How to Repair an Earth Stove Wood Stove

Eliminate air drafts caused by fraying or leaking door, glass and ash drawer gaskets. To access the ash drawer gasket, pull out the drawer. Lift the door off the hinges to access the door gasket. Remove the glass clips with a screwdriver to access the glass gasket. Pull the old gaskets off; use a utility knife to loosen the material if necessary. Put on the new gaskets. The glass and ash drawer gaskets have a self-adhesive backing; the door gasket does not. Apply a high-temperature silicone caulking to the door gasket to make it stick in place. Replace the glass in the door and screw in the glass clips then set the door onto its hinges. Slide the ash drawer back into the stove.

Reduce odors and excess smoke caused by creosote buildup in the wood stove and chimney. Creosote residue accumulates in the stove and chimney due to tar and organic vapors that are released from burning wood. Remove creosote residue from the chimney with a chimney brush and from the wood stove with a stiff wire brush.

Replace deeply cracked or crumbling firebricks with new ones. Damaged firebricks can cause the metal material of the wood stove to overheat and warp. Clean out all ash and debris from the wood stove. Slide the firebricks out of the brick retainer tube assembly; use a crowbar to push the bricks out of place if necessary. Put the new firebricks in by positioning the bricks with their notches face-up and to the front of the stove. Slide the first three bricks to the right. Place the fourth brick on top of the third brick, slide the fifth brick all the way to the left then drop the fourth brick between the third and fifth bricks.

Touch up scratches or chips in the paint on the exterior of the wood stove. Begin by sanding the blemished area with 320-grit sandpaper for shallow scratches or 600-grit sandpaper for deep scratches until the area is smooth. Mask off the area that will not be painted with painter's tape. Lightly paint over the blemished area with high-temperature stove paint applied in smooth even strokes. Apply a second light coat of paint after the first coat feels dry to the touch. Allow the paint to dry for at least 24 hours before using the wood stove.