Because pellet stoves are very active appliances, constantly loading and burning fuel pellets, proper care and maintenance is necessary to keep them operating efficiently.

Just how often a pellet stove will need inspection and cleaning will depend upon the design of the stove and the grade of fuel you burn. Be sure to pay attention to the owner’s manual, which should offer the necessary guidance.

Before each heating season, it is wise to have a pellet stove/chimney professional inspect and, if necessary, clean your pellet stove’s flue. Choose one who is qualified to inspect and service the pellet stove in addition to the chimney. When buying a new pellet stove, it is a good idea to ask about the availability of a service contract.

In addition to annual servicing, pellet stoves need periodic maintenance. Here are some tasks you can handle yourself.

• Empty the ash trap or drawer. In most models, this is situated behind the fire chamber.

• Look for “clinkers” that occur when ash melts and hardens. To prevent clinkers from impeding air flow and upsetting the proper mixture of fuel and oxygen to the burn pot, remove them with the aid of a special rake or ash tool made for this purpose.

• Look for a build-up of soot on the inside surfaces of the pellet stove. (As little as a one-tenth of an inch of soot can drop the heat transfer efficiency of the metal by 50 percent.) Clean this off with a wire brush, but do not use the brush on the glass door.

Why we like it: • Flexible brush for cleaning 3-inch-diameter vent pipes, 10 feet long • Steel brush for cleaning ash buildup in burn pot

• Clean the heat exchanger as advised by the owner’s manual.

• Clean the glass so that you can get full enjoyment of the flames and tell whether the fuel is burning efficiently. Turn off the stove and wait for it to cool, and then use a commercial glass cleaner and paper towels to clean both inside and outside surfaces.

• Check the flame. If the pellet stove’s flame is orange or dark instead of bright yellow or white, it is probably time to call a service professional.

• So that sawdust and pellet debris doesn’t build up in the fuel hopper and block the feed system, allow the auger tube and hopper to completely empty on occasion.

• At the end of the heating system, empty unused pellets from the stove hopper and feed system. Unused pellets left in a stove can collect moisture and, as a result, cause rust that can damage the stove. You’ll also find it much easier to start freshly stored pellets at the beginning of the next heating season.