Common Issues with Wood Stoves
An attractive wood stove is a fantastic purchase. And just like any investment, when it’s in good operating order, owners genuinely enjoy utilizing it. Owners, however, worry that their investment will turn out to be a liability when wood stove issues occur. Modern wood-burning stoves are stunning, energy-efficient, and great producers of heat, but they are not always trouble-free. The majority of possible issues with wood-burning stoves can be avoided by having them professionally installed initially, followed by an annual inspection and Local Chimney Cleaning San Leandro by certified chimney sweeps. The most frequent issue that homeowners face with their wood stoves is smoking.
Sometimes when a wood stove is in use, it smells like fresh paint. Although no one enjoys the smell of paint in their homes, this should just be a short-term issue that will go away after the new paint on the stove has had time to fully cure. However, get in touch with your retailer or the manufacturer if the odor persists for more than a few days or a week.
When there is a draftiness issue, it is conceivable that the door of a wood-burning stove is not airtight. Examine the door gaskets; if they are damaged, stove vendors can supply replacements. If the glass is broken and causing a draft, it could also need to be replaced.
The glass on doors of many more modern stoves is fitted with a technology that maintains them clean. If your stove lacks this feature, you can still clean the doors by wiping the soot off of the glass when it is at normal temperature (i.e., not right after a fire has burned in the stove). Believe it or not, ashes applied with a cleaning cloth make a fantastic cleaning agent. Avoid using aggressive cleaning agents and tools. The glass on most modern stoves is kept clean by a feature called an “air wash facility.” While the stove is in use, the air wash burns the soot off the glass. If your stove doesn’t have self-cleaning glass, you may quickly remove soot by wiping it off before the glass gets hot. Avoid using hot glasses since the moisture on the towel will turn into steam. Sticky stains should come out if you soak your cleaning cloth in the ashes after the stove has cooled and massage it over the stains. The glass of the wood stove shouldn’t be cleaned with abrasive materials because doing so will harm the glass over time.
A chimney may become blocked by a variety of factors, including animals, storm-related debris, masonry deterioration, and an excessive buildup of creosote. A drafty wood stove is the result of the combustion elements not being able to properly leave through the chimney. A blocked ventilation path will most likely cause a significant amount of smoke to build up inside the firebox. Nests of animals and birds, leaves and twigs, deteriorating brickwork, and too much creosote are examples of common impediments. Have a professional evaluate your stove system if you think there may be a blockage. Any obstruction can prevent smoke from being evacuated; a creosote buildup can result in a fire.