What do you use for cleaning?

New to this pellet stove stuff. So far I have just been cleaning the stove from the front door. After everything has cooled down I vacuum everything out I can see and clean glass well. Empty ash tray and fill with pellets. Then fire it up again. I have not cleaned the chimney pipe yet.

What do you guys use for the chimney pipe? I bought the stove at Lowe's and the chimney kit with it. Did you buy a brush? Do any of you use your own brush you made? Best brush to buy?

Any other cleaning in stove I should do? Etc.?

 

Gas...once smoke sees this post I'm sure he'll post his LBM (leaf blower method). This is the absolute best way to clean your vent between full cleanings......period. I also have a 3" vent brush that I run through the vent before the LBM. I think lots of pigs buy the "Lint Eater" brand brush but I just have a cheapie. Oh, I typically do the LBM once or twice between a full cleaning (20-25 bags or so).

 

Let's see, a lint eater, a leaf blower, a putty knife, a screwdriver (Phillips), a nut driver, a barbecue grill brush, a towel, a bit of stove ash, a small shop vac with filters, some water and occasionally some band aids.

 

You mean I gotta clean that area also? What do you think the leaf blower is for? On my bucket of parts it can clean everything all the way back to the top of the firebox, it even sucks pellets out of the auger. That is what the putty knife and barbecue brush is for along with the shop vac.

All this extra cleaning I just don't understand it, you'd think these things get dirty or something .

 

Grainger has a nice asst of tubing brushes for cleaning these areas. All diameters and lengths

 

I got this kit from Harbor Freight....$4.99 Works great!!!

 

And people think I'm a PITA for cleaning stoves. Some of you need a different bucket of parts, yours are too complicated.

 

Ditto....don't forget to give the back wall some good whacks first with a mallet or small hammer to dislodge crud in the ash traps.

 

You have to CLEAN these things? WTF?

 

Huh? You do?

 

I start my cleaning with a few Beers

 

Second pic looks like your hosting tractor pulls on your roof.

 

You forgot a good light to help you see what you are doing! Also some of that orange goo to wash your hands with after.
Another thing is high temp gasket material. Every time you take a blower off to clean it, you need to change the gasket.

 

Only if you damage that gasket do you need a new one. I have a very good set of lights already in the three light fixture above and several feet away from where the stove is with three good daylight spots in it, aka tons of light. The bathroom with clean up stuff is just a short way away. I don't pull the blower that often and I'm very careful.

 

My gaskets separate right in the middle every time. Also need to scrape them off with the putty knife. But, it is a gamble when you take the blower off, so best to be prepared. These old eyes need the light so I can see up in the stove around the pipes. A hand held mirror can help with that. That black on black is bad. I have the same issue with all those little buttons on the electronics even while wearing glasses.