Hey folks,
I'm new to the Hearth and joined to learn more about my wood stove. Have a few questions.
We just moved to this home and it is heated primarily by a Jotul F500 v2 non catalytic stove. We had a local dealer come to clean and inspect the stove. They said it was in good working order and ready to go but the cast grate had warped. It's now arched up, likely a result of the previous owner cracking the ash door to get the fire going and forgetting it.
I burned last week for three days and decided to clean it today before the cold returns and to get an idea about what's in there and see about some of the criticisms of the unit.
I discovered the vermiculate plate above the burner pipes and the cloth insulation and found a good inch or more of ash sitting on it. I would have thought this should have been taken care of during the service cleaning
I also investigated the common issue of the sticking air vent control, ( mine sticks and I'll get some graphite spray to fix it)l and on dismantling found it full of ash as well as the air channels either side of it.
I wanted to remove the stove top to get a good look and clean. It seems that for my model there are 2 screws that are accessed at the front inside but the third one requires removal of the flue from the back? I think that means removal of the heat shield as well - a bit awkward. I ended up lifting and pushing back the vermiculate plate and pulling mat off, cleaning it, replacing it and sliding the plate back in place.
1. Should these areas have been cleaned as part of the service?
2. Is there a video showing the removal of the stove top to access the plate and cloth insulation above the burner tubes? I've read descriptions of the procedure but a video would be so much better, (for me).
3. The vermiculate plate is deteriorating a little bit at the back left side leaving 1/8" gap between it and the ledge at the back of the stove. I presume it isn't supposed to be a tight fit.
I'm sure I learn easier ways to do things as I go along.
My last wood stove experience was our Vermont Casting Defiant stove that I drove to the factory in Vermont to pick up for my dad in 1978 - before they were ebven in Canada - but that's another story. LOL
I'm new to the Hearth and joined to learn more about my wood stove. Have a few questions.
We just moved to this home and it is heated primarily by a Jotul F500 v2 non catalytic stove. We had a local dealer come to clean and inspect the stove. They said it was in good working order and ready to go but the cast grate had warped. It's now arched up, likely a result of the previous owner cracking the ash door to get the fire going and forgetting it.
I burned last week for three days and decided to clean it today before the cold returns and to get an idea about what's in there and see about some of the criticisms of the unit.
I discovered the vermiculate plate above the burner pipes and the cloth insulation and found a good inch or more of ash sitting on it. I would have thought this should have been taken care of during the service cleaning
I also investigated the common issue of the sticking air vent control, ( mine sticks and I'll get some graphite spray to fix it)l and on dismantling found it full of ash as well as the air channels either side of it.
I wanted to remove the stove top to get a good look and clean. It seems that for my model there are 2 screws that are accessed at the front inside but the third one requires removal of the flue from the back? I think that means removal of the heat shield as well - a bit awkward. I ended up lifting and pushing back the vermiculate plate and pulling mat off, cleaning it, replacing it and sliding the plate back in place.
1. Should these areas have been cleaned as part of the service?
2. Is there a video showing the removal of the stove top to access the plate and cloth insulation above the burner tubes? I've read descriptions of the procedure but a video would be so much better, (for me).
3. The vermiculate plate is deteriorating a little bit at the back left side leaving 1/8" gap between it and the ledge at the back of the stove. I presume it isn't supposed to be a tight fit.
I'm sure I learn easier ways to do things as I go along.
My last wood stove experience was our Vermont Casting Defiant stove that I drove to the factory in Vermont to pick up for my dad in 1978 - before they were ebven in Canada - but that's another story. LOL
