PE Alderlea T5 Insert gasket questions

[reagib]

Bear with me, please. I'm still learning as the years go by. I didn't grow up burning wood, so this is all new to me! I have a few questions that I'll ask in a few posts.

Should my door gasket be mashed flat? I read on here someone asking if the poster's gasket gives any when you push on it....mine does not...so that's a problem, right??

I installed a new gasket towards the end of the season last year. What causes it to mash flat? Could it be that my door shuts too tight?

Thanks for your time.

 

[Woody5506]

A T5 gasket is not exactly mashed flat when its good but as it ages it will flatten out. That doesn't necessarily mean its bad and time to replace but I just have noticed it on mine.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

It has to crush a little to seal. Each stove is probably a bit different as to the amount of crush. Do you have a lot of soot on the glass to indicate leaking? I get a little soot on the bottom corners.

The dollar bill test can help you find a leak too.

 

[reagib]

It has to crush a little to seal. Each stove is probably a bit different as to the amount of crush. Do you have a lot of soot on the glass to indicate leaking? I get a little soot on the bottom corners.

The dollar bill test can help you find a leak too.

No, it takes awhile for the glass to get dirty. The dollar test shows it is really tight by the door. Closer to the hinge, theres some resistance when I pull the dollar bill out. So the gasket is probably fine?

 

[EatenByLimestone]

It sounds like you’re fine!