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September 28, 2011
Be safe this fall. Inspect and service your heating appliance and chimney or venting system to keep it running at its best. Refer to your owner’s manual for proper service instructions. Lost your owner’s manual? Download a printable version from the manufacturer website. For example, if you need the manual for a F500 Jotul Oslo wood burning stove, go to the Jotul website and locate the Oslo page and the manual is located at the bottom of the page under Technical Documentation for the Jotul F500 Oslo. All of the manufacturer websites are organized in a similar manner.
If you need a professional to service your wood, gas, pellet stove or fireplace, Fireplace Village provides cleaning and annual maintenance service on all brands and chimneys.
Another good source for hearth professionals is the Chimney Safety Institute of America. The CSIA provides a Certified CSIA Professional Locator.
May 1, 2011
The annual inspection of your wood stove will involve taking a close look at the condition of the baffle. This essential element of your stove creates higher efficiency and a clean burn by reflecting heat back into the flames, increasing the length of the flame’s path and allowing space for secondary combustion. In short, a baffle is a small part with a big role in your wood stove.
Replacement is best done by a qualified technician. It will likely be recommended when high temperatures and frequent use have worn out this part commonly made of stainless steel, firebrick, ceramic fiberboard, cast iron or a particular combination of these materials. The stove will not operate well with a worn or broken baffle. Unfortunately cheaper or lower quality stoves are not designed for baffle replacement and may need to be scrapped when the baffle wears out.
Call the technicians at Fireplace Village to arrange for an inspection and baffle replacement. Your wood stove will run much better after this service.
December 17, 2010
Keep your pellet stove clean, safe and running at maximum efficiency.
Let Fireplace Village perform a thorough cleaning and annual maintenance check on your wood pellet stove to ensure a consistent, efficiently burning stove that will keep you warm all winter long. Pellet stove manufacturers recommend regular cleaning and maintenance including:
- Check the burn pot every day and clean it periodically to keep the air inlets open.
- Empty the ash drawer before starting a new fire and occasionally by interrupting stove operation.
- For maximum efficiency the surface of the heat exchanger should be cleaned regularly.
- Ash traps are chambers located behind the fire chamber which prevent excess fly ash in the exhaust from exiting the stove. In some pellet stoves they are easily accessed for ash removal by owners. Other require professional service.
- Clean the glass. Clean with glass cleaner when the glass is completely cool on stoves with effective air wash systems.
- Check the hopper and auger for accumulated sawdust materials. The fuel in the hopper and auger tube should be run out occasionally to prevent auger blockage by fines.
Ash vacuums are a convenient accessory for proper cleaning and maintenance.
If you are looking at buying a home with an existing pellet stove let Fireplace Village perform a stove inspection or safety check.
December 12, 2010
An in home consultation can help you determine the best hearth appliance options for your home. We can discuss types of fuel, stoves, fireplaces and installation requirements and restrictions. We have found that every customer is unique and generally not capable of or comfortable with providing measurements of an existing hearth, chimney or roof line. We developed the Custom Fit Program a number of years ago to provide better service and satisfaction to our customers.
The benefit of the in home visit prior to the purchase is that we come to you. When you go to a stove or fireplace shop you will see lots of options, but the salesperson may not have ever done an installation, may not know the applicable fire codes, and therefore may not be able to really tell you what will work in your home. Fireplace Village provides you with a variety of real options before you make a purchase. We do charge for the in home consultation, however if you decide to purchase the hearth appliance from Fireplace Village the cost of the visit will be credited against the installation fee.
December 10, 2010
You have all the answers you need about fireplace and heating stove maintenance at your fingertips. The manufacturer’s guide or owner’s manual that came with your fireplace, wood stove, gas stove or insert will outline the recommended service schedule for the unit, designed to offer the safest, most efficient use of your heating appliance.
Why should you listen to the owner’s manual? This guide is provided by the manufacturer for the consumer’s benefit. When the schedule of fireplace maintenance is followed you can count on top notch operation and durability from your fireplace or stove. The warranty may also hinge on whether or not you have followed the maintenance schedule as laid out in the manual. It’s wise not to take any chances.
The staff at Fireplace Village is dedicated to helping you follow those fireplace maintenance guidelines, providing a safe and enjoyable atmosphere in your home. Trust their years of experience, expertise and longstanding relationships with all of the leading hearth brands to service your wood stove or gas fireplace. It’s just the smart thing to do. Fireplace Village provides repair and maintenance service for all major hearth brands and all chimney and venting systems.
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