Last year I had the dealer come out and clean my Mt. Vernon insert to teach me. This year I saved the $120 and did it myself. Took me 2 hours because I was being careful.
First, its pretty heavy even with the doors off. I think I may have bent the levelers pushing it back in. Next year I'll be more careful and try to bend them back. I also made a little table which is the same height as the mantel so I can rest the stove on it when I pulled it out.
What a pain getting the chimney hook up off. Needed a screwdriver. I hope I did not chew up that gasket on the disconnect.
Opened up the what I think is the combustion blower and of course ripped the gasket but bought the rubber gasket in case I did rip it. Reached in with a small brush. Was covered in soot up to my elbow.
The convection blower was completely spotless so I re-attached it and left it alone. Did normal breakdown and maintenance taking out the baffle and the ash pan and such.
Used one of those dryer cleaning kits on the chimney. I was surprised how much crap came out especially when you spin it with the drill. Should be spotless now.
Painted the baffle and those little clasps that hold the baffle in, the pot, and the heat exchangers, then put a cup of damp-rid inside. Was a little dissapointed with the paint because I ordered black and got black metallic but its all well and good. Looks like a new stove now.
First, its pretty heavy even with the doors off. I think I may have bent the levelers pushing it back in. Next year I'll be more careful and try to bend them back. I also made a little table which is the same height as the mantel so I can rest the stove on it when I pulled it out.
What a pain getting the chimney hook up off. Needed a screwdriver. I hope I did not chew up that gasket on the disconnect.
Opened up the what I think is the combustion blower and of course ripped the gasket but bought the rubber gasket in case I did rip it. Reached in with a small brush. Was covered in soot up to my elbow.
The convection blower was completely spotless so I re-attached it and left it alone. Did normal breakdown and maintenance taking out the baffle and the ash pan and such.
Used one of those dryer cleaning kits on the chimney. I was surprised how much crap came out especially when you spin it with the drill. Should be spotless now.
Painted the baffle and those little clasps that hold the baffle in, the pot, and the heat exchangers, then put a cup of damp-rid inside. Was a little dissapointed with the paint because I ordered black and got black metallic but its all well and good. Looks like a new stove now.
![[Hearth.com] First Mt Vernon Cleaning](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/103/103694-94adbf0ae55ee1d6d29cf2c292abc3db.jpg?hash=h_gCHq1tOp "[Hearth.com] First Mt Vernon Cleaning")
![[Hearth.com] First Mt Vernon Cleaning](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/103/103695-3b033f92a0816e620832ebad9bc6337d.jpg?hash=f7vaR8X99a "[Hearth.com] First Mt Vernon Cleaning")
