It is important to regularly maintain your Lopi wood heater. Minimum maintenance is suggested below every day during operation with some additional monthly maintenance and at the end of the season or prior to the following one.

Daily Maintenance (while stove is in use)

Remove Ash (if necessary)
Ash removal is not required once it builds up. A layer of ash 13mm to 25mm may be desirable because it will slow the burn rate. Generally, remove ash once it has built up over 25mm. Follow the directions below to remove ash.

– 1 Let the stove cool completely (at least two hours after the last coal has extinguished).
– 2 Place a cloth or cardboard protector over the hearth to catch ash and protect against scratching.
– 3 Open the doors and scoop the ash into a metal container with a tight fitting lid. The closed container of ashes should be placed on a non-combustible floor or on the ground, away from all combustible materials, pending final disposal.

Improperly disposed ashes lead to fires. Hot ashes placed in cardboard boxes, dumped in back yards, or stored in garages, are recipes for disaster.
Wood-burning stoves are inherently dirty. During cleaning have a vacuum ready to catch spilled ash (make sure ash is entirely extinguished).

Clean the Glass (if necessary)
This appliance has an air-wash to keep the glass clean. However, burning un-seasoned wood or burning on lower burn rates leads to dirtier glass (especially on the sides). Clean the glass by following the directions below.
Do not use abrasive cleaners.

The glass will develop a very slight haze over time. This is normal and will not affect viewing of the fire. Make sure the appliance has fully cooled prior to conducting service.

Monthly Maintenance (while appliance is in use)

Door and Glass Inspection
The door must form an air-tight seal to the firebox for the stove to work correctly. Inspect the door gasket to make sure it forms an air-tight seal to the firebox. The door can be lifted off the hinges if extensive repairs are conducted.

Creosote – Formation and Need for Removal

When wood is burned slowly, it produces tar and other organic vapours, which combine with expelled moisture to form creosote.
The creosote vapours 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 and chimney connector 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.
If you are not certain of creosote inspection, contact your dealer or local chimney sweep for a full inspection.
Excess creosote build-up may cause a chimney fire that may result in property damage, injury, or death. Make sure the appliance has fully cooled prior to conducting service.

Yearly Maintenance

Touch-Up Paint
Included with the owner’s pack of this appliance is a can of Stove-Brite® paint. To touch up nicks or dulled paint, apply the paint while the appliance is cool. Sand rusted or damaged areas before preparation (use 120-grit sandpaper). Clean and dry the area to prepare the surface. Wait at least one hour before starting the appliance. The touched up area will appear darker than the surrounding paint until it cures from heat. Curing will give off some fumes while curing – open windows to ventilate.

Cleaning the Air Duct and Blower (if applicable)
Use a vacuum to clean the air ducts (channels). This prevents dust from burning and creating odours. The optional blower should be vacuumed every year to remove any build-up of dust, lint, etc.

Firebrick and Baffle Inspection
Use the illustration in your owner’s manual as a reference for checking the following items.
Make sure the appliance is cool before proceeding.

Baffle Firebricks – check the bricks along the ceiling of the firebox to make sure they are intact and have no gaps between them. Slide the bricks to eliminate any gaps.

Baffle Supports – make sure the front and back baffle supports in are place and not degraded. Slight scaling or rusting of the metal is normal.

Secondary Air Tubes – Check the air tubes and collars to make sure they are intact and not severely deteriorated. Slight scaling or rusting of the metal is normal. Make sure the pins hold the air tubes in place.

Floor and Wall Firebricks – replace any severely damaged firebrick along the side or floor of the firebox.