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Escape 1400 Insert Installation and Operation Manual
5 Maintaining Your Wood Heating System
5.1 Insert Maintenance
Your new insert will give many years of reliable service if you use and maintain it correctly.
Some of the internal components of the firebox, such as firebricks, baffles and air tubes,
will wear over time under intense heat. You should always replace defective parts with
original parts (see Appendix 6: Exploded Diagram and Parts List). Firing each load hot
to begin a cycle as described above will not cause premature deterioration of the insert.
However, letting the insert run with the air control fully open for the entire burn cycles can
cause damage over time. The hotter you run the insert throughout burn cycles, the more
quickly its components will deteriorate. For that reason, never leave the insert
unattended while a new load is being fired hot.
5.1.1 Plated Finish Maintenance
If your appliance has a plated finish, use a metal polish and a soft cloth to clean it. Do not
use abrasives such as steel wool, steel pads or an abrasive cleaner for they may scratch
the finish.
5.1.2 Cleaning Door Glass
Under normal conditions, your door glass should stay relatively clear. If your firewood is
dry enough and you follow the operating instructions in this manual, a whitish, dusty
deposit will form on the inside of the glass after a week or so of use. This is normal and
can be easily removed when the insert is cool by wiping with a damp cloth or paper towel
and then drying. Never try to clean the glass when the insert is hot.
In spring and fall when the insert is run at lower temperatures, you may see some light
brown stains forming, especially at the lower corners of the glass. This indicates that the
fire has been smoky and some of the smoke has condensed on the glass. When the
weather is mild, you may find that letting the fire go out is better than trying to maintain a
continuous fire. Use the technique described above for building a fire to take the chill off
the house.
If you do get brown stains on the glass you can remove them with special cleaners for
wood heater glass doors. Do not use abrasives to clean your insert's door glass.
The deposits that form on the glass are the best indication of the quality of your fuel and
how well you are doing in operating the insert. Your goal should be clear glass with no
brown stains. If you continue to see brown stains on the glass, something about your fuel
and operating procedure needs to be changed. Stains on the glass indicate incomplete
combustion of the wood, which also means more smoke emissions and faster formation of
creosote in the chimney.
If you see brown streaks coming from the edge of the glass, it is time to replace the gasket
around the glass. Visit your insert retailer to get the self-adhesive glass gasket and follow
the instructions below for installation.
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