How to Clean Your Whitfield Pellet Stoves

A pellet stove in your home brings the comfortable warmth of a glowing fire without the mess of hauling chunks of wood into the house. Both insert-style and freestanding pellet stoves require routine care to keep them tidy and operating at maximum capacity. Clean Whitfield pellet-fired stoves frequently to prevent ash accumulation during the winter months when the stove is heavily used.

Things You'll Need

• Ash pan scraper tool
• Small brush
• Metal bucket
• Cloth
• 1/4-inch socket wrench
• Vacuum cleaner with brush attachment

Instructions

1. Open the glass stove door. Remove the grate at the bottom of the burning chamber and brush any ashes into the pan below. Rub the grate with the scraping tool, applying sufficient pressure to remove accumulated ash and clumps. Ensure that all air holes in the grate are free of debris. Wipe down the grate with a damp cloth, set the bottom of the stove back in and close the glass door.

2. Remove the ash pan cover and set it aside. Open the narrow swing door fully, then pull the ash pan out of the stove using the ash pan scraper tool for leverage. Dump the ashes into a metal bucket. Wipe the ash pan with a damp cloth, push it back into its compartment and close the swing door. Replace the ash pan cover, pushing until it is firmly locked into place.

3. Remove the stove windows to clean out ash and debris. Whitfield pellet stoves have a window wash bracket attached to the inside door frame with four screws. Loosen and remove the screw nuts with a 1/4-inch socket. Sweep away accumulated ash debris with a small brush. Wipe both sides of the window glass with a damp cloth and dry it thoroughly before reattaching the bracket to the door frame.

4. Unplug the electrical cord and open the rear swing door. Dust off the electrical connections with a small, soft-bristled brush. Vacuum the air intake covers and all inside surfaces of the compartment using the vacuum cleaner's brush attachment. Wipe down the compartment's walls with a damp cloth, and allow the area to dry completely before closing the compartment door. You should clean a Whitfield pellet stove's rear compartment at least once a year.

Tips & Warnings

• Spread newspaper or a drop cloth around the stove base before cleaning to protect the floor.

• Schedule maintenance of the ash trap baffles, heat exchanger tubes and the exhaust and vent apparatus routinely, following the procedures outlined in the Whitfield Installation and Operation Manual.

• Check the door rope gasket while cleaning and replace it if the seal is loose.

• Turn the Whitfield pellet stove off and allow it to cool completely before cleaning.

References

• Whitfield by Lennox Hearth Products: Installation and Operation Manual