For there to be fire, three things are required: oxygen, fuel and heat. Remove any of them from what’s known as the “fire triangle,” and you can’t start a fire. This is the simple part of fire, but it gets more complicated, particularly where the quality of the fire is concerned. Just because you see a flame doesn’t mean the fuel is burning optimally. In the world of fireplaces, poorly burning fires can create a variety of problems, one of them being black glass.
If your glass fireplace doors have turned black, it’s because excess soot is being produced when you burn a fire. In the majority of cases, this over-production of soot is due to a problem with either the oxygen or the fuel part of the fire triangle.
If the glass doors on your wood-burning fireplace have turned black, there are two likely culprits: improper air flow (draft), and unseasoned (wet) wood.
When there is a hinderance of air in the firebox, logs burn weakly and produce excess smoke and soot. If you’ve ever seen a perfectly burning fire, you’ve noticed there’s surprisingly little smoke. As part of the fire triangle, the right amount of air is critical to creating a fire that burns hot and fully ignites the logs.
To solve drafting issues, first make sure your fireplace damper is in good working condition and that it is fully open when starting the fire and during the early stages of burning. A weak draft also can be caused by obstructions in the flue including excess buildup of creosote and debris such as small-animal nests, leaves and twigs. All these obstructions can be professionally removed by a chimney sweep.
Wood that isn’t completely dry will create large amounts of smoke and soot. Think of a forest fire – those huge billows and clouds of smoke are caused by the burning of wet fuel like leaves, foliage and damp wood. Your fireplace door glass will stay much cleaner if you burn only fully dry wood.
The air part of the fire triangle is also the problem when the glass doors on your gas fireplace start turning black. In this case, you have an improper air-to-fuel ratio – too much fuel (gas) and not enough air to fully combust the fuel.
Solve this problem by making sure the fireplace’s burner ports are unclogged and that the ceramic logs are positioned according to the appliance manufacturer’s instructions. Improperly positioned logs can impede air flow and create excess soot during a fire.
Black glass on a propane fireplace is also caused by the wrong air-to-fuel ratio. Improperly placed logs can be the reason for this as well as an obstruction or malfunction of the tank regulator. Obstructions in the flue and any other kind of drafting issues also can cause both gas and propane fires to burn inefficiently.
Moist, balled-up newspaper and wood ashes do a good job in cleaning soot off glass doors. There are commercial cleaning solutions designed for this job that also work well. Once the doors are clean, follow the guidelines above to make sure they stay that way.
Chimney Solutions of Alpharetta, Georgia, is here to keep your fireplace running optimally and safely. We provide full chimney sweep services, chimney inspection and chimney repair. When it is time to have a chimney professional look at your fireplace, stove or chimney, call us at 770-255-1300.
One of the main benefits of owning a wood stove is enjoying the mesmerizing beauty of a rolling, powerful fire. However, when glass becomes black with soot, the glow of your fire is hindered by creosote build-up. Luckily, the soot (or creosote) that discolors your wood stove's glass is not only simple to remove but you can also reduce how much shows up when you follow these tips and tricks.
Continue reading to learn how to enjoy the roaring fire of your wood stove all season long.
Creosote is a byproduct of cooled smoke from burning wood that attaches to the interior of a wood stove and its chimney. Because stoves, especially Forge & Flame stoves, burn wood at a high efficiency, there is less room for air within the controlled space of a firebox. Naturally, smoke will then adhere to the glass (the coolest part of the stove), thus creating discoloration. Keep in mind that the more moisture wood contains, the more smoke it will produce. The more smoke, the more creosote buildup on your glass.
The key to enjoying the view of your fire all season long is properly maintaining your wood stove. With these tips and tricks in mind, black glass can be the thing of the past.
First and foremost, ensure your stove is the correct size for the space you are heating. If your stove is too big for the space, you’ll often find yourself building a smaller fire than what your stove is equipped for or running the stove on low continuously. When a stove is cooler than it should be, it will not draft well, thus creating black glass. Ideally, you should be running your stove on a medium to medium-high setting throughout the day, and only turning your wood stove to the low setting while sleeping.
Investing in the right sized stove is key to preventing unwanted glass discoloration. To ensure that you are investing in the right stove, read this guide. Furthermore, Quadra-Fire's certified dealers are well-versed in helping homeowners select the right stove for their space. You can find a dealer near you here.
To minimize the effects of soot accumulation, increasing the draft is important. To do so, consider increasing the length of the pipe attached to your wood stove. If you own a wood insert, run the liner all the way to the top and wrap the first five feet with an insulation blanket designed for chimneys. Keep in mind, Quadra-Fire wood stoves and inserts require a six-inch diameter chimney of at least 14-16 feet in height.
Just like your stove or insert, your chimney requires regular maintenance to ensure longevity and safety. By cleaning your chimney and hearth product, you will minimize creosote build-up within your stove and the walls of your chimney. Explore this in-depth maintenance guide to ensure your stove is cared for properly.
The more moisture wood contains, the more it will smoke, thus creating discoloration.
To minimize smoke, invest in a moisture meter and only use wood with 18-20% moisture content. When testing wood, make sure you’re testing moisture in the right spot. Take a split piece of wood and insert the probes ¼-inch down, in the middle of a split side. Another tell-tale sign your wood is too wet is if you see steam or bubbles coming from a log while it is burning.
To learn more about seasoning and storing firewood, check out this article.
Since a clean stove is a happy stove, it is important to clean the glass often. The more often you clean the glass, the easier it is to remove soot.
To clean the glass, first ensure your wood stove is off and cooled. Dip a soft, non-synthetic cloth into the cool ashes of your stove, then wipe down the glass, using the abrasion of the ashes to remove the soot. If you choose to use any glass cleaner, opt for a water and vinegar mixture or glass cleaning solution.
Visit our catalog of cleaning and maintenance videos on our YouTube Channel.
With these tips and tricks as part of your wood stove maintenance routine, enjoy relaxing by the stunning, clear view of your fire. If you continue to experience glass discoloration, reach out to one of your certified Forge & Flame dealers to ensure your stove is the correct size for your space. To find a dealer near you, click here.