The baffle plate is the piece of cast iron, steel plate or scamalux Board spanning the furnace in the upper part of the firebox. It is an important part of the kit as it diverts heat back into the chamber, protecting the lid from excessive temperatures and aiding the wood stove’s secondary combustion system . The baffle also creates a ventura effect for the furnace’s draft. Replace it if it’s badly warped, or at least order a new one if it doesn’t look like it will last another heating season. The plate can be a screwless attachment but is usually held in place with screws through a couple of lugs on which the plate rests. Some manufacturers use different methods to hold the flapper in place. So consult your owner’s manual if this isn’t obvious.
Wood -burning or multi -fuel cast iron stoves usually have inner liners of cast iron or firebrick to protect the outer cast iron and reflect heat back into the firebox. I simply replace this with Scamalux Board. This is a high temperature insulation board that you can easily cut into firebrick sizes or pour into your oven. It is usually 20 to 25mm thick. In the case of cast iron liners that are built into the stove, check with your supplier if it is okay to replace them with Scamalux® sheets so you don’t breach any warranty you may still have on the stove.
Check the pyroceramic kiln glass for cracks as the high temperatures seem to cause this over time. Measure the size Bosch and make sure you replace like with like. Your oven supplier can provide you with this if you have the oven make and model number. Readjust carefully, trying not to overtighten the screws. While the glass excels at high temperatures, it is susceptible to uneven loads and impact. The glass is sometimes held in place with small clips, so in this case place a small piece of flat fireproof tape, also available for stoves, between each clip and the glass surface. This will help reduce tears from a slightly over-tightened clip.
The final part of the kiln maintenance program , while not essential, is to buy some high-temp kiln paint (assuming your kiln isn’t enameled .) This is available in sprays and apply to keep your kiln looking new while it ‘s sitting ready for use there over the summer months. While using the spray, which I prefer, mask off the glass and brass or chrome handles and hinges and surrounding areas. It is best to use a mask and open a window if you are in a confined space as it has a very strong odor. The paint usually dries in a very short time at normal room temperature. Never use on a hot stove. Relight the stove on a chilly summer evening just to test your joints again. Don’t worry too much if a little air is pulled through the top control orifice when it’s closed. Remember that a wood -burning or multi -fuel stove firebox needs a little oxygen to stay lit. Total lack of air and the fire goes out.
I have a story if you are not too tired of reading all this furnace maintenance information.
An elderly gentleman and his wife who had purchased several multi -fuel stoves from my vacation home store reported that they had a major problem with a smoker in their home that they had purchased from another supplier a number of years ago. They were advised that the chimney was faulty and needed to be lined with a flexible liner. This struck me as odd as the stove had worked flawlessly for years, the chimney was cleaned regularly, had a good clay lining and there were no cracks or leaks. They took the advice and had the chimney lined, although it was costly as it was a good idea for the long term life of the chimney and the efficiency of the stove. However , the multi -fuel stove still didn’t draw any better and smoke still filled the room when lit. They then decided that the furnace simply had to be too old and needed to be replaced. I suggested that if you don’t mind, I’d take a look at the oven as I was intrigued by the story.
Stove was a little loose
When I visited the house, the error was quickly apparent. The cast iron lid on top of the stove was a little loose. Examining the inside of the multi -fuel stove , I could see that one of the bolted grommets holding the lid down was broken. This meant that air was drawn into the furnace over the top plate, rushing up the chimney and disrupting the entire combustion process in the firebox of the multi -fuel furnace . I tried to find a simple solution instead of taking the oven apart or replacing it. I simply used black high temp silicone under the lid to reseal it and advised the couple to let it sit for 24 hours before lighting again. The result was 100% successful and shortly thereafter a new eyelet was welded into the furnace. It’s been almost 5 years now and the multi- fuel stove is still doing a good job and will stay overnight if desired. Luckily, the serious problem with this older couple’s leaky stove showed up right away when the bolted stove tab broke. Imagine the possible consequences if it had been a combination of small leaks due to the lack of maintenance of the stove over the years and they had burned fuel, releasing the odorless carbon monoxide gas into the room as the stove’s combustion gradually deteriorated .
A wood or multi -fuel stove is a very efficient and safe way to heat a home, but always remember that chimney and stove maintenance are very important factors in Bosch maintaining a safe and warm home.
