Wood Stove Cleaning

What gets cleaned

• The stove interior, including the baffle, flue collar and passages
• The connector pipe between the stove and the chimney
• The flue, from the thimble or the stove outlet to the top
• Ash is removed from the firebox, and the area is left tidy

The connector is the part people forget. It is often where deposits build fastest, because the exhaust cools as it leaves the stove. It also needs to be taken apart or reached carefully, which is another reason to have it cleaned by someone who does it regularly.

Signs yours is due

• Soot or smoke at the door or the pipe joints
• Heavy dark deposits or a shiny, tar-like glaze in the pipe
• Reduced draft: the stove is slow to start or smoky when opened
• A sharp, smoky odor even when the stove is cold
• Burning a lot of wet or unseasoned wood
• You do not remember the last time it was cleaned

Why it matters

Creosote builds up when the exhaust cools and condenses, and a stove running at a low burn makes more of it. Heavy deposits can ignite and cause a chimney fire. Cleaning removes that fuel, and improves draft and efficiency. See what creosote is.

Between cleanings

• Burn dry, seasoned wood
• Run the stove hot enough to burn cleanly instead of smoldering
• Check the pipe and the flue now and then
• Remove ash regularly, into a metal container kept away from the house

If cleaning shows damage, we tell you what we see and how to deal with it. For a full check, see wood stove inspection.