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Final Thoughts

Wood stove maintenance doesn’t have to be rocket science. All you have to do is follow a few simple maintenance rules to ensure that the stove operates in peak condition. Keep things in order and don’t neglect your stove, so you’ll have something to warm you up or cook with especially during winter. Follow this, and things will be nice and cozy from here on out.