Spring is commonly known for being the time of year where you give your house a thorough clean. You may be planning to give those areas a good scrub that you don’t usually get round to doing at other points within the year. Whilst you are making your list of things to clean, why not add your stove or fire to the list? The colder days and nights are beginning to pass, so you will be using your fire less. This makes the perfect time to do some annual cleaning and maintenance to keep your stove or fire in the best possible condition.
If you’re not sure how to clean your stove or fire correctly and effectively, we have put together this guide to help you achieve sparkling results.
Wood burning and multi-fuel stoves and fires
- Once your fire is completely cool, it’s time to clean the firebox. Remove all traces of ash from the area, using a vacuum cleaner to get those last little bits.
- Check your firebricks for any damage. You will need to replace any that are badly broken, but small chips can easily be repaired using fire cement. Give them a good clean using a soft brush to remove dust, ash and any other debris that will have built up over time.
- Clean the door glass with a good-quality window and glass cleaner. If the glass is cracked or chipped in any way, it will need replacing.
- Check over the door rope seal. If it has become loose or worn, you will need to replace this. Watch Stovax’s ‘how to replace your door seal’ video here.
- If required, you can touch up your fire’s exterior by painting it with stove paint.
Gas stoves and fires
- All gas stoves and fires will have been supplied with instructions on how to carry out a service of that specific product.
- Turn off your appliance completely and wait until it has completely cooled.
- Start by cleaning the glass door with a non-abrasive glass cleaner and soft cloth.
- To clean fuel effect logs, lightly brush them with a soft brush to remove any debris.
- Glass fronted appliances can have the front removed and refitted to allow for easier cleaning.
Electric stoves and fires
- Turn off your appliance and wait until fully cooled.
- Remove the glass and wipe with a damp cloth.
- Once the glass has been removed, simply dust and clean the fuel effects with a lint-free duster.
- Any accessible air inlets or outlets should be cleaned with a soft cloth or a nozzle of a vacuum cleaner – this helps to maintain optimum heat output and efficiency of the appliance.
- To carry out a full service of your electric stove or fire, please consult your instruction manual that came with your appliance.
Chimney Maintenance and Gas Certification
Gas stoves and fires, and any other gas appliances in the home, are recommended to be checked and serviced at least once a year by a registered gas service engineer. You can find a qualified engineer on the Gas Safe register.
If you have a wood burning, or multi-fuel burning stove or fire, it is also extremely important to keep your chimney clean and free from debris. It is strongly recommended that you use a professional chimney sweep as they are aware of the current standards that need to be met. Failure to do so can result in problems with your house insurance policy.
Are you looking at replacing your stove or fire ready for the winter?
At Ironcraft, we supply and fit a whole range of stoves and fires to suit any home. From traditional fireplaces to more contemporary designs, we have a huge range of fires in stock in our Shrewsbury based showroom. Just half an hour’s drive away from Telford, Oswestry and most of Shropshire, our showroom staff are on hand to help you find the perfect match for your home. Our expert fitting team can even advise you on the best care and maintenance of your fire when they are fitting it, making sure it lasts you as long as possible.
