Glass Build up

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MJSully

New Member
Oct 13, 2015
44
Stratford, CT
Hello All,
Did my first small fire in my QF 5100i ACC last night. I was told to do four break in fires of varying degree. So the fire was that big.
However, there was still a pretty good coating on the door glass this morning. Is this normal for one fire? Should I clean it right away, or need to clean it every day? I know you are supposed to use ammonia based cleaners. My installer suggested a vinegar and water solution and a rag.
Thoughts?

TY
Mike
 
Newspaper tiny bit off water dip in ash and wipe clean
 
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Burning hotter will clean it and keep clean. However cleaning is sometimes needed.

+1 on using a dab of ash and water. I like a paper towel better than newspaper. But both work. Ash + water=lye , which is about a good a cleaner as you can get. I have yet to ever be unable to clean my glass with just ash and water
 
Thank you. Trying to follow instructions on my first 4 burns and protecting welds. They told me to work my way up to the peak fire.
 
Thank you. Trying to follow instructions on my first 4 burns and protecting welds. They told me to work my way up to the peak fire.

Dont worry about the glass. Get your break in fires done. One good hot fire will clean the glass for you more than likely.
 
Vinegar & water on a paper towel works great for me. I keep a mixture under the sink and just wet a paper towel with it when I need to clean the glass.
 
Ash and water/vinegar mix works well. Just be careful when dipping it in the ash that you don't pick up any grit from the fire bricks or dirt from the wood. I also like to use the actual stove glass cleaner every at least every other cleaning. (At least once a week to week and a half, I like a clean glass and good fire view!) It seems to leave a protective layer that minimizes build up and also makes it easier to clean the next time.
 
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Same happened here with my break in fires, both on glass and firebricks. Not to worry about any buildup, being that it's such an insignificant amount. As you have normal fires after the break in period, you should have very little buildup on glass.
 
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Btw, I have heard ammonia is not a good choice for the glass, due to it having deteriorating effect on gasket if done routinely..
 
Wet paper towel or newspaper . . . if stubborn dip it into some of the soft ash.
 
Btw, I have heard ammonia is not a good choice for the glass, due to it having deteriorating effect on gasket if done routinely..
Ammonia is fine, just don't let it reach the gasket, I spray in the middle and hold my shop towel just above the lower gasket to catch running cleaner, then clean upward. For spot work, spray into rag and clean.
 
i buy baby wipes from the dollar store and when its cool enough i wipe the glass with those. works well enough since the air wash system is decent.
 
I have a heatilator insert which is made by the same company and has the same breakin procedure. I had a pretty heavy black coating on my glass as I was a bit paranoid about getting the fire going. For my first few fires I also shut the air down too quickly which added to the black coating. But with a few hot fires and the coating went away. So break it in as they suggest and once you get burning I think it will be fine. You may want a stove thermometer so you can be sure you are not too hot.

tom
 
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