airwash

johnytwentyten

hello, this is my first ever post on boards and i dont have a clue if im in the right place or following the proper procedure so please bear with me! im looking to buy a stove and i had settled on the stanley reginald as it suits my requirements and looks the biz, problem is i have seen it since in a local pub and the glass was filthy. my sister in law and mother in law both have the erin and they have the same problem. im just wondering if there is a stove out there that has been tried and tested with turf and coal where the airwash actually worked properly.the ads always show some kindling or the like being burned which doesnt really prove anythin. thanks in advance for any suggestions;)

TPM

There are a lot of claims about airwash. and as many people say they dont work.
One of the biggest problem with glass blackening is what is burnt in the stove and how it is burnt.
Wet/unseasoned timber will blacken glass full stop.
If other fuel isnt burnt hot enough eg, if the stove is closed down before the fire gets burning well enough it can blacken the glass.

I have a stove in a few months, the glass has blackened a few times but generally it remains fairly clear with some blackening around the edges, I burn mainly coal and some seasoned timber.

freddyuk

Blackening will occur if the stove is left to "idle" as there will be unburnt gases and soot will build up on all surfaces including tarring from wet wood in the stove and the flue.
A decent stove with airwash such as Clearview which are a bit expensive but actually very effective. If you turn the stove up to full bore for an hour every so often the black soot will burn off and leave a clear glass door and it will burn off some of the deposits in your flue. I believe this is recommended as idling a stove for long periods is not good for it.
I also have a Hwam which does exactly the same thing. So I think if you have a cheap stove it may well not have an effective airwash but the system does work very well.
If you do need to clean the glass try Barkeepers friend.

celiam

freddyuk wrote: »

Blackening will occur if the stove is left to "idle" as there will be unburnt gases and soot will build up on all surfaces including tarring from wet wood in the stove and the flue.
A decent stove with airwash such as Clearview which are a bit expensive but actually very effective. If you turn the stove up to full bore for an hour every so often the black soot will burn off and leave a clear glass door and it will burn off some of the deposits in your flue. I believe this is recommended as idling a stove for long periods is not good for it.
I also have a Hwam which does exactly the same thing. So I think if you have a cheap stove it may well not have an effective airwash but the system does work very well.
If you do need to clean the glass try Barkeepers friend.

Whats barkeepers friend

cranefly

elbow grease is your only man and a bit of cif cream helps as well

gdavis

oven cleaner

johnytwentyten

thanks for the replies guys, searched around yesterday and it seems that clearview is the way to go for airwash, although i cant really get a suitable model for my needs. think i might settle on the stratford ecoburner 20HE as its very compact considering its output and the salesperson talked up the airwash, but of course he would do that;). Anybody any experience with these stoves? only get a one year guarantee or 3 years if you buy from an official stockist AND its installed by a INFO engineer whereas the stanley had a 5 year warranty

freddyuk

celiam wrote: »

Whats barkeepers friend

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bar_Keepers_Friend

It is brilliant stuff for any sort of cleaning where an abrasive would cause damage. It can be bought in old fashioned hardware stores and a very few supermarkets. White bottle blue label and cap.

Big C

Stove in for 6mths, glass blackened every now and then, waited to clean it next day (when cold), then I discovered when fire was lighting if glass starts blackening, a dry toilet roll wiped in streaks top to bottom cleaned most of the glass. happy days, try it u will be amazzed

celiam

thanks freddyuk will look out for it