Home-Wizard.com Guide to Wood Stove Maintenance including free automatic reminders

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Interactive Home Maintenance Guide

To maintain the energy efficiency, safety, and useful life of your wood burning stove, it is important that your home maintenance program include the proper care for your wood stove.

Many homeowners who are concerned about rising oil, gas, and electricity prices have wood burning stoves to help reduce their heating costs, others like the aesthetic value of a wood stove. A wood burning stove must be properly installed and maintained to ensure safe operation. See also: Wood-Burning Fireplaces, Gas Fireplaces, and Carbon Monoxide Detectors.

Shown below are the three recommended routine maintenance tasks for your wood stove.

Learn to enjoy managing your home with our free Newsletter or our free Automatic Maintenance Reminders. We can also show you the Recommended Maintenance Schedules for your entire home.


		Maintenance Task #1: Clean and inspect stove and stovepipe

		How do you clean and inspect a wood stove and stovepipe?
		Soot and slag should be cleaned from the inside of surfaces of the stove, as soot reduces the efficiency of the hot plate. Inspections should include: Clearance around the stove: Check to ensure that combustible materials and surfaces (furniture, drapes, floors, walls, etc.) are sufficient distances away from the stove. Stove pipe: Examine the stove pipe for cracks, leaks, and signs of corrosion. Repair as necessary. Door: Check the sealing tightness of the door. Check the security of the door locking mechanism. Repair as necessary.

		Why is it important to clean and inspect a wood stove and stovepipe?
		Safety. In addition, removing soot from the inside of the stove improves energy efficiency of the stove.

		How often should you clean and inspect a wood stove and stovepipe?
		Perform at least once per year (June).

		How does Home-Wizard rate the costs and benefits for this task?
		The cost of this task is relatively low. It is estimated that this task should only take about 30 minutes to complete, and the task is relatively easy to do. No specialized tools are needed, unless repairs are required.

		The benefits of this task are relatively high. Doing this task can help prevent house fires, carbon monoxide poisonings, etc.

		Overall Home-Wizard benefit-versus-cost rating (one 'hat' = low and four 'hats' = high):


		Maintenance Task #2: Clean and inspect chimney

		How do you clean and inspect a wood stove's chimney?
		A professional chimney sweep will thoroughly clean your fireplace and chimney and will check for defects, typically for about $90 to $150. Or you can do the work yourself, if you have the proper brushes and vacuums and don't mind the mess or hassle. The tasks include: Inspect for creosote deposits in the flue. If greater than 1/8" in thickness, then the chimney flue should be cleaned. Check the firebox for damaged brick or mortar. Check the damper for operation and snug fit. Also inspect for cracks, pitting or rusted-out sections. Check the flue for broken or damaged bricks on the flue liner. Cracking is a sign that there has been a flue fire and is a potentially serious problem.

		Why is it important to clean and inspect a wood stove's chimney?
		Safety. Chimney fires can be very dangerous.

		How often should you clean and inspect a wood stove's chimney?
		The chimney should be thoroughly cleaned and inspected every two years. June is a good month for this, since it allows for plenty of time for any repairs before the Autumn season and it should be easier to schedule chimney sweeps during the summer.

		How does Home-Wizard rate the costs and benefits for this task?
		The cost of this task is moderate, and requires the scheduling of a qualified chimney sweep.

		The benefits of this task are high, as it helps prevent dangerous and costly chimney fires.

		Overall Home-Wizard benefit-versus-cost rating (one 'hat' = low and four 'hats' = high):


		Maintenance Task #3: Check firewood supplies

		How do you check firewood supplies?
		Check to see that you have adequate firewood supplies for the winter. Replenish supplies as necessary. "Green" firewood should be allowed time to dry so as to improve its burning characteristics. Firewood should be covered with plywood or a tarp, to keep rain and snow off. Be sure to keep the wood pile at least about 6 inches off the ground,. The reason for this is so that termites don't get access to your wood (which can later infect your house). And also, having the pile off the ground allows you to be able to visually inspect whether termites are building earth "tubes" into your wood pile (see Pest Control).

		Why is it important to check firewood supplies?
		Ensures adequate supplies for the winter, and that your wood pile is not being infected with pests that can be brought into your house.

		How often should you check firewood supplies?
		Perform annually in late summer (August).

		How does Home-Wizard rate the costs and benefits for this task?
		The cost of this task is very low, as it involves just calling around for firewood quotes.

		The benefits of calling around early is that you have a better opportunity of finding good prices.

		Overall Home-Wizard benefit-versus-cost rating (one 'hat' = low and four 'hats' = high):

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS from "Ask-the-Wizard":

QUESTION from "Greg":

I need a blower for a wizard insert wood stove?

ANSWER:

Greg:

You might want to try "Woodman's Parts Plus" (http://www.woodmanspartsplus.com). They seem to have a good selection of blowers for a wide variety of models of wood stove inserts.

Hope this is helpful.
Home-Wizard.com
____________________

QUESTION from "jtoddy25":

I have an electric hot water heater and I just started to use the my wood stove. I noticed that the wood stove also has a line to heat the hot water. Ever since I started using the wood stove the pressure relief has been draining water into the bucket consistently. It drains about 2 gallons. Is this normal?

ANSWER:

jtoddy25:

I would suggest that you immediately stop using your wood stove to heat hot water, and have your system inspected by a qualified service technician.

The reason that your pressure relief valve is draining water is that your water lines are over-pressured. This is a typical risk of using a wood stove to heat domestic hot water. The water gets too hot from the wood stove, and when it over-heats it raises the pressure too high in the pipes, which is why your pressure relief valve is opening up to let off the excess pressure, that is, draining the water out that you are seeing.

If your pressure relief valve fails, the high pressure steam that builds up in your hot water system can potentially even cause your pipes to burst.

Hope this is helpful.
Home-Wizard.com
____________________

QUESTION from "Della":

The blower fan under my Kozy Heat Zero clearance wood stove makes noises like grinding or squealing. I have taken it apart before and oiled it, but the sound usually comes back by the next heating season.

The blower system is made up of two Dayton fans, Model 4C549, about 4 1/2" dia.x 1 1/2 " ht., in a housing unit 15 1/2" x 3 7/8".
What can I do to service one of these properly? What can I do to keep it from recurring?
Do ashes that get sucked into the space cause problems with the fans?

If I can't fix the problem, is it possible to buy the fans or complete unit without having to go thru a dealer? Thanks

ANSWER:

Dear Della:

For a very specific question about the problem with the fan on this particular model of zero clearance woodstove, I would suggest that you call Kozy Heat toll-free at 1-800-253-4904, or you can send them at e-mail at: questions@kozyheat.com

Hope this is helpful.
Home-Wizard.com
____________________

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