A pellet stove is an efficient, cost effective way to heat up your home. However, just like any other combustion stove, it will need regular cleaning and maintenance. A well-maintained pellet stove will heat efficiently and will also last for longer. Fortunately, it is not too difficult a task and can be done in a few simple steps. If you would like to find out How to Clean a Pellet Stove, then read on.
How Often Should You Clean A Pellet Stove?
Although both wood burning stoves and pellet stoves require regular cleaning, a pellet stove is the easier one to clean. Pellets are a dense form of fuel, producing less ash to remove. Of course, cleaning regularity will depend on how frequent you use the pellet stove, however on average a pellet stove should be cleaned twice weekly, or at the very least, once every two weeks. It goes without saying, if you want your pellet stove to function at its best, then regular cleaning and maintenance is a necessity.
Tools Required
Here are a few easy to find tools to help you easily clean your pellet stove:
- A stiff brush
- A metal scraper. This scraper should come with the pellet stove. Use this scraper to remove any tough to shift creosote build-up that the stiff brush couldn’t remove.
- Dust mask and gloves. The dust mask will protect your lungs from any harmful dust and the gloves will protect your hands from hard to remove soot stains.
- An ash vacuum cleaner
How To Clean A Pellet Stove:
- Firstly, you should start with the burn pot. Most of the ash will end up here, so it will be the most important part to maintain. The ash vacuum should clean up this area.
- There will more than likely be some build up in the burn pot area, so you can use the stiff brush or metal scraper to clear the area.
- Next, locate the front scraper. Pull and push the front scraper a few times to remove any debris in the heat exchange tube.
- Vacuum any ash that has fallen into the burn pot.
- Finally, clean the soot that has accumulated on the front glass.
Other Areas To Check Occasionally:
- Clean the stove pipe with a stove pipe brush.
- Clean the fan and blower motor. Use a soft brush (such as a paintbrush) to remove dust and finish with a vacuum.
- Clean the gaskets by the door and make sure they are still in good working order.
How Do You Keep Pellet Stove Glass Clean?
Unfortunately, one of the downsides of a combustible heater is the build-up of soot on the glass door. To prevent this from happening and to clean it off:
- If the fire is burning at a low temperature, it is easier for the soot to stick to the glass. How do you reduce this soot build-up? By burning a hot fire. If the stove is burning at high temperatures, then it will burn away the soot that has accumulated on the glass.
- When the glass is completely cold, clean the glass with a degreaser and fine steel wool. Wipe clean with a dry cloth.
Are Pellet Stoves Cleaner Than Wood Stoves?
Both pellet stoves and wood stoves require regular cleaning, however a pellet stove produces less ash and emissions. A pellet stove uses wood pellets that are a lot denser. Compared to wood, pellet fuel is clean, virtually smokeless and a lot easier to clean up.
Tips To Prevent Soot From Sticking To The Glass Door:
- Use dry pellets. Damp pellets will not only burn poorly, but will also produce a moist smoke that will stain the glass window. Poor quality pellets will also cause this issue, therefore stick with high quality pellets and keep them dry.
- As stated earlier, a low burning fire is more likely to produce smoke that will stick to the glass door. To prevent this from happening, keep the fire drafts open until the fire is in full flame and at peak temperature. Once the fire is burning well at a high temperature, close the drafts to keep the heat in. Now, less soot will stick to the glass door.
- Make sure the air filters are clear. If there are debris restricting air flow, then the stove will not reach high enough temperatures to burn off the soot on the glass door.
With A Pellet Stove, Do You Need To Clean Your Chimney?
Pellet stoves are a great way of heating up a home, however just like any other stove, the chimney should be cleaned by a professional, at least once a year.
Should You Hire A Professional To Clean Your Pellet Stove?
Cleaning your pellet stove should not be a difficult task, however if your pellet stove isn’t heating well or you can see that there is clogging and build-up that you cannot remove, then hiring a professional may be a good idea. A professional will also be able to find any parts that are not working properly and need replacing. A professional may be able to get your pellet stove back working perfectly well again.
When Cleaning A Pellet Stove, Make Sure To:
- Wear a dust mask to prevent dust inhalation.
- Wear gloves to prevent soot staining your hands.
- Make sure the pellet stove is cold before starting your cleaning routine.
- Always use high-quality pellets
Conclusion
Cleaning a pellet stove isn’t something we look forward to. However, it is a necessary chore. Regular cleaning and maintenance will not only help your pellet stove to heat at its best, but it will also make sure it lasts a long time.
Hopefully, after reading this article on How to Clean a Pellet Stove, you can quickly and efficiently clean your pellet stove so that it always looks as good as new.
