Why has my wood-burning stove grate broken or warped?

Has the bottom grate on your wood-burning stove warped or broken? You might have spotted that a hole has formed in the metalwork or that the bars have warped and are bent further apart than they were previously.

If you spot that unspent fuel is dropping through the grate, this is a good indication that something is amiss.

So, what has caused this problem?

There are a few prime suspects:

Wear and tear

Starting with the least suspicious of those suspects: wear and tear. Your grate really does bear the brunt of the very high temperatures generated by your stove because it has the burning fuel sitting on it throughout.

Even though they are built to withstand these conditions, grates will eventually start to feel the effects of such severe punishment. If you’ve been using your woodburner for some time, don’t be surprised if the grate eventually needs to be replaced.

Burning the wrong fuel

One way to cause damage to the bottom grate is to use fuels other than those recommended by the manufacturer in your stove manual.

The people who make the stove have tested it thoroughly, so they know which fuels are safe to burn and which are likely to damage the appliance. Veering from their recommendations risks creating problems for the internal stove parts, including the grate.

Burning pet coke

This is effectively burning the wrong fuel, but pet coke deserves a special mention. That’s because, while you may believe you have followed your stove manufacturer’s guidelines, you might instead be burning pet coke if there is a particularly unscrupulous or careless person in the supply line for your fuel.

Pet coke sometimes becomes mixed with other coals. While these other coals might be perfectly fine to burn on your stove, pet coke is not and can cause damage to your appliance.

Overfiring your stove

Overfiring is when your stove is being operated at too high a temperature. This can be caused by adding too much fuel to your stove or by allowing too much oxygen to the fire (for instance, by leaving the door ajar or having the vents more open than they should be).

This can lead to extreme temperatures, which can warp and damage your grate. Use a stove thermometer to ensure your appliance is operated at the optimum temperature.

Do you need a new bottom grate for a stove?

As we mentioned, the last thing you want is perfectly good fuel dropping through the grate without being burned.

Visit our stove spares section to find a new grate for your woodburner.