How to clean

[freddypd]

Can anyone tell me how to clean the gunk that formed on the metal box by door frame? I am able to clean the glass and think I can handle the chimney (haven't done that yet) but am not sure about the box itself. Wouldn't a paint scraper really mess up the finish? Even with a hot fire the gunk seems to be caked on.

 

[freddypd]

This is what burning not so dry wood will get you I guess. Hopefully next years supply will be drier.

 

[rideau]

I'd sweep my chimney right now.

That gunk is creosote, and you are at high risk for having a lot of creosote in your chimney, a much bigger problem than what is on your firebox walls.

Once the chimney is cleaned, and you are relatively certain you have mitigated any creosote problem there, then address the firebox sides. Burning a few hot fires with a creosote cleaner may help a lot, but I'd want to know the state of my chimney now.

Check the chimney, post some pictures of it....let's be sure it is safe from a creosote point of view. You can easily take the stove pipe apart and clean from below if getting on the roof is a problem. Use binoculars to check your stove cap, if you do clean from below.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

For sure get that chimney cleaned as it is probably in the same condition. Wire brushes work nicely inside of stoves the same as wire brushes work in chimneys.

I'd also be checking to see if the seal is not tight as an air leak can cause this.

And yes, the number one culprit is the fuel you burn. Let that be a good lesson. Many have learned this lesson the hard way and that is one of the big reasons I always recommend people be 3 years ahead on their wood supply. Until one starts burning good fuel, he will have poor results. Would you burn poor fuel in your car or truck? Also one much realize that some types of wood can take up to 3 years to dry properly.

 

[dave_376]

SWEEP YOUR CHIMNEY, get some good dry wood maybe eco bricks and burn hot with some creosote remover.

 

[jdp1152]

Do you even see secondary combustion with that kind of gunk building up? I'd go buy some cheap pine 2x4s and chop up. Mix a few small chunks up and mix in with your marginal wood. I have the same unit and have pushed a little over a cord through it since January and haven't even flirted with what you're looking at there.

 

[wingsfan]

For sure get that chimney cleaned as it is probably in the same condition. Wire brushes work nicely inside of stoves the same as wire brushes work in chimneys.

Wire brush in masonary chimney only. Nylon brush in stainless. Wire will scratch stainless and that is not good for it.

 

[jeff_t]

I'm interested to know if the chimney is really bad, or if the cat is able to clean it up. The firebox of my stove gets seriously gunked up, but nothing in the pipe.

 

[nate379]

My stove looks just like that as well and I burn wood that is very dry. Use a putty knife to knock down the worst of it and don't worry about the rest. It's a stove, it's not supposed to be spotless.

My chimney stays clean, I get maybe a cup of junk out of it with a year of burning.

This is what burning not so dry wood will get you I guess. Hopefully next years supply will be drier.

 

[nate379]

No that's not correct.

Plastic brush for a liner (easy to rip with a metal brush) for stainless you use a steel brush. What's it matter if you scratch it?

Wire brush in masonary chimney only. Nylon brush in stainless. Wire will scratch stainless and that is not good for it.

 

[thewoodlands]

Can anyone tell me how to clean the gunk that formed on the metal box by door frame? I am able to clean the glass and think I can handle the chimney (haven't done that yet) but am not sure about the box itself. Wouldn't a paint scraper really mess up the finish? Even with a hot fire the gunk seems to be caked on.

View attachment 98218

That is not normal, if your wood is seasoned....your burning at the right temps... that chit should never be in your stove or pipe.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Wire brush in masonary chimney only. Nylon brush in stainless. Wire will scratch stainless and that is not good for it.

Wings, we do use nylon brush in chimney. Wire brush in the stove.

 

[jeff_t]

That is not normal, if your wood is seasoned....your burning at the right temps... that chit should never be in your stove or pipe.

This is mostly true, but it is quite normal in my stove. In his hybrid fireplace, probably not. It would be interesting to see how the cat has done, if it was hot enough to burn smoke.

 

[wingsfan]

Wings, we do use nylon brush in chimney. Wire brush in the stove.

Just saying.

 

[freddypd]

Just ordered a sooteater chimney cleaner and a tub of rutlands creosote remover.

This is my first year burning wood. I ordered "seasoned" wood, but you know how that goes. I should have just about enough for next year soon. Hopefully it will be much drier.

I will give a full report on how the cleaning goes. Thank you for the responses.

 

[Bster13]

Any update here?

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

How long has t been since you cleaned that glass

 

[freddypd]

I have a chimney sweep coming May 11th. We haven;t used the stove in a couple of weeks now. The glass gets like this usually after a nights burn down. It does clean pretty easily with a hot fire and a razor.

 

[Heatsource]

i suspect leaky door gasket

 

[dyerkutn]

I'm interested to know if the chimney is really bad, or if the cat is able to clean it up. The firebox of my stove gets seriously gunked up, but nothing in the pipe.

I am not as experienced as these other guys but I have had the same experience--lots of buildup in the box (probably bad wood) but very little in the pipe each year. That was a very old cat stove

 

[webby3650]

i suspect leaky door gasket

I really doubt it. If you have to use a razor to remove it, it could only be one of two things. It's either from unseasoned wood, or it's a Blaze King.

My glass will get a little dirty on low burn, but it always wipes off with a damp rag.

 

[webby3650]

No that's not correct.

Plastic brush for a liner (easy to rip with a metal brush) for stainless you use a steel brush. What's it matter if you scratch it?

SS flues are not to have Steel brushes used in them. Not only is it not necessary, it scratches the flue walls and causes corrosion of the SS.

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

I have a chimney sweep coming May 11th. We haven;t used the stove in a couple of weeks now. The glass gets like this usually after a nights burn down. It does clean pretty easily with a hot fire and a razor.

Something is wrong if you need a razor to clean the glass, is should come 80% clean with a wet paper towel, the rest comes off with newspapers little ash and water. If not you need to figure out what is going on

 

[nate379]

I asked about this on here a few years ago and everyone said wire brush was fine. Also the pro chimney sweep and the stove shop both told me the same thing.

SS flues are not to have Steel brushes used in them. Not only is it not necessary, it scratches the flue walls and causes corrosion of the SS.