12
7021-155F
November 27, 2017
CASTILE FREESTANDING
C. General Maintenance and Cleaning
1. Types of Fuel
Depending on the type of fuel you are burning will dictate how
often you have to clean your fire pot.
If the fuel you are burning has a high dirt or ash content or you
are burning shelled field corn, it may be necessary to clean
the fire pot more than once a day.
Dirty fuel will cause clinkers to form in the fire pot. A clinker is
formed when dirt, ash or a non-burnable substance is heated
to 2000
°
F (1093
°
C) and becomes glass-like. See
page 16
in
this section for more details on fuels with high ash content.
2.
Cleaning Fire pot with Cleaning Rod & Fire pot
Scraper
• Frequency:
Daily or more often as needed
• By:
Homeowner
a. The appliance must be in complete shutdown and cool
and the exhaust blower off.
If you are just cleaning the
fire pot, there is no need to unplug the appliance.
b. Pull fire pot cleaning rod OUT a couple of times to
help shake debris loose. If rod is hard to pull, it may
be necessary to use your fire pot clean-out tool to chip
away material that has built up on the bottom plate of
the fire pot and to push out any clinkers. Larger clinkers
may have to be removed from the top of the fire pot.
Corn clinkers can be especially difficult to break up.
c. The fire pot floor plate must be fully closed when
finished.
Figure 12.1.
Fire Risk
• NEVER pull fire pot cleaning rod or cleaning slide
plates out when appliance is operating.
• The cleaning slide plates must be fully CLOSED
when appliance is operating.
•. Hot pellets may fall into ash pan and start a fire or
mis-starts due to lack of vacuum.
3. Ash Removal from Firebox
• Frequency:
Every 5 bags or weekly or more fre-
quently depending on ash build-up.
• By:
Homeowner
a. There must not be any hot ashes in the firebox during
cleaning so allow the appliance to completely cool. The
firebox ash should be removed every time the exhaust
path is cleaned. Frequent cleaning of the ash in the
firebox will help slow down the build-up of ash in the
exhaust blower and vent system.
b. Plug in your appliance, if unplugged, and turn the
thermostat on and immediately shut it off to start the
exhaust blower on its cycle time. It will pull fly ash out
the exhaust instead of into the room.
c. Open cast hinged face. Directly underneath the firebox
door and to the left and right of the fire pot are 2 cleaning
slide plates with finger holes. Pull both slide plates out
and then open the glass door. Sweep the remaining ash
from the firebox into the 2 open holes. A paint brush
works well for this. Close slide plates.
d. This ash is deposited in the same ash pan as the fire
pot debris. The ash pan should be emptied every time
you clean the firebox. Remember to place the ash and
debris into a metal or noncombustible container.
e. The 2 cleaning slide plates must be fully closed when
cleaning is complete.
See Disposal of Ashes.
4.
Cleaning Ash Pan
• Frequency:
Weekly or every 5 bags of fuel
• By:
Homeowner
Locate the ash pan underneath the fire pot. Open the
bottom ash door and slide the ash pan straight out.
Empty into a non-combustible container and re-install
ash pan.
See Disposal of Ashes.
5. Disposal of Ashes
• Frequency:
As needed
• By:
Homeowner
Ashes should be placed in a steel container with a tight-
fitting lid. The container of ashes should be moved
outdoors immediately and placed on a non-combustible
floor or on the ground, well away from all combustible
materials, pending final disposal.
If the ashes are disposed of by burial in soil or otherwise
locally dispersed, they should be retained in the closed
container until all cinders have thoroughly cooled. Other
waste shall not be placed in this container.
WARNING
Disposal of Ashes
• Ashes should be placed in metal container with tight
fitting lid.
• Ashes should be retained in closed container until all
cinders have thoroughly cooled.
Back side of Firepot
Firepot floor left open
Figure 12.1
WARNING