Pellet stoves are very expensive compared to the normal household space heaters (like Infrared Heater) and fireplaces (like Electric fireplaces). If you have a pellet stove, of course, it will be the main heating source, you should clean it timely and properly to get the output from it like a brand new.
Cleaning a pellet stove is not easy as it has many components and you have to clean and take care of each part of it. Otherwise, the heating output of the stove will tone down to a great extent. Also, it may begin to show unwanted problems. To clean a pellet stove in a proper way, you have to make a routine during the heavy running period of a pellet stove.
Our expert will discuss how to clean a pellet stove without hiring a professional.
How To Clean A Pellet Stove (In Video)
Which Parts of Pellet Stove You Need to Clean
Cleaning of a pellet stove will not be completed if you didn’t clean parts of the stove that we listed below:
- The casing or outer Body of the Stove.
- Burning Pot of pellet stove
- Looking glass of the stove
- Trash drawer or Ashpan
How to Clean Outer Side Body (casing) of Pellet Stove
Required Equipment:
- vinegar
- Water
- wire brush
- Dry Cloth
- Brush
- Vacuum
Special Note:
Clean the outside body once or twice every month.
Step by Step Instructions (Cleaning the Rust from Pellet STove):
Step 1: Scrape Rust Off With Wire Brush
If your wood pellet stove is old then there is a good chance that the outer casing of the stove becomes rustic. Inspect the outer body very carefully. If you detect rustic spots on it, you have to do some serious scrapping otherwise the whole body of the stove will be damaged. Moreover, if you haven’t cleaned the exterior of the stove for a long, you should work hard to get the rust off from the metal. Apply the wire brush wherever the rust is visible.
Step 2: Apply sandpaper to the exterior of the pellet stove
Cleaning of soft and simple rust can only be possible with wire bush but it is not possible to clean hard rust with it. Cleaning of more odd and hard rust of the stove is only possible using sandpaper. Scrap the damaged spot with sandpaper very slowly until the corrosion disappeared.
Step 3: Wipe the stove
You may see smudges of lingering ash and dirt in the exterior surface of the stove. Make a solution of water and vinegar in a ratio of 2:1 to clean this kind of unwelcome buildups. Spray the solution directly on the smudges, wait for few minutes and wipe it using a clean old rag. Let the pellet stove dry before using it.
Step by Step Instruction(Normal Cleaning Of Exterior)
This cleaning technique can be used to clean the exterior surface of the stove so that rust can’t build up in the stove.
Step 1: Make a solution of vinegar
Take an empty spray bottle. Combine vinegar and water in a 1:2 ratio. Add a small amount of dishwasher soap in the bottle. Shake the bottle for a minute and your cleaning solution is ready to use.
Step 2: Take a dry cloth and wipe the stove
Take a clean old rag. Spray the solution in the unit and simultaneously wipe the whole unit using the rag.
Step 3: Wipe the residual foam of soap
Get some freshwater and dip the rag (or you can use a new rag) in the water. After that, wipe the remaining soap or foam on the pellet stove.
Step 4: Dry the pellets stove.
Wait for the drying of the pellet stove. Don’t use or start the stove until the water is completely dry.
How to Clean The Ashes Of Burn Pot
Required Equipment:
- Ash Vacuum cleaner
Check this article best ash vacuum to pick the best one for this task.
Special Note:
During winter seasons when you use your beloved pellet stove most, the burn pot becomes dirty very frequently and quickly. We recommend cleaning the burn pot and pellet feeding component (i.e auger) at least once after using a ton of wood pellets in the stove.
Step by Step Instructions:
Step 1: Open the pellet stove door.
Open the door of the pellet stove with your hands or the tool given to open the pellet stove door.
Step 2: Vacuum the burn pot
Plug the ash cleaner in an electric socket. Take the vacuum cleaner closer to ash pot. Press the bottom and clean it thoroughly. Always keep the vacuum at a distance of 3-4 inches for the pot. If you don’t have any ash vacuum cleaner, you can buy it from Amazon or Ebay.com. Don’t ever use a regular vacuum cleaner to clean the ashes.
Step 3: Clean the burn pothole
After cleaning the ashes from the upper part of the burn pot, remove the burn pot from the compartment. Use the metal cleaning rod (what is normally supplied by the pellet stove manufacturer with the unit) to clean the holes of the burn pot.
Step 4: Vacuum the ash of the burn pot sit
It a good practice to clean the space which holds burn pot. The ashes can accumulate under this space. The same ash vacuum can be used to clean this place.
Step 5: Replace the components
Replace the burn pot in the burn pot sit.
How To Scrape Pellet Stove Burn Pot
Cleaning the ashes of the burn pot isn’t enough, you also need to scrape the burn pot to remove carbon build-up and scale. One of the most efficient ways to scrape burn pot is to clean it while the stove is warm.
Here is the step by step guideline:
Step 1: Change igniter automatic to manual mode.
Step 2: Reduce the temperature of the stove to around 50 degrees and wait for 20-30 minutes. Only a small pilot fire will burn in the burn pot.
Step 3: Open the pellet stove door slowly after some while. Take a burn pot scraper and clean the firepot. You don’t need to scoop the build-up out of the burn pot. Because, when you start using pellet stove once again, new pellets will push everything out of the burn pot.
How to clean pellet stove glass?
Pellet stoves are now made of self-cleaning glass. Which means the glass will remain always clean. But, it is recommended to clean the glass door once a month. For safer cleaning, you can use standard household glass cleaner to remove the dust, soil, and soot accumulated in a month.
But you can save some money by making a DIY glass cleaner solution with your household stuff.
How?
Simply Maid suggests us follow the below method:
First, gently scrub the door glass of pellet stove with a newspaper to clean the grime.
Secondly, mix the water and vinegar with a ratio of 1:1. Then clean the glass using an old clean rag to remove any streaks.
How to Clean the Ash Pan/drawer?
Check the ash drawer of the stove regularly when it is used most frequently. If the pan is filled with ash, you must dump the ash in a safe place. Otherwise, the stove will stop operating properly.
Here is the step you can follow to clean an ash pan:
First, unlock the key of the ash pan and open the ash door. Sometimes the ash pan attaches with the screw. In that case, you need to open the screw with a screwdriver to remove the ash pan.
Secondly, take the drawer in an open space. Then, Dump the ash in a basket.
Finally, replace the ash pan where it has been removed. And lock the key again.
Tips & Precaution
- Always wear a surgical mask to keep you away from the fly ash.
- Wear hand gloves to keep your hand clean and safe.
- Before cleaning check that the pellet stove is off.
- Wait until the inner parts of pellet stove become cold and safe to touch.
- Always use high-quality pellets.
Pellet stove generates ashes, so it becomes very dirty especially in the winter season when it is used most. So, it is your core duty to keep up its performance by cleaning it if you have one in your home. Try to wash its parts step by step. Maintain all the important parts have discussed above. Wash all the parts carefully and handle them with care and must follow the tips and precautions.
Reference:
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/eliminate-build-up-pellet-stove-burn-pot-35702.html
https://www.wikihow.com/Maintain-Pellet-Stoves
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