Insert glass.... Best cleaning practices???

[Lastingimagephoto88]

*NEWBIE* Be gentle. Haha

I just installed a used Quadrafire 4100i ACC Fireplace insert (circa 2002 manufacture date). I have only had it fired up since Saturday (12/14) and had now discoloration on glass til this morning when I woke up. Last night was my first overnight load up attempt. I woke up to hot coals lining the bottom of the insert. Good right? But I also woke up to blackened glass on the small Windows at sides of door and a half black front window. Now that it is discolored how can I clean it and will it ever be nice and clear again?

 

[Matt93eg]

You can get the black off the glass. There are companies that make cleaning chemicals to clean the glass. I have also heard of people using a water and ammonia solution. Other thing you can do is burn a nice HOT fire and most of the time the black will go away.

 

[firefighterjake]

1) Next hot fire will burn it off

2) It's rare that I get much of that black gunk these days (the two main culprits for this tends to be either unseasoned wood or not running at the right temps/air flow) . . . but when I did or do . . . I tend to use some damp newspaper or paper towel and if that doesn't clean it I dip the damp paper in some of the fine ash and scrub it clean.

3) You can also go the commercial route and buy cleaners at the local hearth store

 

[Lastingimagephoto88]

Thanks firefighterjake and Matt93 I purchased wood from a local fella. He said it was standing dead (gypsy moth kill off) and that he split it this past summer and piled up (not stacked) and covered with tarps. It is a mix of Oaks. I read that standing dead can be considered to be ⅔ seasoned so depending on what portion of the summer he split it in it should be close to seasoned. But I think it still could use some dry time... But it's all I have for now. My brother told me to trust a firewood salesman about as much as a used car salesman. They may say it's seasoned properly but chances are it's not. I think some residual moisture may be the culprit?????

 

[KaptJaq]

t I dip the damp paper in some of the fine ash and scrub it clean.

+1

 

[nola mike]

Thanks firefighterjake and Matt93 I purchased wood from a local fella. He said it was standing dead (gypsy moth kill off) and that he split it this past summer and piled up (not stacked) and covered with tarps. It is a mix of Oaks. I read that standing dead can be considered to be ⅔ seasoned so depending on what portion of the summer he split it in it should be close to seasoned. But I think it still could use some dry time... But it's all I have for now. My brother told me to trust a firewood salesman about as much as a used car salesman. They may say it's seasoned properly but chances are it's not. I think some residual moisture may be the culprit?????

Yeah, your wood is probably not at all seasoned if it's oak, and that's probably the reason for your black glass. You'll want to burn with the air open a bit more. If possible, mix with some drier stuff (pallets/2x4's work well). As for the original question, +1 to what Jake said. You'll be amazed at damp newspaper dipped in ash...

 

[BrowningBAR]

I tend to use some damp newspaper or paper towel and if that doesn't clean it I dip the damp paper in some of the fine ash and scrub it clean.

Same here. This works no matter how black the glass is.

 

[Jags]

I read that standing dead can be considered to be ⅔ seasoned so depending on what portion of the summer he split it in it should be close to seasoned.

"Can" be - but don't bet on it. There is no guarantee. Piled under tarps don't sound all that great either. Air must be allowed to move to whisk away the moisture from the drying process.

 

[jeff_t]

Same here. This works no matter how black the glass is.

You think that now.

Do the bay windows on the Quad normally stay clean? Those usually don't have a good air wash over them.

 

[Paul L]

Same here. This works no matter how black the glass is.

Not always. But that's always the best place to start. Once in a while one needs to go to the "next level" of oven cleaner, razor blade or commercial stove glass cleaner.

 

[BrowningBAR]

You think that now.

Maybe I'll remove some insulation so I have to run a King harder.

 

[BrowningBAR]

Not always. But that's always the best place to start. Once in a while one needs to go to the "next level" of oven cleaner, razor blade or commercial stove glass cleaner.

Some of these used stoves I've bought had glass that was completely black. As if someone took black paint to the glass. Little bit of elbow grease and a good amount of wet ash, and blammo, clean glass.

 

[toddnic]

Here are the best ways I know to keep the glass clean:

1. Keep a good hot fire going.
2. Burn dry wood
3. Use 0000 steel wool on the glass. Works wonders on my Progress Hybrid.

Normally the soot on the glass goes away when you keep a hot fire going.

 

[BrowningBAR]

Use 0000 steel wool on the glass.

On glass? Seems a bit riskier than paper towel.

 

[toddnic]

The glass on my Progress Hybrid is made from ceramic (like a Corning Ware cooking pot) and Woodstock recommends using 0000 steel wool (very fine) to clean the glass. Does the owners manual have any suggestions for cleaning the glass?

 

[WES999]

I have good results with the Rutland brand glass cleaner.
Some ashes on a damp paper towel also work well.

 

[madison]

Ditto the Rutland Glass Cleaner, it works, you only need a small dab on a damp paper towel.

I personally would be leary and at most extremely careful with steel wool, and even the ash technique - as there can be sharp objects/silicates remaining in the ash that could etch the glass.

Also as mentioned, hot fires, and resist urge to reduce air with less than optimal wood.

 

[BurnIt13]

My parents have a Quadrafire 4100 and a 3100 and run both regularly. They use Envi-8 wood bricks exclusively so there is very little if any moisture. My dad tends to run hotter than necessary as well. The glass doesn't really darken up but IMHO it gets hazy with ash waaay too quick. He also waits until you can barely see through it before he cleans it.

If he is running wood, even dry stuff the glass has a tendancy to get black even when it is running screaming hot. I think it may be the design of the stove.

I have an Englander 30 and burn oak and pine. I rarely get black soot but it will get hazy eventually.

Both of us use Windex. Seems to work great

 

[MofoG23]

*NEWBIE* Be gentle. Haha

I just installed a used Quadrafire 4100i ACC Fireplace insert (circa 2002 manufacture date). I have only had it fired up since Saturday (12/14) and had now discoloration on glass til this morning when I woke up. Last night was my first overnight load up attempt. I woke up to hot coals lining the bottom of the insert. Good right? But I also woke up to blackened glass on the small Windows at sides of door and a half black front window. Now that it is discolored how can I clean it and will it ever be nice and clear again?

Are you sure that is the ACC model? I purchased my 4100i back in 2008 (manufactured 8/2008) and it was not ACC....thought they just came out with the ACC models a few years ago?

As for glass cleaning, as others have mentioned, use well seasoned wood and keep the temps up. I clean mine once or twice a month tops when burning well seasoned wood. When I do clean it, a damp paper towel usually takes everything off. If there is ever some thicker black soot, some ashes on the damp paper towel will easily clean it off. First couple years I thought I was burning seasoned oak and would have to clean the glass once a week...now I have seasoned wood, it has improved greatly.

No need for special chemical cleaners IMO. If you do use commercial cleaners, I've been told to stay away from anything with ammonia as that can damage the finish of the glass over time.

 

[MofoG23]

If he is running wood, even dry stuff the glass has a tendancy to get black even when it is running screaming hot. I think it may be the design of the stove.

t

That is not an issue with the stove design...first couple years I struggled as well. Last couple years (once I got ahead on my wood supply), the glass stays very clean for many weeks at a time.

 

[Dave A.]

1) Next hot fire will burn it off

If that's true then, I guess I made a mistake in ruling out the Quadrafires and all the other inserts with bay windows without air wash. I was led to believe that with all of those inserts you'd basically have to learn to live with blackened glass in those side windows.

 

[MofoG23]

If that's true then, I guess I made a mistake in ruling out the Quadrafires and all the other inserts with bay windows without air wash. I was led to believe that with all of those inserts you'd basically have to learn to live with blackened glass in those side windows.

Please keep in mind that the 4100i (bay window insert) does have an air wash system for the glass. When my secondary combustion is in its "nuclear state" I can see the flames cleaning the glass. Open the door and look inside the top of the door opening
- you can see the air slits that create the air wash system.

 

[Heatsource]

surprised no one has mentioned my buddy the razor blade!
your choice of glass cleaner and a window scraping razor blade gets it done.

as someone who may clean 6-7 stoves/chimneys in a day- let me assure you this is the fasted method- and gets the glass sparkly clean

glass is much harder than steel, you really have to work hard to scratch glass w/a razor blade.

 

[dafattkidd]

My brother told me to trust a firewood salesman about as much as a used car salesman.

Welcome to the forum. Congrats on the new insert. That's a beautiful unit. This will be a fun winter for you. As far as the firewood suppliers: my experience is they are mostly ignorant to what real seasoned wood is, not so much that they are lying scammers. But that's just my experience.

You should think about getting some construction debris or high quality compressed logs to mix in with your not so seasoned firewood. It will make your life much easier.

Also something worth noting: Whichever method you use to clean the glass, don't clean the glass while it's hot.

 

[jatoxico]

Oven cleaner wipe on, wipe off, cheap fast easy. Used the ash method, it works, not particularly fast or effective by comparison. Always worried I'm gonna pick up some sand or grit from when the tree was down or during splitting and scratch the ceramic while scrubbing.