Cleaning Progress Hybrid?

[toddnic]

This is my first time cleaning the Progress Hybrid. We have been burning it since late October and we have a couple of days of warm temperatures before it goes back to the 20's and 30's. I just cleaned the catalytic convertor (vacuumed and blew it out with the air compressor) and vacuumed out the upper chamber. Raked all the ashes from the fire box into the ash pan and dumped it. Anything else that I should do before getting it ready to burn again? Thanks for your help

 

[toddnic]

Just cleaned the screen inside the fire box. Thanks Woodstock for the additional info! Hopefully this will get me ready for another few months a quality burning.

 

[HollowHill]

How about the glass?

 

[toddnic]

Glass is fairly clean already. We've had some good hot fires.

 

[Todd]

Be careful blowing out the cat with compressed air, too much psi can blow the wash coat right off.

 

[toddnic]

Be careful blowing out the cat with compressed air, too much psi can blow the wash coat right off.

Thanks for that information. What PSI would be considered 'safe.'

 

[Todd]

Thanks for that information. What PSI would be considered 'safe.'

Not sure the exact psi but I wouldn't have it any higher than what I can blow out of my lungs.

 

[toddnic]

Good to know..... I used about 60 to 80 psi straight in to it. No sideways blowing. Hopefully I didn't do any damage to it today. Sure would be an expensive lesson. I think they are about $150 to replace.

 

[Slow1]

I've found that using the shop vac to pull air through the cat works rather nicely - and less mess in the air from blowing through it.

I too just did the cleanup. No fire today as it was nearly 60 outside and we're baking cookies all day, heh.

Dumped all ashes (as well as the secondary pan that I'd filled earlier this week and somehow never got out of the house). I cleaned my glass anyway with damp paper towels - even having had good hot fires I still find that a layer of ash collects on the glass. Not all that noticeable until I start cleaning and that crystal clear view is restored.

The other chore I did was cleaning the dust out from under the stove. Somehow the dust mice like to nest there - perhaps just because of the airflow through the house with the stove running.

I filled the wood rack in the house too and I now have a few splits sitting in there waiting for the light of a super cedar. Given the forecast I doubt I'll be burning this until Monday night, but nice to be ready.

 

[Flamestead]

Mid-way through the winter I am apt to give the top-half internals a vacuum job, too, brushing the surfaces as I vacuum, with thoughts of enhancing heat transfer. I occasionally (once or twice a season) put the vacuum on the air hole below the center of the glass. And at the same time I'm apt to vacuum the secondary air inlets at the top of the firebox (I get a fine white powder build-up over time).

I've used compressed air a couple of times, with the regulator down around 25 psi.

 

[Tenn Dave]

I was starting to think that all the Woodstock people had left the building - things have been very quiet lately.
I believe I read something from Woodstock that said you can use canned air (stuff intended for computer keyboards), but nothing under high pressure. A vacuum or soft brush is best.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Thanks for that information. What PSI would be considered 'safe.'

Todd is correct. No compressed air except the little cans that you get from the compressed air they use on keyboards. I do not know what psi it is but can say it is very weak. Your best bet is to go to an office supply store and buy a can.

 

[toddnic]

Does anyone know if Woodstock has step-by-step cleaning instructions with things "not to do." It would definitely be helpful. I had no idea about the pressurized air. How do I know if I damaged the catalytic converter? Any way to find out other than to have a fire?

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Not so sure about the things not to do but they do have instructions for cleaning.

You'll know if the cat does not light off as your stove will heat up slower and not throw as much heat. Also the chimney will be belching smoke. I would expect it to still light off but perhaps take longer to do so. That is still okay but if it never lights off, then it will be time for a new one.

Whenever in doubt about how to do something, call Woodstock. They are there to help as well as others of us with Woodstock stoves.

 

[toddnic]

Significant difference in the stove performance after cleaning! Thanks everyone for your input. Thankfully the catalytic converter seems to be working just fine. Much better airflow after cleaning the screen inside the firebox.