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Solution 2.5-ZC Fireplace Installation and Operation Manual
5 Maintaining Your Wood Heating System
5.1 Fireplace Maintenance
Your new fireplace will give many years of reliable service if you use and maintain it
correctly. Some of the internal components of the firebox, such as firebricks, baffles and
air tubes, will wear over time under intense heat. You should always replace defective
parts with original parts (see
Appendix 7: Exploded Diagram and Parts List
). Firing
each load hot to begin a cycle as described above will not cause premature deterioration
of the fireplace. However, letting the fireplace run with the air control fully open for the
entire burn cycles can cause damage over time. The hotter you run the fireplace
throughout burn cycles, the more quickly its components will deteriorate. For that reason,
never leave the fireplace unattended while a new load is being fired hot
.
5.1.1 Plated Finish Maintenance
If your appliance has a plated finish, use a metal polish and a soft cloth to clean it. Do not
use abrasives such as steel wool, steel pads or an abrasive cleaner for they may scratch
the finish.
5.1.2 Glass Door Cleaning
Under normal conditions, your door glass should stay relatively clear. If your firewood is
dry enough and you follow the operating instructions in this manual, a whitish, dusty
deposit will form on the inside of the glass after a week or so of use. This is normal and
can be easily removed when the fireplace is cool by wiping with a damp cloth or paper
towel and then drying.
Never try to clean the glass when the fireplace is hot.
In spring and fall when the fireplace is run at lower temperatures, you may see some light
brown stains forming, especially at the lower corners of the glass. This indicates that the
fire has been smoky and some of the smoke has condensed on the glass. When the
weather is mild, you may find that letting the fire go out is better than trying to maintain a
continuous fire. Use the technique described above for building a fire to take the chill off
the house.
If you do get brown stains on the glass you can remove them with special cleaners for
wood heater glass doors.
Do not use abrasives to clean your fireplace’s door glass.
The deposits that form on the glass are the best indication of the quality of your fuel and
how well you are doing in operating the fireplace. Your goal should be clear glass with no
brown stains. If you continue to see brown stains on the glass, something about your fuel
and operating procedure needs to be changed. Stains on the glass indicate incomplete
combustion of the wood, which also means more smoke emissions and faster formation of
creosote in the chimney.
If you see brown streaks coming from the edge of the glass, it is time to replace the gasket
around the glass. Visit your fireplace retailer to get the self-adhesive glass gasket and
follow the instructions below for installation.
