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Century S244 Installation and Operation Manual
25
5.1.4 Cleaning and Painting the Stove
Do not attempt to clean or paint the stove when the unit is hot. Painted surfaces can
be wiped down with a damp cloth. Plated surfaces may be scratched by abrasive cleaners.
To maintain the finish at its original brilliance, use only a damp soft cloth to clean plated
surfaces.
If the paint becomes scratched or damaged, you can give your wood stove a brand new
look by repainting it with heat-resistant paint. Before painting, roughen the surface with fine
sand paper, wipe it down to remove dust, and apply two thin coats of paint. For best
results, use the same paint that was originally used on the stove, which is available in
spray cans. See your dealer for details.
5.2 Chimney and Chimney Connector Maintenance
5.2.1 Why Chimney Cleaning is Necessary
Wood smoke can condense inside the chimney connector and chimney, forming a
combustible deposit called creosote. If creosote is allowed to build up in the venting
system it can ignite when a hot fire is burned in the stove and a very hot fire can progress
to the top of the chimney. Severe chimney fires can damage even the best chimneys.
Smouldering, smoky fires can quickly cause a thick layer of creosote to form. When you
avoid smouldering so the exhaust from the chimney is mostly clear, creosote builds up
more slowly. Your new stove has the right characteristics to help you to burn clean fires
with little or no smoke, resulting in less creosote in the chimney.
5.2.2 How Often Should You Clean the Chimney?
It is not possible to predict how much or how quickly creosote will form in your chimney. It
is important, therefore, to check the build-up in your chimney monthly when getting used to
the new stove until you determine the rate of creosote formation. Even if creosote forms
slowly in your system, the chimney should be cleaned and inspected at least once each
year.
Contact your local municipal or provincial fire authority for information on how to handle a
chimney fire. Have a clearly understood plan to handle a chimney fire.