Installing a stove in your home is a stunning investment that you and your family can enjoy for many, many years down the line. The last thing you want to happen to your woodburning or multifuel stove is for the glass to go black, ruining the relaxing view of the flames. But fear not – we’ve put together this article to ensure you know what causes soot build up on the glass and what you can do to prevent this from happening. Read on to find out more…

The main causes of soot build up

There can be a few causes of soot build up, we’ve highlighted the main things to know below…

Burning unseasoned wood

This is arguably one of the most common causes of soot build up. Burning wood that’s unseasoned essentially means energy is used on evaporation rather than the actual burning, the incomplete burn then results in excessive smoke being produced. The by-products of this is tar and soot that then settles and builds up on the glass of your stove.

We’d always recommend burning wood with a moisture content of 20% or less. Opting for a kiln dried wood guarantees a quality wood fuel product, low moisture, low smoke emissions which all results in improved heating performance (without having to worry about soot!)

Burning house coal

The next mistake that people can make is burning house coal in their multifuel stove. Using this kind of coal will increase the chances of the glass blackening, we always recommend opting for a smokeless fuel instead. Burning house coal in a stove leads to the smoke particles and tar building up against the stove glass.  

House coal also burns at a much higher temperature than other options which is another reason why this method results in black glass.

Incorrect use of Airwash

Our stoves are built with their own airwash system which is designed to prevent the build up of soot on the glass. Airwash systems essentially use the vent at the top of the stove to direct air across the glass to wash it and keep it clear of soot and dirt build up.

However, not utilising the airwash system correctly can lead to blackened glass. For example, burning your stove at too low of a temperature can mean the airwash doesn’t function properly. It’s also worth pointing out that you should always have your airwash vent open when using your stove, as shutting this completely can lead to soot build up. If you have any further questions about ensuring you use your airwash system correctly on your new stove, speak to our team.

Overfilling your stove

The final point to make is to make sure you don’t put too much fuel in your stove! If the fuel inside is touching the glass it can lead to it blackening in certain areas.

How to get rid of soot build up on the stove glass

If soot build up does happen, don’t stress! There are many ways of cleaning it away and leaving your stove glass looking new again.

The first option you can try is buying a special cleaning product for your stove that’s specifically designed to remove soot. These products always come with instructions on how to use them, so follow those and your stove should be looking brand new again!

Alternatively, another great way of cleaning away soot is by using the wood ash in the bottom of your stove (of course this just applies to woodburning stoves). Simply take a damp cloth and dip it slightly in some of the ash, use the cloth to wipe the glass in a circular motion to lift and remove the soot. Once you’ve done this, simply wipe the excess away and you’re done! Make sure you don’t use coal ash as this can cause scratching on the glass surface.

You can even use a mix of warm water and baking soda to form a cleaning paste. Use this paste on the glass in the same way as you’d use the wood ash mentioned above and your glass will be like new again.

Closing thoughts

So there you have it, the main things you need to know and be aware of when it comes to preventing soot build up on your stove glass. As always, if you have any further questions about what’s involved in the maintenance of a new stove, get in touch and our team will be more than happy to help.