Removing and cleaning the stove baffle

The baffle (also called the throat plate or baffle plate) sits above the fire and forces the hot gases to travel a longer path before they reach the flue. This extracts more heat into the room and improves efficiency. It also happens to be the part people forget exists, right up until it corrodes through and drops into the firebox.

Take it out at least once a season and clean the soot and fly ash off both sides. Most baffles lift out or slide free once you've worked out how they're retained, though some are a fiddly puzzle the first time. Have a look before you start pulling, and take a photo so you can get it back in the right way round.

While it's out, check its condition. A baffle that's warped, cracked, or has thinned to the point of holes needs replacing. A missing or damaged baffle lets heat go straight up the chimney, wastes fuel, and can overheat the flue. If yours has vermiculite baffle boards rather than a steel plate, handle them gently as they turn brittle with age.