How To Clean A Stove With Your Own Hands - Repair, Cleaning A Brick Russian, Bath, Round Stove From Soot Without Disassembling Why It Does Not Heat Well, Reasons, Cleaning Wells, G

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

Do-it-yourself oven repair and cleaning: step-by-step instructions and possible nuances

Any device is subject to wear and tear, and the oven is no exception. Cleaning and maintenance work must be done on time, otherwise a minor breakdown can develop into a major overhaul.

Content

• 1 When and why is it necessary to repair the stove

• 2 Types of repair

  • 2.1 Initial structural repair

    • 2.1.1 How to find a knockout brick
    • 2.1.2 How to replace brickwork

  • 2.2 Medium stove repair

    • 2.2.1 Repairing cracks and replacing the door
    • 2.2.2 Video: Door Replacement Process
    • 2.2.3 How to strengthen the frame and replace the grate
    • 2.2.4 Video: preparing lime whitewash
    • 2.2.5 Replacing lining and tiles

  • 2.3 How to carry out a major renovation

    1 Video: repair and plastering of the chimney

• 3 How to disassemble the stove with your own hands

  3.1 Video: the process of dismantling the stove

• 4 How to disassemble the stove without dismantling the chimney

• 5 How to clean the oven from soot

  • 5.1 Chimney cleaning instructions

    • 5.1.1 Chemical method
    • 5.1.2 Cleaning with high temperature
    • 5.1.3 Classic cleaning method
    • 5.1.4 Video: instructions for cleaning the chimney
  • 5.2 Cleaning the sump and coil from soot

  • 5.3 How to clean the oven with folk remedies

    1 Video: Cleaning the oven with potato peelings

When and why is it necessary to repair the stove

Most often, stove repair is required in the case when traction suddenly worsens. The following signs may also indicate the need for repair:

• the formation of cracks in the masonry;
• puffing up the oven;
• loosening of the furnace door;
• burnout of the grate;
• cracking of seams in masonry;
• poor fuel combustion;
• leak at the junction of the roof with the chimney;
• damage to stove appliances.

Cracking of the kiln masonry is a sign of the need for repair.

It is worth remembering that a stove is not just a technical structure in a private house. The design must comply with sanitary standards and fire safety requirements. If you do not pay enough attention to the maintenance of the stove, then a fire hazard or carbon monoxide poisoning of the residents of the house may occur.

Stove repair is essential for human health and property. If you need it, then don't put it off. Special attention must be paid to maintenance before the start of the heating season. In the absence of experience in carrying out repair work on furnaces, it is recommended to entrust this task to a qualified specialist.

In some cases, the cost of repair work may make it impractical to perform it, so it is important to determine the breakdown first.

Repair types

Repairs can be conditionally divided into 3 types: initial, medium and major.

Tools and materials that will be required for work:

• brick in the required quantity;
• special hammer;
• pick;
• building level;
• Master OK;
• plumb line;
• container for the preparation of building mixture;
• roulette.

Some of the repair steps can be done by hand with the proper approach.

Initial structural repair

It so happens that the stove cannot be melted due to the lack of draft. The problem can arise for the following reasons:

• long break in operation;
• lack of air supply, which is able to support work;
• finding cooled air in the chimney;
• strong gusts of wind outside;
• chimney clogging with soot.

To solve the problem, you need to take not paper for lighting, but a piece of rubber or a small amount of dry fuel. The use of kerosene and other flammable liquids is not allowed.

Dry fuel can be used to ignite the stove.

The quality of draft is primarily affected by the correct construction of the chimney. If the stove initially functioned normally, and after a while it began to heat poorly, this indicates a clogged smoke exhaust duct.

The chimney can become clogged with soot from burning wood

One of the most common repair jobs is chimney cleaning. If there is an excess of soot, the problem must be addressed immediately. First of all, you should try to burn off the soot with improvised means. For this:

1. First of all, pour a small amount of coarse salt into the hot stove.
2. Then quickly close the damper. If this is not done, the structure will begin to crack, as soot will fly out through the chimney.

If these steps did not help, you need to use another method. The presence of soot can be identified by how long ago the stove was fired. It is worth remembering that the structure must be cleaned at least once a year, preferably in summer.

Preventive cleaning of the oven from soot must be performed at least once a year.

You can try to get the soot out of the special door. If there is no such detail, then you will need to disassemble the chimney masonry.

How to find a knockout brick

In some cases, craftsmen leave knock-out bricks that are not fixed with mortar. If a private house was purchased with a stove and it is not known where such bricks are located, you will need to follow these steps:

1. First of all, you need to carefully inspect the stove.
2. The main emphasis should be on the places where the chimney channels pass. Knocking parts are most often mounted with a slight outward displacement in relation to the main masonry.
3. When the brick is found, you need to remove it, removing the plaster in this place. In this way, you can provide access to the channel.
4. Next, you need to pull out the stuck stone and clean out the soot, mount the knockout brick in place and coat it with a mixture.

How to replace brickwork

If the structure begins to smoke heavily, then the brickwork is damaged. This can lead to the formation of gaps, which will have to be repaired by yourself. To do this, you need to prepare a mixture of clay, sand, asbestos fiber and salt. The fiber is needed for elasticity.

Correctly selected mortar must withstand temperature changes without cracking

The mixture should have a medium viscosity, since the oily one will crack, and the thin one cannot give the required strength. If it is not possible to prepare the mortar on your own, you can buy a ready-made oven mixture at a construction supermarket. It is important to read the instructions before use. With the ready-made solution, it will be possible to complete repair work faster.

In some cases, it becomes necessary to replace burnt-out bricks.

Burnt bricks have a different color and a characteristic sound when tapped

Replacement instructions:

1. First of all, the places of old bricks must be cleaned of clay and dust.
2. Then moisten the surface with water.
3. Put a cake made of clay, which must be prepared in advance.
4. Dip new bricks in water and coat with a mixture of clay on both sides. This is necessary to securely fix the seams.
5. Place bricks in place of the dropped elements.

The mixture is used the same as when sealing the gaps.

Medium stove repair

The process consists of repairing and strengthening structural parts.

Repairing cracks and replacing the door

1. The firebox doors are mounted together with the bricks during the masonry process, so they do not need to be removed when repairing them. It is enough to scrape the mixture around the door to the brick and seal the gaps with a mixture of cement and clay.

2. To strengthen the shattered firebox door, you first need to disassemble the brickwork nearby, and then fix the part with steel wire.

   

   The main heat load falls on the combustion door, therefore it is better to fix it with a steel strip

3. For the mortar, you need to mix 2 parts of clay, 9 parts of sand and 1 part of cement. The components should be mixed well and diluted with water until the consistency of sour cream. This mixture can be used to cover the seams around the firebox door.

   

   The solution should be of medium viscosity

4. The same mixture can be used to seal cracks in the structure. If the stove is plastered, the crack must be cleared to a brick and covered over.

It will not be difficult for a stove operator with extensive experience to make a mixture that will be securely fixed at the joints. However, for a beginner, this can be a big problem. Various methods for identifying the fat content of clay and the quality of sand in most cases do not give the desired result. Using a heat-resistant sealant will not completely solve the problem. After a certain time, cracks may appear again, in connection with which repeated repairs will be necessary.

Fireclay mortar is a ready-made mixture for sealing cracks that can withstand high temperatures

To solve the problem, it is recommended to use fireclay mortar. This product is a finely ground refractory mixture, which contains chamotte and special clay. The seams made of chamotte mortar are able to withstand temperatures over 1700 ° C. The mixture will need to be diluted with water. A small amount of Portland cement can be added if necessary.

Video: the process of replacing the door

How to strengthen the frame and replace the grates

Sometimes the number of gaps is so large that the oven can collapse at any time. Blurring will not help in this case. The ideal option is to completely replace the brickwork. However, if the stove is functioning properly, and there is no time to carry out the transfer, the repair can be done in this way:

1. The first step is to tie the frame structure with metal wire.
2. In the masonry, grind horizontal openings with a depth of 16–18 mm. The grooves must cover the entire stove so that the mounted wire pulls the frame structure.
3. When the wire is laid in the grooves and fixed by twisting, it must be pulled. This can be done by carefully twisting the loops of the wire in one direction using a thick nail. It is important to watch the tension of the wire so that it does not break.

4. Next, plaster the stove.

   

   For plastering the stove, a traditional sand-clay mortar or ready-made mixture is used

In the process of replacing grates, it is important to take into account that they should not be located close to the laying of stones, but at a distance of 5 mm.

The grate should not be located close to the masonry

The gap must be covered with sand.

If the pre-furnace plates are rusted or holes appear on them, they will have to be replaced. Such elements cannot be repaired. Replacement instructions:

1. Dismantle the old sheet.
2. Pull out the nails.
3. Soak a piece of felt in a liquid clay mixture.
4. Place felt under the fasteners.

5. Nail a new sheet at the top.

   

   It is better to replace the corroded pre-furnace plate with a new one immediately.

From time to time, the stove must be whitewashed with a lime solution.

For antibacterial treatment, the oven must be periodically whitened with a solution of lime

Lime has properties that are excellent against bacteria.

Video: preparing lime whitewash

Replacement of lining and tiles

A major overhaul is needed for a structure that has:

• broken lining of the fuel chamber;
• damaged chimney;
• the brick “under” requires rewiring.

In the process of replacing the lining, it is important to take into account the fact that outdated and renewed masonry must be made of the same brick so that the rate of thermal expansion is identical. The same method is used to replace bricks in the chimney structure.

Particular attention should be paid to the repair of the tiled stove.

1. The tile must be carefully dismantled.
2. Clean its installation site.
3. Prepare a mixture of clay and rubble.
4. Put the new element on the prepared solution, making the fit.
5. If the masonry is uneven, you can level it with your hands.

The tiled stove must be even

All repair work in this category can be done by hand, even if there are no relevant skills.

How to carry out a major renovation

Capital repairs include the restoration of full serviceability, replacement or modernization of parts that are out of order. These works can be done independently.

To repair the chimney, you need to plaster the masonry outside.

Heat-resistant plaster mix is applied in a thin layer

If the masonry is damaged, then it will need to be sorted out.

Video: repair and plastering of the chimney

When completely replacing the lining, it is not allowed to disassemble the main masonry of the stove. The sequence of actions for replacing the coating:

1. Disassemble the wall of the structure from the bottom of the ash pan to the height of the fuel chamber, while the edges of the stove should not be touched.
2. Remove the rubble that has appeared from the dismantling of the old lining.
3. Lay out the new liner.

The lining takes over the main heat load, preventing brick breakage in the firebox

It is not necessary to tie the finishing layer with the brickwork of the walls. The optimum seam thickness is a maximum of 2 mm.

In most cases, repairing a brick structure consists of restoring a settled vault. This element in the process of heating and cooling expands and contracts, the mixture pours out of the seams and some bricks may settle or fall out.

The hearth in the stove is subject to destruction due to the influence of high temperatures. After a while, cavities may form in the brick, which will interfere with the placement of the dishes. It is quite difficult to repair the arch with your own hands, but almost every owner of the stove can repair it on their own. To do this, you need to replace the burnt-out bricks. If the material is in good condition, then it can be turned upside down. At the end, whitewashing can be done to strengthen the structure.

In some cases, it becomes necessary to transfer the furnace to another fuel. Each master has his own methods, but there is the most popular of them:

1. Lay the walls of the fuel chamber with refractory bricks. Use a refractory mixture for fixing.
2. Make small slopes around the sides of the chamber so that the coal can slide down during the firing process, and the grates can be closed with hot coal. It is important to use exclusively high-quality masonry material.

The sauna stove is repaired in the same way as an ordinary one. The only difference is that preventive measures should be carried out more often, since the temperature of the bath structure is much higher than usual. It is important to use refractory bricks and a special mixture when laying. It is not allowed to use a stove with a broken cooking surface. If this element is out of order, it must be replaced immediately.

Prevention of the sauna stove should be carried out more often than the usual one.

How to disassemble the stove with your own hands

First of all, you need to inspect the product and the ceiling near the chimney. The pipe can be made of iron or brick. The necessary dismantling actions will depend on the characteristics of the furnace arrangement.

Dismantling an old furnace is much easier than folding a new one, but knowledge of the furnace equipment design is required

Previously, the Russian stove was often used to fix the load-bearing parts of the ceiling. The stove can be disassembled only when it becomes clear that there is no support for the chimney device, and the ceiling and roof will not collapse. When completely dismantling a Russian stove, first of all, you need to find out if its body is supported by some important element. First you need to disassemble the floor base around the stove and inspect the foundation.

If the furnace has a separate foundation, then it is better to dismantle it too.

In some cases, it is possible to remove the lower part from the support and dismantle it without damage, without the need to disassemble the structure. However, in this case, additional labor will not be superfluous, since the work is difficult.

It is important to prepare the room in advance for disassembling the stove. Furniture and decorative ornaments should be covered with foil, as the soot accumulated on the inner base of the stove will be difficult to remove from the surface.

To disassemble the oven, you should prepare the following tools:

• sledgehammer;
• pick;
• respirator;
• scrap;
• gloves;
• steel wedges;
• puncher;
• chisel.

The structure is disassembled from top to bottom. First, you need to disassemble the roof section near the chimney, after which you can start dismantling the brick. The metal chimney is dismantled by loosening it from side to side. A brick pipe is disassembled sequentially. You need to start with the chimney, and then go into the house. If the masonry was made using a solution of sand and clay, then a hammer and chisel will be needed from the tools. It is most convenient to disassemble the masonry in horizontal rows in a circle.

The chimney is disassembled starting from the outside

Difficulties can arise when disassembling a stove, the bricks of which were laid on a cement mortar. In this case, a punch is needed. If used correctly, time costs can be reduced. The punch blade should be guided along the seam between the bricks. To save the material for reuse, you need to try to avoid significant chips.

With the help of a crowbar, it is rather difficult to accurately disassemble the masonry horizontally. Scrap blows can damage a large number of bricks, as it is difficult to hit exactly at the seam.

To disassemble brickwork that was laid on a strong cement mortar, wedges made of steel or plastic are used.

Wedges are driven into the seams of the masonry

Sequencing:

1. In several places in the extreme part of the masonry, drive the blades into the seams horizontally.
2. If the masonry is strong, then the blades will need to be hammered into the seams along the vertical.
3. Disassemble the masonry using a hammer drill or scrap. If work is carried out in the attic, then the sledgehammer should be handled carefully so as not to damage the walls and beams.
4. The bricks must be separated and dismantled in rows from top to bottom.
5. Lay the recesses in the ceiling with bricks.
6. When the chimney is disassembled, carry out the work gradually in a circle.
7. Remove the hob, doors and grate as it becomes empty.

It is recommended to hammer the wedges with an assistant. One person must place the blade in the holder and direct it into the masonry seam, while the other, using a sledgehammer, will drive the blade into the seam between the stones.

The final stage is the disassembly of the bottom and base of the stove.

Disassembly of the bottom of the stove is done last.

If the structure is made in such a way that the foundation can be removed from the supporting parts and taken out, then this must be used. You will need helpers to get the job done. If the base of the stove is still needed, for example, to build a fireplace, then you do not need to dismantle it. The holes in the floor must be patched with wooden strips.

Video: the process of dismantling the stove

How to disassemble a stove without dismantling the chimney

It is better to entrust the performance of such work to specialists. If mistakes are made, then after assembling the stove, smoke may enter the house. If you want to dismantle the stove yourself without touching the chimney, it is important to adhere to the following instructions:

1. Fix the lower part of the chimney. To do this, you need to bring a strong and stable metal support element under it. In most cases, corners are used.
2. Make a groove around the perimeter of the pipe, which goes through the seam of the masonry, and place one of the corner shelves there.
3. Fasten the structure at the corners with tacks.
4. In the lower part, install the fasteners, resting them on the floor.

5. After that, disassemble the required section of the product.

   

   It is important to fix the chimney correctly in order to prevent subsidence

6. Install a new stove with its pipe leading to the old chimney device.
7. Lay bricks to secure the new structure and the old chimney.
8. Using a grinder, cut off the tack and fixture from the corner around the pipe.
9. Dismantle the racks.
10. The fixing points of the new stove with a chimney and all old masonry should be whitewashed.
11. When the whitewash is dry, make a test fire.
12. If during the repair the masonry was broken, then soot will be visible in the places where gaps appear. These places should be strengthened with a clay mixture. Old masonry joints must first be cleaned.

In order not to disturb the laying of the chimney, it is important to monitor the absence of deformations and subsidence

It must be remembered that it is not allowed to use unsuitable fuel for heating the stove. If you incinerate household waste in it, it can negatively affect the functioning.

How to clean the oven from soot

The soot in the stove does not accumulate as quickly as in the chimney. This is due to the fact that when the fuel burns out in the bunker, there is a continuous movement, so the soot does not have time to accumulate. When there is a need for kindling the stove, firewood is put in it. From time to time they are turned over with a long metal rod or poker. After that, ash is cleaned from the stove. Such actions are necessary in order to keep the structure clean.

The constant formation of soot can even lead to a complete blockage of the chimney

In addition to minimal cleaning of the stove from soot, it may be necessary to thoroughly prevent cleaning. This includes:

• grate processing;
• cleaning the walls inside the structure;
• cleaning the entrance and exit to the chimney device.

These preventive measures are carried out exclusively after cleaning the chimney.

Chimney cleaning instructions

Today, there are several options for cleaning the chimney from soot:

• standard cleaning;
• high temperature cleaning;
• chemical method.

Chemical method

Chemicals are used for preventive cleaning. They help remove a thin layer of soot. Commercially available products can be supplied with or without brushes. The most popular are:

• Kominchek;
• "Chimney sweep";
• "Composition against carbon deposits."

The substances can be used for chimneys that are not equipped with a smoke circulation system. Stove makers most often recommend the "Log Chimney Sweep" composition, which contains salt mixtures. They undergo a catalytic reaction that can cause the soot to break down. The powder should be added to the furnace along with the fuel. The tool works for about 30 days.

The cleansing effect lasts several days

Gloves should be used when handling powders. It is not recommended to visit the house 5 days after cleaning, as an unpleasant smell will remain. After processing, the building needs mandatory ventilation.

High temperature cleaning

Another method that can be used to remove soot from the stove and chimney is high-temperature cleaning. Features of this method:

• is dangerous, as it is necessary to work at elevated temperatures;
• suitable for substantial pollution when the stove and chimney have not been cleaned for many years.

Sequencing:

1. First of all, you need to prepare aspen firewood.
2. The logs must be put in the oven and set on fire.
3. When the fire covers all the fuel, open the dampers to burn the stove. This method can be used to blow through the pipes with hot smoke.

High combustion temperature provides powerful thrust

The method is effective exclusively for sound ovens. If the device is old, cracks may appear on the inside after cleaning.

The classic way of cleaning

You can get rid of soot using a brush with a load.

It is important to choose a tool that is most suitable in size to the cross-section of the chimney

The tool is a metal brush with a rope at the end of which there is a wire or rope with a weight. Any iron object can be used as a weight: a weight, a piece of metal or a bearing. Part weight must be at least 3 kg. The length of the rope should slightly exceed the length of the flue pipe. The edge of the ruff should reach the stove in order to be able to thoroughly clean the channels. For cleaning, you need to lower the brush into the chimney device and clean the walls with rotational movements.

You need to clean the chimney in clear calm weather.

This must be done with caution. In order not to fall from a height, it is recommended to tie a rope around the body and tie it to the roof. If the chimney is not heavily clogged, the cleaning process will take approximately 30 minutes. When rotating, the brush will scrape off debris and soot from the pipe walls. When the pipe is cleaned, you will need to remove the debris from the stove. You should also clean the view and the walls of the firebox.

Video: instructions for cleaning the chimney

Cleaning the well and coil from soot

Wells need to be cleaned at least once every 3 years. They are located on three sides of the stove, except for the one where the hob is installed. At the entrance to the well, half of the brick lies on its edge.

1. You will need to find voids by tapping with a trowel or spatula on the structure.
2. Next, remove the plaster and take out part of the brick, which is the door to the well.
3. Ash often settles in wells, which must be removed with a scoop or deep shovel.
4. After cleaning the wells, they must be covered with bricks and covered with a quick-hardening solution. Plaster or a mixture of clay, lime and water will do.

A lot of ash accumulates in the wells. It should not be thrown away, as ash is a good fertilizer for the garden.

The grates can be cleaned with household chemicals for washing various products.

Wait until the oven cools down before cleaning the grates.

To clean the coil, use a mechanical or steam-air method. It is difficult to do this work with your own hands. The steam-air method is burning fuel in a closed coil by supplying steam or air and heating the structure to the temperature required for burning. Mechanical cleaning is a time consuming operation that is carried out exclusively by specialists.

How to clean the stove with folk remedies

The easiest option is to use table salt. Thus, a thick layer of soot cannot be cleaned, therefore the method is used most often for prevention. For cleaning, salt must be added to the wood and allowed to burn out.

Another way is to use potato peels. The released starch will begin to interact with the soot, and then break it down. The consumption of raw materials depends on the size of the stove, on average 1 bucket takes.

Potato peels are poured onto burning coals

Video: cleaning the oven with potato peelings

Timely troubleshooting and regular cleaning of the stove can significantly extend the service life of the structure. Repair work must be approached with responsibility, since the safety of a private house will depend on the result.