Although there are countless different models of wood stoves, there are relatively few basic types of stoves, and the mechanical problems they experience are similar.
Your first step in caring for your stove is to read your owner’s manual for specific information on your model of stove.
If you don’t have a manual, look for a label on the back of your stove that identifies the manufacturer and model, (or snap a photo of it if you can’t find any label) and go to your local stove shop. You may be able to purchase a manual.
Here we will discuss some of the basic categories of problems you might experience, and what to do about them. You may want to know about the anatomy of a wood stove first, however. We will cover:
- Damper malfunction
- Broken/stuck/loose handles
- Warped or broken parts
- Cracked or broken glass
- Worn or missing gaskets
- Malfunctioning catalytic combustors
- Poor performance
Cracked or broken stove glass
Under normal conditions of use, the stove glass will not crack or break. Causes of glass breakage are:
- Severe over-firing of the stove.
- Impact (hitting the glass with a log, or slamming the door into a protruding log).
- Spilling cold liquids on hot glass.
- Improper glass installation.
The first three are obvious, but the fourth bears comment. In most stoves, the glass is held in place with steel clips or a cast-iron or steel frame around the glass.
There is a gasket between the glass and the door, but not always between the glass and the clips or frame. If the frame is over-tightened or unevenly tightened, especially in doors that use clips, the glass could break from stress.
Picture a piece of glass held in with small metal glass clips, two of which, opposite each other, are cranked in gorilla-tight. As the temperature of the stove and metal clips increases, the clips expand, exerting pressure on two points of the glass. This is an almost sure-fire way to break the glass, and it will usually crack from one clip to the other.
So if your stove glass breaks, before you take all the pieces out, take a look at where it broke. It may offer a clue to the cause. (But first, ask if anybody slammed a log into it…)
Obviously, you need to replace cracked or broken glass. If it has been a long time since you have re-gasketted around the glass, now’s a good time to do that, too.
~ Todd Woofenden
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14 thoughts on “Wood Stove Problem: Broken Glass”
My glass broke after 3 years, when the stove was idle in mid summer, and the replacement glass went again this summer. It was a vertical break, and not on the fixing clips. Weird eh? It has to be thermal stress, but how? Im replacing it again, and this time I’m going to pack the clips with a small piece of cord. I’m also renewing the cord, without glue, to allow for maximum movement.
Some chimney companies should make this an estimate appointment. I would call around. With us it would be a non-cost appointment. So you can all the info needed to properly have your fireplace back in working perfect condition.
Kaitlyn
Gary’s Chimney Services LLC – NH
https://www.garys-chimney-servicescompanywebsite.com/
David, sometimes a chimney professional can make a great diagnosis after he has viewed the stove. Although the situation you describe is interesting, I would opt for an “on site” inspection of the stove.
the glass on my wood stove cracked this morning 10+ hours after laving the last fire in it. The crack is in the lower left corner by the opening handle. a thought. The stove is a bit over 15 years old and been in the same spot for all that time. since I’m elderly and live alone 35 miles from closest town and 150 miles from closest BIG town (Duluth) is there anything i can do.? Like just leave it alone and continue to use.
If you do leave it alone, eventually the glass is going to break more and shatter. What you could do, is to get a hearth rug if you do not already have one and order a standing screen to protect the fireplace should the glass break all the way. This will be better than nothing. You can also order the glass part for the doors and have them delivered for pretty cheap as well. And have your local chimney tech install them for you. As this should be charged as only tech hours which at most 30 minutes to install one glass, not even.
Kaitlyn
Gary’s Chimney Services LLC – NH
https://www.garys-chimney-servicescompanywebsite.com/
I have a Vermont casting gas stove and the glass broke when I took it apart to replace some parts not working.
Can it be used without the glass and just a standalone fireplace screen?
We don’t suggest that. But for safety it would be better for you to have a standing screen than nothing at all. So for now, I think the best safe thing to do is getting a standing screen seeing how the glass is broken. And when you have time, order the new glass for the door. It can be cut to fit properly. You just need the measurements from the door for correct size. This should only cost you, from a chimney company, tech hours under an hour for install. I would say tops $40.00 an hour.
But, for now, safety is key; so, A standing screen is needed. And, I assume you have a hearth in place or a hearth rug at least. At the least, a hearth rug you would want as well to go right in front of that fireplace to protect anything that might pop out of the fireplace during fires. The screen will also protect this. But, It won’t protect your floor.
Kaitlyn
Gary’s Chimney Services LLC – NH
https://www.garys-chimney-servicescompanywebsite.com/
I totally missed the part that was a gas stove. Sorry, I have been working on the road all day building a chimney and now catching up on some office work. So, yes, you can not have a gas fireplace running with no glass. As it’s gas. You will need to call and have glass cut and fitted to your fireplace doors. The install, as I stated before, should not cost much and the glass should not be expensive at all. Hope this becomes a quick, easy fix. Gas stoves can become very dangerous without the doors on and glass installed as well. Caustic fumes can come back into the home etc.
Kaitlyn
Gary’s Chimney Services LLC – NH
https://www.garys-chimney-servicescompanywebsite.com/
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Absolutely not. The removal of the glass changes the burning characteristics of the stove, changes the air flow, as well as allows the exhaust of the stove to escape into the house vs exhaust to the outside as designed. Do not operate without the glass, shut off the pilot & gas supply until replacement with the correct glass for the unit.
Bob Peverly
Top of the Ridge Chimney Services, Inc. NH
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I would call a stove shop to answer that.
Thanks!
LouAnn
The Seacoast Sweep, NH
http://www.seacoastsweep.com
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Yes, the glass needs to be replaced. If there is any doubt you should contact the manufacturer and ask them.
Danielle Butt
Nor’east Chimney & Vent – NH
https://www.noreastchimney.com/
No, venting requires an enclosed system to operate and vent properly. Replace the glass with OEM
Paul Bogdonoff
Tri-State Chimney Sweep NH
http://tristatechimney.com/
It’s gas and not wood burning
A gas stove cannot be operated without the glass as it goes against its UL listing and poses a great safety risk to the home occupants as the byproducts will go into the room and can present a fatal situation.
You should contact a Vermont Castings dealer to obtain the part needed and when dealing with a gas appliance it should always be performed by a certified and licensed professional.
Good Luck!
info@firenstone.net
http://www.fireNstone.com