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PROTECTING THE GOLD ON THE FIREPLACE XTRORDINAIR
Gold is the very best material available for plating fireplace fronts, but it is not indestructible.
The most common complaint with any plated surface on a wood burning appliance is
discoloration. This can only be caused by heat or chemicals. The discoloration is permanent
and cannot be removed. The following warnings will help you protect the shine in the gold
plating.
NOTE: IF YOU ARE INSTALLING YOUR FIREPLACE XTRORDINAIR INTO A
NEW MASONRY OR BLOCK-IN FIREPLACE, YOU SHOULD READ THE
FOLLOWING WARNING ON ACID WASH:
Acid Wash Warning:
In the past gold faceplates and/or doors have become severely tarnished as a direct result of
acid wash that has not been properly neutralized on masonry fireplaces. This condition
occurs when the masonry fireplace is newly constructed and muriatic acid is used to remove
excess mortar. If the mason does not adequately neutralize this muriatic acid with ammonia
and water, the acid will be left on the brick. Whenever the fireplace is heated, either from a
fire or from room heat, acid vapors will be released from the brick. These vapors are
extremely corrosive and will attack any metal surface in the immediate area of the fireplace.
Gold plated surfaces will develop a cloudy film.
Replacement of the faceplate and/or doors WILL NOT CURE THIS PROBLEM! The correct
repair is to have the masonry contractor come out to the house and wash down the entire
fireplace face to neutralize this acid condition. If this is a new home, the repair should be
covered under warranty by the home builder. If this is an older home, the consumer may
have some recourse from the seller. We stress that this condition is not a defect in the
manufacture of the plating, but an acid problem with the brick or stone of the fireplace face.
You can test your brickwork for improper
neutralization by using a spa or pool test strip
which is available at spa and pool stores. Apply
one drop of water to your brick and touch the test
strip to the brick (Refer to instructions on the
packaging when reading the test strip). If the strip
shows a high acid content you will need to take
steps to properly neutralize your brick. Please be
aware that the warranty for your Fireplace
Xtrordinair will not cover damage to the plating as
a result of an improperly neutralized acid wash.
ACID
WASH
New Masonry
Heat Warning:
Gold plating is inherently resistant to heat and will not discolor under normal conditions.
However, there are some conditions that may damage the gold surfaces due to excessive
heat you should be aware of.
The Fireplace Xtrordinair was designed and safety tested to withstand a full load of normal
wood burning at the highest burn rate. However, do not use the fireplace continuously at this
high-temperature level. Be careful with hot-burning wood (dense wood or wood that is in
small pieces). If any part of the interior of the fireplace is glowing red, the fireplace is over-
fired and should be turned to a lower burn rate and allowed to cool down. Also be aware of
excessive temperatures due to a power outage shutting off the blower. With the blower
disconnected from power, the heat from the fireplace will build up quicker and not dissipate
as well. During power outages, do not run the fireplace at high burn rate settings.