Maintaining Your Wood Burning Stove or Fireplace
It is essential to properly maintain a wood burning appliance – whether it’s a stove or fireplace- to ensure the safety of your home and efficiency of the unit. Hiring a certified professional annually is your best bet, as they can assist in vital maintenance of your chimney, fireplace, or stove before you need it most. The best time to have your appliance inspected and cleaned is right before wintertime, when it will be at highest use.
Below are some tips to consider to properly care for your solid fuel appliance:
Removing ash, soot, and debris
Before you begin using your wood burning appliance more often, it’s important to clear all of the old debris from the inside of the unit. A vacuum cleaner can assist in getting all of the material out – just be sure that all of the debris is completely cool first. If your appliance has an ash pot or tray, be sure to remove this and empty it.