Optima Installation and Operation Manual
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The gasket must be centred on the edge of the glass. To do this easily, peel back a section of the
paper covering the adhesive and place the gasket on a table with the adhesive side up. Stick the end
of the gasket to the middle of one edge, then press the edge of the glass down onto the gasket,
taking care that it is perfectly centred on the gasket. Peel off more of the backing and rotate the glass
and press the next section onto the gasket. Do not stretch the gasket as you place it. Continue until
you get to the start and trim the gasket to length. Now pinch the gasket to the glass in a U shape, all
around the glass. Reinstall the glass, being careful to centre the glass carefully in the door. Do not
over-tighten the screws. Note that the two main causes of broken door glass are uneven placement in
the door and over-tightening of retaining screws.
Do not abuse the glass door by striking or slamming shut. Do not use the stove if the glass is broken.
To change the glass, perform the same operation described above.
5.1.5 Cleaning and Painting the Stove
Do not attempt to clean or paint the stove when the unit is hot. Painted surfaces can be wiped
down with a damp cloth. Plated surfaces may be scratched by abrasive cleaners. To maintain the
finish at its original brilliance, use only a damp soft cloth to clean plated surfaces.
If the paint becomes scratched or damaged, you can give your wood stove a brand new look by
repainting it with heat-resistant paint. Before painting, roughen the surface with fine sand paper, wipe
it down to remove dust, and apply two thin coats of paint. For best results, use the same paint that
was originally used on the stove, which is available in spray cans. See your dealer for details.
5.2
Chimney and Chimney Connector Maintenance
5.2.1 Why Chimney Cleaning is Necessary
Wood smoke can condense inside the chimney connector and chimney, forming a combustible
deposit called creosote. If creosote is allowed to build up in the venting system it can ignite when a
hot fire is burned in the stove and a very hot fire can progress to the top of the chimney. Severe
chimney fires can damage even the best chimneys. Smouldering, smoky fires can quickly cause a
thick layer of creosote to form. When you avoid smouldering so the exhaust from the chimney is
mostly clear, creosote builds up more slowly. Your new stove has the right characteristics to help you
to burn clean fires with little or no smoke, resulting in less creosote in the chimney.
5.2.2 How Often Should You Clean the Chimney?
It is not possible to predict how much or how quickly creosote will form in your chimney. It is
important, therefore, to check the build-up in your chimney monthly when getting used to the new
stove until you determine the rate of creosote formation. Even if creosote forms slowly in your system,
the chimney should be cleaned and inspected at least once each year.
