What sort of routine or seasonal maintenance do you do?

[astrodon]

I want my stove (Englander 30-NCH) to last as long as possible and was wondering what you guys do to your stoves to keep them nice and long-lasting. This is only my second season and all I've done so far is to remove the burn tubes and baffles and vacuum everything out. I didn't bother removing the fire brick. Not counting a nuclear meltdown, which this thing seems capable of it seems that internal rust would be main issue.

FYI, I think I have a handle on the chimney and stovepipe. Is there anything else you guys like to do to your stoves?

Thanks

 

[EddyKilowatt]

I don't know if it's a hassle to remove the brick on that stove -- or it it's hazardous to the brick -- but if not, you might consider removing the brick at least this first year, to see if any rust has developed over the summer in your climate. I haven't had this problem myself (dry West), but if you did, you could plan on a springtime treatment of the metal surfaces with some kind of preservative oil (one that would safely cook off during the first burn of Fall).

Eddy

 

[Adios Pantalones]

Sweep. Check seals. Done.

Rust on these things is generally self limiting- a layer of rust prevents air/water from getting to fresh metal. Unless you have a flood in there- which someone reported this year- that's all I do for my non-cat.

 

[fossil]

Squirt of graphite powder on hinges & other moving parts. Rick

 

[derwood]

Almost done with the process even as we speak.

Extrordinaire 33 insert=remove front face plate and panels to vacuum everything real good, take out the two fans in the front and clean out accumulated dust and oil bearings lightly.

 

[Cearbhaill]

I just have the chimney guy/vendor come and do a cleaning/inspection.

I had him come twice last year as it was my first season burning and I wanted to know how well I was doing, was I burning hot enough, etc. I had the typical "first year burners blues" regarding finding well seasoned wood, and knew that I had burned some less that perfect wood.
I got an A+ both times, and I attribute that directly to the information and skills I learned here.

So from now on it is once a year maintenance visits, post burning season.