How often do you clean your stove?

[SmokeyTheBear]

I clean my pot once a day and clean everything else once a week or so. Seems to be enough. Since we are on the subject of cleaning, I have cleaned out my vent once so far, and the stove has been in operation since 12/3/2011. What is the frequency of this and can someone elaborate on the leaf blower method? I basically took my venting apart last time and it was kind of a PIA.... My stove is a free standing quad cb1200 with indoor pipe going up 6' then elbowed out the wall and terminated. Not sure if a leaf blower is even applicable for me. I do not use an OAK.....

Leaf blower pellet stove cleaning: http://www.google.com/search?q=leaf+blower+pellet+stove+cleaning

 

[joe_pinehill]

I clean my pot once a day and clean everything else once a week or so. Seems to be enough. Since we are on the subject of cleaning, I have cleaned out my vent once so far, and the stove has been in operation since 12/3/2011. What is the frequency of this and can someone elaborate on the leaf blower method? I basically took my venting apart last time and it was kind of a PIA.... My stove is a free standing quad cb1200 with indoor pipe going up 6' then elbowed out the wall and terminated. Not sure if a leaf blower is even applicable for me. I do not use an OAK.....

You do need to clean the vent/flue routinely. I like to lightly bang the corrugated flue, shaking all the dust down, vacuum it through the door in the clean out, keep tapping until there's no dust. Then once a week run a brush up the flue.

If you let the flue get too clogged, your exhaust fan life will be affected. I found out the hard way, and was lucky the dealer honored the warranty and didn't charge me for a new fan.

Cleaning the stove is a good way to pass the time on cold sunday winter morning.

 

[Como]

I have a special vac for the ashes and I do just turn the T Stat down and vac, this is also when I pull the rod a couple of times.

The burn pot, where the holes are, there is nothing to scrape? It just falls through.

Maybe the pellets I am using. I will do the rest as you mention.

 

[St_Earl]

I have a special vac for the ashes and I do just turn the T Stat down and vac, this is also when I pull the rod a couple of times.

The burn pot, where the holes are, there is nothing to scrape? It just falls through.

Maybe the pellets I am using. I will do the rest as you mention.

just be careful, m8. i have an ash vac too. and they are made "for cold ash only" as stated by a sticker on mine. i'm definitely going against recommendations even vacuuming warm ash.
seems like you could go through these steps even faster than me if you're not doing the burnpot.

i also notice that the inlet in my vacuum directs the incoming ash to the wall of the canister.
i suppose if the incoming ash were to hit the filter first, the chances of mishap would be slightly increased.
but as it is, i know there aren't embers by the time i vac.
just be sure of that.

there is usually a little carbon "scale" in my burnpot.
nothing more than a thin layer in spots on the bottom faces.
it's not a big build up and doesn't block the holes.
it's probably something i could ignore. but it's just part of my routine as it chips off easier when hot.


SO AT THE RISK OF SOUNDING LIKE A MOTHER HEN- YOUR STOVE OR PELLETS OR OTHER FACTORS COULD BE DIFFERENT THAN IN MY CASE.

DO HOT CLEANING AT YOUR OWN RISK. AND BE FRACKING CAREFUL!

no burn holes in filter cover after 3 months vacuuming nearly every day. but it only takes once.

(broken image removed) (broken image removed)

**************
replying to your following post here to keep from making another post.
i seem to be very post happy today.

i kind of judged you had things under control.
and i added my warning for anybody reading my suggestions. as i have no idea if other stoves leave hotter and more embers in the firebox.
i would hate to lead anyone even less experienced than me down a path that made them complacent and did harm to them.

 

[Como]

Mine is a Love Less with a double filter.

The Pellet Stove does not seem an issue, I have to be more careful with the wood ones.

 

[joe_pinehill]

I would not underestimate the amount of heat you gain by having clean glass on the door. There has to be more radiation heat transfer through the clean glass. Maybe a percent or two of the total heat, but its heat and it looks nicer.

 

[stellep]

Pot, glass and scrape firebox every day(30 sec.). Exchanger once a week. Empty ash every 10-12 bags. Oil motors at beginning of season and mid season. Exhaust horizontal scrape after one ton, vertical stays pretty clean. Full teardown once a year, usually early October. Followed by the leafblower of course.

 

[Big E]

Hello. I am new here too. Bought Breckwell Big E 2008. Seems to run 1 week before ash fills burnpot and ash pan. Thorough cleaning every Friday. Also just had to replace combustion blower. $210.00-Ouch! Found myself some bearing, tore it down and now have a spare. Does anyone rebuid their own or just replace?