Yearly stove cleaning

[GenghisJon]

Just curious do most people clean their own stoves before the season or get a professional do it?

I'd like to do it myself and save the money, I just don't know how hard it is/what it entails.

I'd love to hear what people have to say.

 

[Augmister]

Yes, you can do it yourself! Best to clean after every ton of pellets you burn. Ash is everywhere, just not in your burn pot. You can use the search box at the top to pull up topics and you should read first, then ask any questions. Folks here are very helpful! Just cleaned my two stoves and now will paint the fireboxes just ahead of the 2013-14 burn season.

 

[DexterDay]

Just curious do most people clean their own stoves before the season or get a professional do it?

I'd like to do it myself and save the money, I just don't know how hard it is/what it entails.

I'd love to hear what people have to say.

What stove do you have? Add it to your sig line so we know? That will depend on how much is needed and how often. Some are easier than others. Some pretty hard, but most can be done by Johnny Homeowner.

 

[Bioburner]

Closest dealer for my Harmans is about 150 miles. They are easy to clean. Some stoves are a pain and you may need assistance in properly getting them clean. Good luck

 

[GenghisJon]

Thanks, I have a QF (broken link removed to http://www.quadrafire.com/en/Products/Classic-Bay-1200-Pellet-Insert.aspx)

I'd like to think I can do it myself, whenever I hire somebody they seem to be finished in no time.

I keep the stove as clean as possible throughout the year, I'm just not sure if there is anything special a technician does that I can't do? Things with the motor and whatnot.

 

[jcleary47]

Whatever you do, if you need to replace the combustion/exhaust blower gaskets, just buy the material and cut it yourself. Thanks to the advice of helpful members on this forum I did just that and avoided having to pay $30+ dollars for a simple gasket. The fact that these pellet stove shops charge $30+ for such an item should be a criminal offense.

 

[Augmister]

Whatever you do, if you need to replace the combustion/exhaust blower gaskets, just buy the material and cut it yourself. Thanks to the advice of helpful members on this forum I did just that and avoided having to pay $30+ dollars for a simple gasket. The fact that these pellet stove shops charge $30+ for such an item should be a criminal offense.

What did you buy for material and where?

 

[herdfan2003]

I generally catch a nice Sunday afternoon, grab a beer or 12, turn a good football game on, unplug the P-38 spread out some newspapers (of course it has cooled down) grab a beer and start cleaning. I do need to get a good vacuum though. When I'm done I grab a beer and empty the ash pan, clean up the newspapers and grab a beer. Really it only takes me an hour or so depending on how much beer I drink.

 

[will711]

grab a beer or 12,

grab a beer and start cleaning.

When I'm done I grab a beer

and grab a beer. Really it only takes me an hour or so depending on how much beer I drink.

That's exactly how I do it

All this Beer talk I think I'll one or more

 

[herdfan2003]

That's exactly how I do it

All this Beer talk I think I'll one or more

Me too, unfortunately midnight shift calls

 

[will711]

I hear ya man . I don't work midnight shift , but close up at 2 on the job at 4

 

[save$]

I clean my own stove. How else am I going to have any fun?

 

[jcleary47]

What did you buy for material and where?

I searched on eBay for "Pellet Stove Gasket Material 1/8" and found it. I also believe it goes by the name of Lytherm. Cost me $10 for a square that I was able to make 3 exhaust blower gaskets from.

 

[Mike D]

I clean my own - just did the deep clean this past Saturday. Make sure you reference your owner's manual and search on this site for your model. There might even be a video on YouTube (there's a video for everything on there).

 

[herdfan2003]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

yep, here's mine. He didn't drink any beer?

 

[will711]

He didn't drink any beer?

WHAT

 

[CtPaul]

I have a Harman Accentra insert and I have done both. (Pay and DIY). I didn't pay anyone this year because I'm planning on going thru it myself. I'm going to wheel it outside and clean it really well. Go through and check/replace any gaskets. Then maybe a quick touch up with stove bright paint

 

[happycamper]

wood stove coal stove /or insert

whats the best to buy

i was told to buy a coal stove to burn wood
thay say it would last longer

 

[Stihl029]

I cleaned my stove with an ash vac, then scraped the sides down. When I thought it couldn't be any cleaner, I took it out to the garage using a dolly, hooked up the leaf blower (In suction mode) to the exhaust/convection blower and turned it on. I swear the cloud of dust that came out of that unit was the size of an 18 wheeler. Only trouble I had was wishing the wind was blowing a little more so the neighbors didn't see the cloud! Sorry neighbors! I've used this method in the past and it works great. After the stove is as clean as can be, and the air draft I get after is like new. Just search the site for how to do the leaf blower trick. It can be done connected to the exhaust pipe also. Good Luck!