Has the glass gone cloudy on the stove??

Has the glass gone cloudy on the stove  ?

Cloudy glass on stove

You may have noticed that some areas of the glass on the stove has gone cloudy, even after cleaning it does not wipe off or go away.

Unfortunately there is nothing that can be done, except for replacing the glass panel. However, the glass integrity has not weakened and the stove can be used as normal, the damage is just cosmetic.

The white cloudiness is related to the presence of sulphur. All stove manufacturers give a list of suitable fuels that can be used on their stoves. It is important that this is adhered to. The list can vary according to manufacturer, so one fuel that is suitable for one make of stove may not be suitable for another.

During lighting of a stove a small amount of condensation will build up on the surface of the glass, this is quite normal. If sulphur is present it will mix with the water and sulphuric acid will form. Sulphuric acid is corrosive. If left for any length of time it will start to etch into the surface of the ceramic glass. As the stove heats up the moisture boils away leaving a mixture of sulphur dioxide and sulphur trioxide which is a white powder. As it is contained in the etched areas, it cannot be cleaned off, resulting in the cloudiness. When the glass is wiped with a wet cloth, it will first look as though the cloudiness has gone. But, as soon as the glass has dried, the white powder, trapped in the etched glass appears again.

Here are ways in which you can avoid any discolouration of your glass:

•             Regularly clean the glass.

•             Modern stoves are fitted with air-wash.

               Make sure that your stove is set correctly for the air wash to be operating.

•             Do not let your stove ‘slumber burn’. This means that you should avoid letting your stove tick over gently for overly

               long periods. When you first light the stove let it come up to temperature and let it burn hot for at least 30 minutes

               before you start to slow the fire down by regulating the air supply.

               When the fire is dying down at the end of the night make sure, that you open the vents and get the fire blazing

               so the fire burns out, rather than closing the vents and letting the stove run slowly towards the end of the night as

               this will increase the risk of the condensation.

•             Use the correct fuel as stated in the user manual.

If you wish to buy a replacement panel of glass for your stove call us on 01727 859512 with your appliance make / model & serial number.