Owning a pellet stove can improve how effectively you heat your home, and you will also enjoy saving money on your heating bills each winter. This type of stove is fueled by small, inexpensive wood pellets that are made from recycled wood from sawmills. Not only is this aspect environmentally friendly, but pellet stoves also burn very clean and release less harmful gases than other fuel types. While the overall maintenance of a pellet stove is not as extensive as with a wood-burning fireplace or stove, you do need to take care of your stove by having it and its flue inspected and serviced once a year. During the heating season, you should also do a few tasks each week to keep your pellet stove operating correctly. Ashbusters would like to share with you some weekly maintenance tips from HomeTips that will allow your pellet stove to work as efficiently as possible.
Clean out the ashes.
Usually located behind the fire chamber, the ash trap or drawer should be emptied once a week. Be sure you are depositing the ashes in a metal container to prevent a fire being ignited from smoldering ashes or hot embers.
Be on the lookout for “clinkers.”
“Clinkers” are what forms when ash melts and hardens. These clumps of ash can block air flow and can also disrupt the mixture of oxygen and fuel to the burn pot. You can remove any “clinkers” with a special rake that has been designed for this exact purpose.
Watch for the build-up of soot.
On the inside surfaces of the stove, soot tends to build up, and even a tenth of an inch of soot can drop the heat transfer by 50 percent. You can use a wire brush to remove the soot from the metal surfaces. You can clean any soot build-up from the glass doors by using paper towels and a commercial glass cleaner made for heated doors. Cleaning the glass helps you know whether or not the fuel is burning efficiently.
Clean the heat exchanger.
To best clean this important component, you will need to consult your owner’s manual.
Take a look at the color of the flame.
You want the flame in your pellet stove to be bright yellow or white. If it is orange or dark, you need to give Ashbusters a call for a service appointment.
Empty the auger tube and the fuel hopper.
Allowing these two parts to completely empty keeps the sawdust and pellet debris from building up and blocking the feed system.
Considering converting your heating appliance to a pellet stove this winter? Contact us at Ashbusters to learn more about how you can save money but heat your home more efficiently with a pellet stove.