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5. Maintaining Your Wood Heating System
5.1 Stove Maintenance
This stove will give many years of reliable service if used and maintained properly. Some of the
internal components of the firebox, such as firebricks, baffle and air tubes, will wear over time
under intense heat. Defective parts should always be replaced 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 stove. However, letting the stove run with the air
intake fully open for the entire burn cycles can cause damage over time. The hotter the stove
becomes throughout burn cycles, the more quickly its components will deteriorate. For this
reason, the stove should never be left unattended while a new load is being fired hot.
5.1.1 Cleaning Door Glass
Under normal conditions, the door glass should stay relatively clear. If the firewood is dry
enough and the operating instructions in this manual are followed, a whitish, dusty deposit will
form on the inner surface of the glass after a week or so of use. This is normal and can be easily
removed when the stove is cold by wiping with a damp cloth or paper towel and then drying.
Never try to clean the glass when the stove is hot.
In spring and fall when the stove runs at lower temperatures, light brown stains may form,
especially in the lower corners of the glass. This indicates that the fire has been smoky and
some of the smoke has condensed on the glass. It also indicates incomplete combustion of the
wood, which also means more smoke emissions and faster formation of creosote in the chimney.
The deposits that form on the glass are the best indication of the fuel quality and success in
properly using the stove.
The goal should be clear glass with no brown stains. If brown stains appear regularly on the
glass, something about the fuel or the operating procedure needs to be changed.
These stains can be cleaned with a special wood stove glass cleaner. Do not use abrasives
to clean the stove glass. When the weather is mild, it is often better to let the fire go out than
trying to maintain a continuous fire. Use the technique described in section
«4.6.1 Small Fires
to Take the Chill Off the
House».
When brown streaks are coming from the edge of the glass, it is time to replace the gasket
around the glass. The glass gasket should be self-adhesive. Follow the instructions in section
«5.1.4 Replacing the Glass or the Glass Gasket»
for installation. Always replace gaskets with
genuine ones. See
«Appendix 6. Exploded Diagram and Parts List».
Do not abuse the glass door by striking or slamming shut.
Do not use the stove if the glass is broken.
Page 22
Installation and Operation Manual - Harmony 2.3
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