Cleaning insert in place

[NRGarrott]

I have a Quadrafire 3100i that is connected to 16' of 6" flexible stainless liner. I installed it last year. I need some help on cleaning it. I brushed my chimney with a 6" poly brush, from the top down. It was dirty but not excessively so. Then I opened my insert, vacummed all the cresote that fell down onto the firebrick. Then I used my hand and a piece of cardboard to sweep the flat horizontal area clean, above the tubes. I'm sure i didn't do a perfect job, but i am confident it is failry clean. Is this method acceptable? Or do I need to pull the insert to clean?

 

[bholler]

no just pull the tubes and baffle you wont ever have to pull the insert

 

[Grisu]

Does the 3100 not have a blanket on top of the baffle? I suggest pulling the baffle, blanket and tubes out before you sweep next time. That way everything falls right into the firebox and the cleanup will be much easier.

 

[NRGarrott]

I'm not sure what it is supposed to have, i bought it used off craigslist last year for $200. It burned well all last winter, except I had to run both air controls wide open to hit decent temps on the stove. I attributed this to the wood being split and stacked for only 3 months. Right now the insert has 3 tubes running parallel to the front of the stove. Above the tubes is a solid piece parallel to the floor. At the back of the stove there is a 1/2"? gap between the piece and the rear, and at the front of the stove the gap is considerable, allowing me to insert part of my hand. Above this piece, there is nothing.

 

[bholler]

I believe it should have an insulation blanket and the baffle should be all the way to the back. To clean you should pull the front 2 tubes and drop the baffle. And you are probably right it was probably the wood but after you got it to temp you should have been able to shut it back. What size liner and how tall is the chimney?

 

[NRGarrott]

6" flex liner installed last year, chimney is 4'? taller than the roof, about 18-20' total height.

 

[NRGarrott]

The manual states it should have an kaowool insulation blanket. I guess mine is missing. What purpose does it serve? And should i buy a new one?

 

[bholler]

added insulation to keep the firebox temps up more and yes you should replace it

 

[velvetfoot]

My new insert doesn't have a blanket but it's not a Quad. My two Quads did. On the Quads, I always used to take out the tubes, bafffle, and insulation and then brush it from bottom to top so I wouldn't have to get on the roof. You might run the risk of breaking the baffle if you don't take it out.

 

[etiger2007]

Take your baffel down because you probably have a pile of creosote laying on top of the baffle

 

[etiger2007]

This is my baffle dropped down after a cleaning, not much there but enough it could cause issues. Good luck!