Maintenance of Quadra Fire 7100

[Eric1977]

I built a new house in September 2014. I've probably used my Fireplace less then 20 times. I'm also a rookie with Fireplaces and need some information regarding the maintenance of a fireplace.

I've been searching the internet for answers and all I can find is having it cleaned/inspected once per year. I've also read that it should be done once every two months.

Last year we used seasoned wood from the store. This year i'm using oak that I cut in between September 2014 - Nov 2014. It's been split/covered for about 14 months.

My questions are the following:

1. Realistically how often should I have my Fireplace/Flue cleaned? I don't burn everyday. When I do it probably less then 5 hours long. Maybe a couple times per week. This winter I would like to burn about 4 times per week after I get home for work or on the weekends.

2. How do I know when to replace the ceramic insulation blanket? Right now it seems crusty on the top and gray/dirty.

3. Do the baffle boards and tubes need to be cleaned or wiped off?

4. When we first started using the fireplace, the door windows would get covered in a thick layer of black creosote or something. This I think was caused by not letting the fire get hot enough with the doors open for the first 30 minutes. Should I be concerned about the Flue given how many times i've used it?

Any information that anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Eric.

 

[begreen]

Welcome Eric. I don't have this fireplace but can offer some general tips.
1) The frequency of cleaning varies with the flue setup, wood moisture, and how the fireplace is operated. The chimney should be cleaned at least once every cord, but more often if the wood is not fully seasoned and/or the chimney is cold due to exterior exposure. When in doubt, clean it.
2&3) With care the insulation blanket should last for years. It's fragile so leave it alone if it's just dusty and sooty. Normally you don't need to clean the baffle boards and tubes.
4) Blackened glass usually indicates poorly seasoned wood or the fire is being run too low, or both. Oak usually needs to season for 2 years. You might want to get a moisture meter and check the moisture content of the firewood. Do this by taking a room temp split and re-splitting it. Then measure on the freshly exposed face of he wood, not the end grain. The wood should be less than 20% for best burning. If it's only semi-dried add some known dry wood like construction (2x4) cut offs to help it get hotter faster.

 

[Eric1977]

Thank you begreen for the information. Is it ok to use 2x4 lumber in a fireplace? I read in another article to not use them but I have a ton of cut offs from framing in my basement that I would like to burn if it is safe.

 

[begreen]

Adding a few 2x4s to the cordwood mix is not going to hurt. Just don't try burning a fireplace full of them.

 

[Village Idiot]

Eric. +1 on everything begreen has said. I am in my fourth season of heating my 3000 sf. house with my 7100 full time. I'll share my experiences, but remember that there are many variables and you will need to fingure out what works best for your situation.

My typical burning pattern is 2.5-3 loads a day depending on the heating requirements. A normal reload cycle is to push ashes to the back, pull coals to the front, fully load the box to just below the tubes and let it light. Then I gradually work close the damper down until it is as closed as it will go. At this point I have a fire with nice secondaries that will put out good heat for at least 10 hours if necessary. I burn all flavors of wood that I can scrounge once I have properly cut, split, and seasoned them to 20% MC.

My first season of burning, I kept checking my flue (32' tall) for creosote buildup every month. It looked great. I burned about four cords of wood total. At the end of the season, I cleaned it with my trusty Soot Eater and got about four cups of dry crumbly creosote that looked like coffee grounds. The second season, I burned the same quantity, type and quality of wood and did not check my flue. At the end of the season, I cleaned it again and got about the same amount and type of creosote.

So, my normal protocol is to burn full loads of well seasoned wood and clean my chimney at the end of the season. I remove the tubes, blanket, and baffle board. I scrape the metal areas inside the stove with a putty knife and scrub the tubes and metal bracket above the front tube with a brass brush. The blanket is very carefully brushed off with a soft brush. The baffle board is treated with the utmost care so it won't crack. Then I clean the chimney. Then it is all put back together to be ready for the next season.