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Carefully remove the stove door and place it on a flat surface. Sometimes I will have the part with the handle on it hang over the edge of a table, just so I don’t have to remove the handle. Then, remove any framing/fasting materials from the glass and look to see if any seal has been used around or on the edge of the glass itself. The gasket should be one of these types:
- Fiberglass Rope Gasket: if you have a rope gasket, use the measuring instructions above to determine the size and thickness needed for the window channel. Most of the diameters of the glass rope gasket are 3/16”, ¼”, or 5/16” inch just double check your stove glass window.
- Wood Stove Door Gasket Kit with Adhesive: We carry kits that include pre-cut rope gaskets in many different thicknesses and lengths, along with a tube of our high-temperature gasket cement. You can also purchase this by the running foot, or in bulk rolls.
- Flat Gasket (3/4” inch): designed to fit around the edge of the glass so that a seal is created on both sides of the window. We recommend using our pre-applied sticky tape gasket. A tape gasket is much easier to use and keeps someone from using too much adhesive – gluing the glass to the frame, causing glass breakage.
- Semi-Rigid Tadpole Gasket (1/2 or 5/8 inch): this high temperature, adhesive-backed gasket form a tight seal on one side of the window glass with its semi-rigid foil-wrapped core. Sometimes referred to as "bulb and tail seal." The thickness of the bulb material allows rebound from compression, while the tail conforms to uneven surfaces.
- Soft Core Tadpole Gasket (5/8 inch): these adhesive-backed gaskets form a tight seal on one side of the window glass while maintaining flexibility with its soft fiber core. Sometimes referred to as "bulb and tail seal." The thickness of the bulb material allows rebound from compression, while the tail conforms to uneven surfaces.
Use the factory-recommended gasket and fasteners to secure the glass in your stove. Some glass originally had a gasket with it and others do not. We recommend using the gasket material.
Every stove is a little different, but the glass replacement concept is similar. When removing your old glass, pay attention to how the glass is secured into the stove. Taking pictures of your old glass in stages as you remove it helps with re-installation.
Once you have removed the glass retaining hardware, you should be able to remove the glass. Sometimes creosote will build up making it a little tougher. But it should come out fairly easily. Once the glass is removed, clean the glass “pocket” area well. A flat screwdriver and a wire brush work well.
If your wood stove has the type of installation where there is a rope gasket pocket that the round gasket lays in and then the glass on top of that, then use the corresponding rope gasket (3/16”, ¼”, or 5/16” inch) and set the glass back in place. Then reinstall the frame or clips holding it in place. Be very careful not to overtighten the bolts/screw when fastening it back in place. If the glass is t0o tight it can cause the glass to break. We recommend the screw or bolts are installed slightly more than "finger tight". I usually turn the screw back a 1/4 turn when I’m done, just to make sure it's not too tight.
If it has a gasket wrapped like a U-channel around the edge of the glass, then use our tape gasket with the adhesive already applied. Once again, the frame the glass is mounted in should be clean, flat, and free of debris. The gasket material provides an airtight seal where the glass and stove meet, this also prevents the glass from making direct contact with any metal on the stove.
Take the glass tape gasket and remove a portion of the backing (about a 6” inch section). Place the center of the sticky side on the edge of the glass and press down. You want to form an even U-channel so it is on both sides of the glass. Work the gasket around the edge of the glass. As you get to any corners, pulling the gasket tighter will help you lay the gasket down better without bunching up. When you meet back up with the other side, trim off any excess.
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Some stoves are equipped with an “air wash System” to help keep the glass clean. Sometimes a section of the glass gasket at the top or the bottom of the glass will be removed to accomplish this. If you see a section of gasket “missing” this is most likely why.
On some wood stoves, the clips will reach past the gasket and would touch the glass once installed. We recommend cutting a small piece of the tape gasket and placing it under the clip so the metal does not come in contact with the glass.
When you think you have the glass installed correctly, back each screw/bolt off about a 1/4 of a turn, just to be sure.