How Do I Service My Wood Heater? 4 Critical Steps

Your wood heater requires as much care and maintenance as any other appliance to ensure a long operational lifespan.

Here’s how to maintain wood heaters.

Cleaning a Wood Heater

Before you begin, first make sure the heater is off and completely cool to avoid getting any burns or weakening/ shattering the heater’s glass. Additionally, it may be best to wear gloves, a face mask and goggles for protection against fumes, dust and other harmful debris. Finally, ensure you have your heater’s operation and care manual close to hand for reference.

Steps for Servicing A Wood-Fired Heater.

1. Remove the Ashes

Ash removal is crucial for maintaining your heater’s efficiency.

Use a shovel and a metallic brush to remove the ashes. These tools are ideal for this task as they are more impervious to burning (there may be hot embers in the ash) than plastic. Next, transfer the ash to a metal bucket that you can safely empty in your garden.

2. Clean the Flue

Creosote- a by-product of burning wood- builds up in your heater’s flue or chimney over time. This accumulation is hazardous as it increases the risk of fires. Therefore, you must eliminate it at least once yearly.

The best creosote removal method is disconnecting the chimney before running a metallic brush several times through the pipe until it is clean. 

Once the chimney is clean, remove any creosote that may have fallen into the firebox. To discard, wrap the creosote tightly in a polythene bag before throwing it in the trash. But burying the creosote in a deep hole far from your house is a viable alternative for remote locations.

3. Clean the Glass Door

Wood-fired heaters have a glass door that allows you a magnificent view of the flames. The heater will generate sufficient heat to keep the glass clean if you use dry, well-seasoned wood. Conversely, low-quality fuel produces soot that makes the glass dirty. 

Use one of these four methods to clean your heater’s glass:

• Ammonia solution 
• Ash
• Commercial detergents 
• Scraping 

Please note that the dirtier you allow the glass to get, the more difficult it becomes to clean.

4. Clean the Outside

While cleaning your heater’s interior improves efficiency, cleaning its exterior enhances aesthetics. The latter is straightforward and doesn’t take much time. You only need a soapy solution and a soft cloth. Once the dust is cleared away, your heater’s appearance will return to its original shiny, fresh-from-the-showroom look.

Conclusion

There are numerous benefits to servicing your wood heater. For example, eliminating ash and creosote build-ups improves fuel efficiency, thus reducing your fuel spending. In addition, it lowers the risk of fires and prolongs the heater’s lifespan.

Although it is feasible to manage some cleaning tasks independently, it may also be best to identify those that a professional is more equipped to handle. For instance, servicing tasks like flue cleaning -which requires climbing- can prove difficult and dangerous for a novice. On the other hand, opting for a professional’s expertise saves you time and effort while lowering any personal risk.