Osburn Matrix Installation and Operation Manual
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5
MAINTAINING YOUR WOOD HEATING SYSTEM
5.1
WOOD FIRE MAINTENANCE
Your new wood fire 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 4:
Exploded Diagram and Parts List
). For firing each load hot to begin a cycle as
described above will not cause premature deterioration of the wood fire. However, letting the
wood fire run with the air control fully open for entire cycles can cause damage over time. The
hotter you run the wood fire throughout burn cycles, the more quickly its components will
deteriorate. For that reason,
never leave the wood fire unattended while a new load is being
fired hot
.
5.1.1
CLEANING DOOR GLASS
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 wood fire is cool by wiping with a damp cloth or paper towel and then drying.
Never try to
clean the glass when the wood fire is hot.
In spring and fall when the wood fire 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 fire
glass doors.
Do not use abrasives to clean your wood fire’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 wood fire. 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 flue system.
If you see brown streaks coming from the edge of the glass, it is time to replace the gasket around
the glass. Visit your wood fire retailer to get the self-adhesive glass gasket and follow the
instructions below for installation.
