Is my door seal important?
A wood burner door rope seal might be small, but it plays an important part in how safely and efficiently your stove operates.
The heat-resistant rope around the inside edge of the stove door creates an airtight seal when the door is closed. This helps ensure that combustion air enters through the stove’s designed air controls rather than leaking around the door. A good seal can make the fire easier to control, improve efficiency, reduce fuel use and help keep the glass cleaner.
Over time, rope seals can become flattened, frayed, hard or brittle. Warning signs can include difficulty controlling the fire, the stove burning too fiercely, poor performance or glass blackening more quickly than usual.
A simple way to check the seal is to close the stove door on a piece of paper and gently try to pull it out. There should be noticeable resistance. Repeat the test at several points around the door. If the paper pulls out easily in some areas, the rope seal may need adjusting or replacing.
Regularly checking your door rope seal is a quick bit of maintenance that can make a real difference to your stove’s safety, performance and efficiency.
