Maintaining your appliance

Consult your manual for details. Most manufacturers require the appliance to be inspected and cleaned annually by a professionally trained and authorized service person, although customers can perform the service themselves.

Key gas appliance services tasks (consult your product manual for specific details)

  • Control compartments, burners, and circulation air passageways of the appliance must be kept clean of lint, dust, animal hair, etc. Use a vacuum to clean all components.
  • Clean the inside of the glass regularly as soon as you notice the buildup (white film). If the film is left for a long period of time, it will bake on.  (One of the by-products of the combustion process in a gas appliance is a mineral which can show up as a white film on the ceramic glass viewing door.) Use gas fireplace/stove glass cleaner which is available for purchase at Custom Fireside.
  • A periodic check of the pilot and burner flames, and the burner itself, should be made. Embers may need replacement or readjustment.
  • Change batteries both in fireplace and remote
  • Replace any light bulbs if needed
  • Inspect venting

Key pellet appliance services tasks

Please note that tasks, and the frequency required, will vary by model. Consult the installation manual for your pellet stove model for details. Generally, a lack of service results in a failure of your stove or insert to light and remain burning, and/or a loss of efficiency.

Daily (every 1-2 bags of pellets)

  • Clean the burn pot, typically, after every bag of pellets. The type of fuel you are burning will dictate how often you have to clean your burn pot. Clean more frequently if you encounter heavy build-up of ash at the recommended interval or you see soot coming from the vent.

Weekly (every 5 bags or more depending upon build-up)

  • Ash pan cleaning depends upon ash build-up
  • Clean inside of window as needed

Monthly

  • Clean igniter chamber as needed. (5-20 bags)

Seasonally (or more depending upon use and fuel quality)

  • Clean heat exchange and combustion exhaust fan after every one ton of fuel or annually
  • Clean circulating/room fan
  • Use a brush to clean the flue