Tag Archives: Regency
Wood Stove Spring Cleaning
-from the Morso blog:
Our man, Joe Griffith, servicing a gas fireplace in Troutlake, WA.
“Your faithful stove has kept you toasty through the winter; now is the time to schedule a chimney sweep and cleaning to perform all the routine annual maintenance.
Like a favorite automobile, your wood stove also comes with a certain amount of care to guarantee long-lasting, comforting warmth. Contract a local certified chimney sweep or Morso dealer at least once a year to have your woodstove and chimney professionally cleaned and checked. After all, with the rigors of long term use critical parts may need replacing.
Many of the maintenance checks are related to the internal ‘engine’ parts, such as the firebox liners, door gaskets, bottom grates, and baffle plates. A professional inspector can make certain the stove door is air tightness, and also make cosmetic recommendations to keep your stove bright. A thorough evaluation of the ceramic glass is also necessary, as cracks or signs of log impact require immediate attention and replacement.
Finally, when the warm weather is here to stay and it’s time to give your stove a break, you should have it thoroughly cleaned. Remember to leave the primary air control fully open to allow airflow in the combustion chamber and chimney. Ventilating your stove and chimney will prevent premature corrosion caused from moisture. If you have humidity concerns, adding an absorbent substance, such as kitty litter, into the ash pan will also help absorb excess moisture. However, be sure to remove all of this substance prior to the heating season.
Also, make sure that rain water cannot come into contact with your stove. Installing a rain cap on your chimney may be helpful, as long as it does not completely block the flue.
To learn more about wood stove operation, wood storage, and maintenance watch all five Morso educational videos.”
How Much Wood is in a Cord?
Here in the Columbia River Gorge, we experienced the kind of Winter that gave many of us an insight to life from the Little House on the Prairie. Out went the electricity, warmth, and for many, even water. The first couple of night were adventurous. Family time in the living room, with candles as an only source. Finding new creative ways to prepare dinner. But for some, this power outage lasted up to 9 days! This harsh reality check reminded many of the good folks in Hood River, White Salmon, and surrounding towns that it’s a good idea to have a back-up source of heat in their homes.
Wood and gas stoves both function without electricity.
Because the ice storm brought down so many trees in the Columbia Gorge, many people are opting for wood stoves – now that they have plenty of wood in their yards to split and season in preparation for this next Winter…. (may it be long in returning)…
For those that are looking to purchase wood, perhaps on craigslist, or from a neighbor, here’s a chart we’ve borrowed (from woodburning.com) to show what to expect when buying a cord of wood.
If you have a stove with a smaller firebox size, like one of our gorgeous Morso stoves, the 12″ logs would be a good purchase. Our Regency, Hampton, and Hearthstone stoves take a 16″-18″ log but some of the biggest stoves and fireplaces can hold up to a 24″ log. Know the dimensions of your firebox when cutting your wood or purchasing a cord to prevent yourself a lot more work come Winter!
If you have any questions, you can always call Ashley at True Gorge Artisans @ 509-637-2600!
Starting tomorrow, January 12th through February 27th!!!
