Product Care
Despite its superior thermal properties, your ceramic glass window should still be treated with the same care given to any glass material.
GENERAL CARE
Blaze King products are tested to meet EPA certification requirements
for emissions and efficiency performance.
This page provides downloadable EPA test reports for qualifying
wood stoves and fireplace inserts.
GENERAL CARE
Despite its superior thermal properties, your ceramic glass window should still be treated with the same care given to any glass material. It still can be scratched or broken if you abuse it. When cleaning the window, use only non-caustic, non-abrasive cleaners and soft cloth.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CLEAN HOT GLASS
Applying cleaner to hot glass may cause burns, emit hot noxious fumes,and the glass is more likely to stain.
General Plating Care
Plating requires little maintenance and only needs to be cleaned with a soft, damp cloth. Do not use any abrasive cleaning materials.
Try to avoid fingerprints on plated surfaces;
wipe off fingerprints before firing.
General Paint Care
During the first few firings of your new appliance you may want to open a window in your home, as there will be an odor as the paint finishes curing.
Your appliance should require little or no care of it’s painted surface. However, if your appliance needs a little touch up, call your dealer and order a can of touch up paint. Remember to make sure that your appliance is off and cool to the touch before you paint it. Cover all gold, glass and labels also before painting. After you have painted your appliance, the paint will again go through a curing process for the next few firings.
General Gasket Care
Check the gasket to see that it is still forming a seal. Begin by making sure that your stove is not operating and cool to the touch. Then open the viewing door and place a piece of paper (roughly dollar bill size) so that part of it is inside the stove and part is outside. Close the door and see if you can pull the paper out. If the paper tears then your seal should be good. If you can pull the paper out then you will need to adjust your door (if your unit has door adjustment) or replace the gasket. You may want to do this test multiple times at different spots around the door.
If you have any doubts about your gasket, call your dealer for assistance or just replace it.
Catalytic Care
Burn natural wood only. Do not burn trash, garbage, artificial or paper logs, gift wrappings, coal, lighter fluids, chemical starters, treated or painted wood, driftwood or chemical cleaners. These may contain chemicals that could de-activate the catalyst.
Catalytic combustor temperatures above 1800F (1000C) will shorten the life of a combustor. Combustor temperatures between 1400F and 1600F (760C – 870C) are common, but operating temperatures between 700F and 1400F (371C – 760C) are recommended.
Full catalytic operation occurs at catalytic combustor temperatures above 700F (371C). Combustor glowing only occurs at temperatures above 1000F (538C). With aged combustors, there will be less glowing, but as long as the combustor reaches light-off temperature of 500-700F (260-371C) catalytic operation is very effective.
THE COMBUSTOR DOES NOT HAVE TO BE GLOWING TO BE OPERATING EFFICIENTLY.
To prevent damage to your combustor:
DO NOT drop the combustor.
DO NOT Run water through the combustor
DO NOT Remove the metal band from the combustor.
DO NOT Scrape the inside walls of the combustor.
Never scrape the combustor with any hard tool, pipe cleaner or brush.
DO NOT Use compressed air to clean the combustor.
Limit cleaning to the face of the combustor.
NOTE: Never remove a combustor without approved combustor gasket in hand as original gasket will fall apart when removed from appliance.
Remember to re-install the Flame Shield (the perforated plate) in same position it was found.
TIP: A hot fire will usually prove to be the best method of cleaning the combustor of deposits.
Trouble Shooting
If your stove emits strange smells
- Your paint could still be curing (first few burns).
- Are you burning exceptionally wet or green wood? (some types of wood smell bad when not properly dried)
- When you open the door, have you first fully opened the fresh air inlet?
- Check to see if the fresh air inlet has been blocked.
- You may have an excess build-up of creosote and/or ashes (have your stove and chimney cleaned and inspected).
- You may have an excess build-up of creosote and/or ashes (have your stove and chimney cleaned and inspected).
If Your Stove Has Dirty Glass
- Have you been burning for long periods at a low burn setting?
- Are you burning wet or green wood?
- Try burning your unit at the high burn setting for a while; this usually cleans the glass.
- You may have insufficient draft for your unit; call your dealer to assess the situation.
- Your wood may be positioned poorly or too close to the glass.
If Your Stove Smokes Out The Door When Open
- When you open the door, have you first fully opened the fresh air inlet?
- When you open the door, have you first fully opened the fresh air inlet?
- Review your manufacturers proper start up procedures.
- Your chimney is probably too cool, try burning your stove at a higher draft setting.
- You may have an excess build-up of creosote (have your chimney cleaned and inspected).
- You may have insufficient draft for your unit; call your dealer to assess the situation.
If Your Stove Does Not Produce Enough Heat
- Are you burning wet or green wood?
- Try burning your unit at a higher burn setting for a while.
- You may have excessive draft for your unit; call your dealer to assess the situation, a barometric damper may help.
- Is your unit big enough to heat the area you want heated?
- If you have a catalytic stove, check the operation of the combustor, call your dealer if you require assistance.
Ashes / Glass Cleaning
Ashes
Your stove works best when you consistently maintain a good bed of coals, although ash build-up does need to be cleaned out periodically. Remember that a wood fire does burn best with about a half inch of ashes.
Disposal of ashes: Ashes should be placed in a metal container with a tight fitting lid. The closed container of ashes should be placed on a non-combustible material pending final disposal. If the ashes are disposed of by burial in soil or otherwise locally disposed, they should first be retained in the closed container until all cinders have thoroughly cooled.
Door Glass, Cleaning
The best way to keep the glass clean is to leave the stove on high burn for a period of time after each reloading. The moisture, which is driven from a new load of wood contributes much of the creosote on the inside of the glass. Removing that moisture at the beginning of the burn cycle helps to keep the glass clean. Leaving the thermostat on a higher setting for 30 minutes to an hour before turning to low for an overnight burn will also help. Even then the glass may coat during a low burn. Heavier deposits may require hand cleaning. Manual glass cleaning should be done when the stove and glass are cool.
DO NOT CLEAN THE GLASS WHILE IT IS HOT.
Use a soft cloth and a NONABRASIVE household cleaner. After using any cleaner, thoroughly rinse the glass with water to remove any deposits left by the cleaner. Failure to remove all traces of glass cleaner will result in the glass cleaner residue baking on. This residue may be very difficult to remove.
Wood Tips
Wet or Green Fuel
Wet or green fuel should not be used. Wood should be cut into pieces and allowed to air dry for several months before attempting to burn it. After the wood supply is cured (dry), ensure it is protected from rain and snow so that moisture is not absorbed. However, if you do add wet or green fuel to an existing fire, open the draft control to intensify the fire and burn off moisture. When completed return the draft control to desired operating position. You will not get much heat output from your stove while burning green or wet fuel, a large amount of the energy produced by the fire is used to evaporate the moisture from the fuel load, this energy is wasted and will not come into your home.
REMEMBER, WET OR GREEN FUEL CAUSES INCREASED CREOSOTE FORMATION.
Do Not Burn
Do not burn treated wood, solvents, coal, colored paper, garbage, trash, cardboard, board ends, plywood, composite boards, etc
Heat Output
The heat output of your stove depends on the amount of wood used, the type and dryness of wood used, the size of smoke path leading from the woodstove and the amount of air entering the woodstove.
Chimney Draft
Draft is the force which moves air from the appliance up the chimney and pulls fresh, oxygen-rich air into the combustion chamber. Your stove can not force smoke up the chimney but rather your chimney must always “suck” the smoke out of your stove. The smoke will always try to go to the area of lowest pressure The amount of draft in your chimney depends on the length of the chimney, local geography, nearby obstructions, and other factors. Too much draft can cause excessive temperatures in the appliance and may damage the unit.
Inadequate drafting may cause back puffing into the room and plugging of the chimney. Inadequate draft may also cause the appliance to leak smoke into the room through the appliance and chimney connector joints.
An uncontrollable burn or glowing red stove part or chimney connector indicates excessive draft. Unit failure to “get hot”, or “burn hot”, or if you experience poor burn times, can be the result of inadequate chimney draft or excessive chimney draft. In most instances if the stove is vented into an exterior masonry chimney and the draft is inadequate you will need to line the outside chimney with a stainless steel liner.
Excessive draft can create over firing, short burn times and damage to internal components.
Chimney Cleaning
Blaze King recommends that you have your chimney cleaned and or inspected at least once every 2 months during the heating season. Use a qualified Chimney Sweep to care for and maintain your chimney, in the USA chimney sweeps are HPA certified and in Canada they should be WETT certified.
CREOSOTE – Formation and Need for Removal
When wood is burned slowly, it produces tar and other organic vapors, which combine with expelled moisture to form creosote. The creosote vapors condense in the relatively cool chimney flue of a slow burning fire. As a result, creosote residue accumulates on the flue lining. When ignited this creosote makes an extremely hot fire.
The chimney connector and chimney should be inspected at least once every two months during the heating season to determine if a creosote build-up has occurred.
If creosote has accumulated it should be removed to reduce the risk of a chimney fire.
Creosote build-up may be minimized by using dry, seasoned wood, especially hardwoods. Avoid burning green wood at any time, but especially during periods of slow burning such as overnight. Recommended burning practices also reduce creosote build-up. It has been found that opening the draft controls to allow the fire to burn freely for 3- 4 hours in your stove each week will cut down on creosote build-up. Open the draft controls each time fuel is added and allow the fire to flame a few minutes before closing the draft controls again. After an overnight burn, open the draft controls and allow the fire to flame hot for five or ten minutes with dry kindling.
Remember, these practices are to reduce creosote build-up. If creosote has built up already, have the chimney cleaned immediately. If a creosote fire should develop close the air intake, call the fire department immediately, and ensure that all persons are out of the house and safe. After a severe chimney fire, the complete chimney system and connecting pipes must be checked by a qualified person before further use.
Chimney Cautions
If your heater is not properly installed, a house fire may result!
For Your Safety, follow the installation instructions provided with your unit. Contact local building or fire officials about restrictions and installation requirements in your area.
Make sure pipe connections cannot accidentally come apart. Use sheet metal screws to secure pipe connections. Clean your chimney and associated components regularly. Do not allow excessive build-up of ashes in the stove, or allow ashes to spill from the stove when the door is opened. Check masonry chimneys for cracks which may allow back-puffing and fumes to re-enter the house. Inspect for excessive creosote build-up frequently. Have your stove installation safety inspected before you build a fire in it the first time.
Do not take any risks with your chimney system. A poor chimney system or one that is not properly cared for is a common source of house fires.
Chimney Requirements
We recommend that your chimney should be at least the same dimension (inside diameter) as the flue of your stove. If you plan to use an existing masonry chimney, be sure it is free of cracks and loose joints. Gases traveling through a chimney reach extremely high temperatures. Cracks or loose mortar can allow hot gases to reach the wood portion of the structure surrounding the chimney. These toxic gases may also re-enter the house through cracks and small holes in the chimney, or cause back-puffing which will result in excessive smoking. Be on the safe side and have your chimney inspected by a certified chimney sweep. A stainless steel chimney liner with a direct connection to the stove is recommended for Masonry chimney installations. Outside masonry chimneys almost always require a listed liner system to ensure proper draft.
A chimney must reach at least three feet above the highest point where it passes through the roof and at least two feet higher than any portion of the building within ten feet of the chimney. Smoke travels up the chimney in a circular, spiralling motion. A round stainless steel liner allows the smoke to travel with less resistance. A rough masonry chimney without a good smooth liner will allow creosote to build up quickly.
Check all local codes and regulations regarding your installation before you begin. Refer to the chimney and chimney connector manufacturers instructions for additional information. If this stove and its chimney components are not properly installed, a house fire may result. For your safety, follow the installation directions. Contact local building or fire officials about restrictions and installation requirements in your area.
Built to Meet Strict Performance Standards
Blaze King products are engineered for long run times, efficiency, and low emissions performance.
EPA test reports provide verified certification data for qualifying products and installations.
Need Help Finding a Report?
Contact our team for assistance locating documentation for your Blaze King product.