36
STANDING DOWN
There will be some point in the year
when you will not need to use your
stove for a considerable time and taking
care to clean it thoroughly then will
save you much time later. This is also a
good time to get your chimney swept
too as this will prevent any soot build
up from falling inside the stove ‘caking’
and blocking the flue way.
• Remove and clean any deposits from
the top of the baffle plate and check
for wear.
• Remove any debris and deposits from
the inside of the stove particularly at
the entrance to the flue way.
• Empty the ash pan and thoroughly
clean out the ash pan chamber.
• Check all rope seals and replace dam-
aged ropes that do not provide a good
seal – see page 38
.
• Check any fire cement bonds around
the flue joints, particularly where they
connect to the stove. Remove any loose
cement and re-seal.
• Check the vermiculite firebricks and
replace any that are becoming very thin
or have crumbled to reveal the cast iron
sides of the stove.
• Check the grate for signs of wear.
Excessive wear, such as grate bars or
log retaining bars which are bent or
warped, could be an indication of
over-firing or using inappropriate fuels
such as petroleum coke. Order genuine
replacement components from your
authorised Hi-Flame dealer (or in case
of difficulty your National Distributor)
–
see back cover.
ROUTINE MAINTENANCE
• Baffle Plate and Flue Way
During the heating season check the
flue way and baffle plate at least once
a month to start with and remove any
soot deposits. Should these be
excessive then have your chimney and
flue cleaned. At the same time review
your choice of fuel and the way that
you operate the stove.
Regular long periods of slow or over-
night burning can create excessive soot
because the stove is not operating at
the temperature required to burn off
most of the sooty. Damp or unseasoned
wood will also have similar effect. To
find a local registered sweep visit
www.guildofmasterchimneysweeps.
co.uk
or
www.chimneyworks.co.uk
.
• Chimney Cleaning
The Alpha I
can be swept through the stove by
simply removing the baffle
plate – see above. Sweep your chimney
before installation and then at the end
of each heating season when you stand
down your stove. Burning seasoned
dry wood means that you will probably
need to sweep every three months. The
amount of soot deposits removed each
time is a good indication of how often
you should sweep and as you begin to
understand your stove and the wood
you burn you can adjust the cleaning
intervals accordingly. If in doubt seek
the advice of a registered chimney
sweep who has experience of stoves.
• Firebricks
Regularly inspect the
condition of the firebricks. Please note
that minor cracks are perfectly normal
due to the high temperatures created
