If you own a multi-fuel stove or a log burner, you will have already benefited from its cost efficiency and enjoyed those crackling flames dancing behind the glass. But what should you do when the glass starts to blacken with a layer of soot or dirt?

It’s to be expected that in the confined space of your wood-burning stove, there will be some by products present, especially if your stove is an older version and does not feature an in-built airwash system that many burners now feature.

Here at Coalhut.com we have pulled together some easy tips to prevent soot build-up on your wood stove glass. Cleaner glass will add greater ambiance to a room and allow you to enjoy more fires in your wood stove before having to clean the glass again.

Burning House Coal

Burning house coal in your stove will increase the chances of the glass blackening and most stove manufacturers recommend you avoid using house coal and instead opt for Homefire smokeless fuels. Burning house coals on a closed appliance means the tar and smoke particles can find their way onto the stove glass. Even the most modern airwash system (see below) will build up a volume of tar and dust generated by burning house coal.

Burning unseasoned wood

This is one of the main reasons why your stove glass might be turning black. Burning wood, which is unseasoned, means energy is used on evaporation rather than burning and the incomplete burn results in excessive smoke being produced. This results in by-products such as tar, soot and creosote settling on the glass. 

Lack or incorrect use of Airwash

Most modern stoves are built with their own airwash system preventing the build up of soot on the glass. Airwash systems use the vent at the top of the stove to direct a thin layer of air across the glass to wash it and reduce the build up of soot, dirt and grime.

However, not using the airwash system correctly can also result in blackened glass. If your stove is not burning at a high enough temperature (for example, by burning a small fire in a large stove), the airwash will not function properly as the stove is not hot enough. Try to avoid closing your airwash vent completely when using your stove as this can also lead to soot build up.

Fuel touching the glass

Be careful not to overfill your stove with fuel or load the fuel so it is touching the glass, as this can lead to the glass blackening in a couple of areas, rather than the entire surface. 

You can’t completely prevent soot from accumulating on the glass, but these tips should help increase the time between cleanings. Soot build up on stove glass is less of a problem for newer models than older models, but regardless of how old your stove is, you can still experience beautiful fires from your stove all season long.

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