Overall, it can be divided into: after each use, weekly/short-term inspections, pre heating season (annual maintenance), long-term shutdown maintenance, and safety taboos.
1、 Maintenance after each shutdown (basic)
a. Clearing ashes
Wait until the ashes have completely cooled before cleaning to avoid residual fire igniting debris.
Leave a 2-3cm thin ash layer at the bottom of the furnace to facilitate heat storage and protect the furnace floor; Too thick ash can block the air intake, causing poor combustion and smoke.
Ashes should be placed in metal containers, kept away from combustible materials such as wooden walls and cardboard boxes, and left to stand for at least 24 hours before being transported outside.
b. Furnace door and glass
Glass accumulation of black carbon: After cooling, use fireplace specific glass cleaning powder/wet newspaper dipped in ash to wipe, do not use ordinary glass cleaning agents, permanent white spots will be left under high temperature.
Check the sealing strip of the furnace door (asbestos rope/silicone rope). If there is slag falling or air leakage in the gaps, it will damage the combustion ratio and increase smoke and dust.
c. Check the air door
Confirm that the primary and secondary air intake baffle switches are smooth and free from any wood debris or tar jamming.
2、 Weekly/Periodic Inspection (Usage Period)
a. Visually inspect the flue interface
Check for tar leakage, blackening, and air leakage at the connections of each section of the chimney; The outer layer of the double-layer stainless steel chimney should not become hot or leak oil.
b. Observe the combustion state
Normal and complete combustion: flame bright yellow, smoke light; If there is continuous thick black smoke and rapid coking of the furnace glass, it indicates that the firewood is too wet or the combustion temperature is insufficient. It should be adjusted in a timely manner, as this will quickly accumulate tar in the flue over time.
c. Appearance of furnace body
High temperature paint on the surface of cast iron fireplace to avoid collision; Do not apply ordinary paint to the high-temperature furnace body.
3、 Before the official use of the heating season (the most important annual maintenance)
a. Flue cleaning
-Ordinary household use: clean once a year before the heating season; If you frequently burn damp wood and keep the fire on for a long time, it is recommended to do so every six months.
-Cleaning method: Professional chimney cleaning brush, clean the wood tar on the inner wall of the flue (flammable, thick accumulation can cause flue fires).
-After cleaning, check for corrosion and cracking on the inner wall of the flue; The key to double layered insulated chimneys is to check whether the insulation layer is damaged.
b. Seal replacement
If the sealing strip of the furnace door ages and becomes hard or loses elasticity, it should be replaced. Air leakage is a common cause of poor combustion in many fireplaces.
c. Chimney top inspection
Whether the chimney cap is deformed or blocked (fallen leaves, bird nests); Loose windproof caps can cause smoke to spill.
d. Furnace lining inspection (refractory bricks/refractory cement)
Check whether the refractory bricks have cracked or fallen off. Small cracks can be repaired; Large pieces falling off can cause overheating of the furnace body and must be repaired before use.
4、 End of heating, long-term disuse for maintenance
a. Thoroughly clean the dust and remove residual tar from the flue; Keep the furnace dry to prevent rusting.
b. Do not completely close the furnace door, leave small gaps for ventilation to prevent moisture, mold, and metal corrosion inside.
c. The chimney opening can be equipped with a protective net to prevent birds from building nests and fallen leaves from entering. It cannot be completely sealed off to prevent condensation and water accumulation.
d. Check for rust spots on the metal flue, polish and remove slight rust stains; The corroded and perforated flue pipe must be replaced.
5、 Safety taboos in maintenance
a. Never clean the chimney while the fireplace is still hot or the ashes are still warm.
b. Do not pour water directly into the furnace to extinguish the fire, as it may damage the refractory lining and cause cracking of cast iron during rapid cooling.
c. Do not use a vacuum cleaner to directly absorb heat and ashes; Ordinary vacuum cleaners can be ignited by high temperatures, so a dedicated fireplace ash vacuum cleaner must be used.
d. Do not change the length of the flue, the number of bends, or reduce the diameter of the flue on your own, as it will damage the suction force.
e. It is strictly prohibited to burn plastics, paint boards, and household waste, as they can produce highly corrosive smoke and rapidly corrode the flue.
