How to Maintain Important Pellet Stove Parts

Keeping your pellet stove parts in working order is essential to preparing for winter. Make sure it will work when you need it to with these maintenance tips.

Pellet stoves are the latest trend in home design -- and with good reason. 

Not only do they give your home a cozy, intimate feel -- perfect if you want to hop on the Hygge design bandwagon -- they're also incredibly energy-efficient. 

These stoves constantly give off a flame by burning either pellets of biomass or tiny, compact pieces of wood. This makes them much easier to maintain and take care of than traditional, cordwood-burning options.

For those that don't have the time (or let's face it, the interest) in cleaning, pellet stoves are a great option. 

However, it doesn't mean that you can completely leave them to their own devices. 

It's important to keep your pellet stove parts clean if you want your stove to keep running efficiently. Not only will your home warm up faster, but also, clean pellet stove parts will extend the life of the stove. Additionally, a clean stove will also work to stop potential hazards, like chimney or house fires. 

So, how can you keep your pellet stove parts clean? Read on to find out. Don't worry -- the entire cleaning process will take you under 20 minutes. 

Basic Maintenance Tips

First, let's take a look at some of the most basic things you need to do during the heating season to keep your pellet stove functioning properly. 

It's crucial that you take a few moments every day to inspect your stove. First, always keep your ears open for any unusual sounds, like a clanging, banging, or even ticking. This can be a clear signal that something's not right. 

Do a visual inspection for thick, black smoke or unusual burn marks as well. If you notice that your stove is giving off more smoke than it should be, poor quality of pellets could be to blame. 

Keep in mind that there are three different kinds of pellets -- softwood pellets, hardwood pellets, and a blend of hardwood and softwood. If you're concerned about ash production, hardwood is the best bet. However, if you don't want your home to get overly hot, softwood may be a better choice. 

In general, most people go for the blended pellet. 

It's a good idea to do a deeper cleaning of your stove and its parts about once a week. Always remember to completely turn off your stove before cleaning. When it is cool to the touch, it's time to begin. 

How To Clean Your Pellet Stove

Now that you know the basics of pellet stove maintenance, let's take a look at how you need to clean each individual part. Keep in mind that sometimes, even the most thorough cleaning won't fix things -- you may just need a new part. 

However, if you perform these routine cleaning tips, you'll have to replace them much less often. 

The Burn Pot

Especially if you use softwood pellets, which produce more ash, you'll need to clean out your burn pot in order to ensure the system doesn't get clogged with ash. 

Many people purchase a special pellet stove vacuum to expedite this process, but it's not a requirement. You can also just use a tiny, handheld broom to sweep out the ash. 

The T-Vent Pipe

This is located on the back of your pellet stove, and it only needs to be cleaned about once a month. Cleaning it isn't too much of a hassle, however, as it easily opens up to allow you access. 

Be warned, though, that when you open up the pipe, ash that's built up could rapidly spill out. Because of this, we recommend that you place a small pail to collect the ash directly underneath the pipe. 

Using the same small, handheld broom that you did when you cleaned the burn pot, be sure to brush out any excess ash that doesn't fall out on its own. 

What About Soot? 

Ash isn't the only thing you need to look out for when cleaning your pellet stove parts. A buildup of soot isn't just unsightly -- it can also be a hazard if left unattended for too long.

Using a wire brush, always check out the interior of the stove and wipe away as much soot as you can.

Also, be sure that you remove as much soot as you can from the heat exchangers. These are the small network of pipes and tubes that are located inside of the firebox. Always keep an eye out for hardened pieces of melted soot and ash -- commonly referred to as "clinkers."

They may require a little bit of elbow grease to remove, but they can quickly block the airways of the pipes if left on for too long. 

Many pellet stoves also have a glass door. It's always a good idea, when performing your routine cleaning, to wipe this down with glass cleaner. 

This way, you'll always be able to clearly see the color of the flame. If it's yellow or bright white, then you'll know that everything is functioning properly. 

However, if you notice that the flame seems to have a dark orange or reddish tint to it, then you likely have a more serious problem on your hand. 

In this case, you need the services of a professional. You may also need to purchase some new pellet stove parts to ensure that things keep running smoothly.

To that end...

Where Can You Buy New Pellet Stove Parts?

Of course, it's not only the quality of the pellets you buy that helps to keep your stove working all winter long. 

You need to work with superior parts as well. 

At the end of every winter, it's a smart idea to assess which parts of your pellet stove are still working, and which ones you need to replace. 

That's where we come in. We have a huge selection of pellet stove replacement parts, from a variety of manufacturers. No matter which part you need, we have it in stock! We also offer free shipping on orders over $79.00.

Don't spend this winter in the cold -- and don't put your family at risk by using stove parts that are outdated. Instead, get in touch with us to find the top-quality parts you need.