Maintenance - England's Stove Works 17‐VL Installation & Operation Manual

Daily Maintenance
 Inspect the firebox for ash accumulation; remove excess ash and follow instructions
below regarding disposal. Ash should not be allowed to accumulate in the stove to the
point that it covers the coal bed air inlets.
Monthly Maintenance
 Check the blower for dust accumulation (if installed); check the door handle for proper
operation and to be certain an airtight seal is still being made by the door.
 Inspect the chimney system and chimney connector and sweep if necessary. Although
cleaning may be required less than monthly, ALWAYS inspect the venting system
monthly to decrease the chance of a chimney fire.
 Visually inspect the vermiculite insulating boards in the firebox for cracks and/or
breakage. Slight surface cracks will not affect the performance of the boards, but
cracked or crumbling boards should be replaced immediately.
 Visually inspect the secondary combustion tubes for cracks, warping and corrosion.
Although these tubes are constructed from stainless steel, they operate at very high
temperatures and can eventually wear out from normal use.
Yearly Maintenance
 Check all gaskets (window and door) for wear and to be certain they still maintain an
airtight seal. See the following page for instructions.
 Thoroughly clean the chimney system and the chimney connector system. Since the
chimney connector is generally exposed to high exhaust temperatures, inspect it
carefully for leaks and weak spots; replace any questionable pieces. [In the case of
straight through the roof chimney system, be certain to remove the vermiculite baffle
before pushing the chimney sweeping brush down into the firebox. Forcefully hitting
the top of the baffle with a cleaning brush or rod can damage or destroy the baffle.]
 Remove all ash from the stove, including the ash which accumulates on the top of the
firebox baffles. Leave the air control open during the non‐heating months to allow
some air to flow through the stove to help prevent corrosion. A small open container of
cat litter in the stove can help prevent corrosion during the humid summer months; be
certain to remove it before building a fire in the fall.
IMPROPER GASKET MAINTENANCE, INCLUDING FAILURE TO REPLACE GASKETS, CAN
CAUSE AIR LEAKS RESULTING IN AN UNCONTROLLABLE UNIT.
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 noncombustible floor or on the ground, well
away from all combustible materials, pending final disposal. If the ashes are disposed of by
burial in soil or otherwise locally dispersed, they should be retained in the closed container
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MAINTENANCE

until all cinders have been thoroughly cooled.