Your cleaning schedule
Due dates are worked out from the last time you finished a checklist below, and are kept on this device.
You'll need
- Tank Guard or white vinegar
- Soft toothbrush
- Small screwdriver
- Fresh water for rinsing
Tank Guard or white vinegar. Tank Guard is Aquafire's own reservoir treatment, made for these tanks — it's what we recommend. Plain white vinegar works as an alternative, and the steps below are the same either way.
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Step 1
Turn your fireplace off, then unplug the mist maker wire from the power outlet located at each of the large round mist tube housings.
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Step 2
Remove the mist maker racks from the mist tubes. For light buildup, put a few drops of Tank Guard directly on the white center disc of the mist maker. Let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse and return the rack to the tube.
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Step 3
For assemblies with algae buildup or visible hard water residue: remove the 4 screws attaching the mist maker to the rack. Submerge the mist maker in Tank Guard for 10–20 minutes to soak the bottom as well. Keep the power cords out of the solution.
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Step 4
After soaking, rinse thoroughly with fresh water. Use a soft toothbrush to gently brush the white disc surface, the metal casing, and the bottom to remove any visible stains.
Do not use a stiff bristle brush or Scotch-Brite pad on the mist makers — this can cause permanent damage to the disc.
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Step 5
Re-attach the mist maker to the rack (tighten all 4 screws if removed), then place the mist maker rack back into the mist tube.
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Step 6
Reconnect the mist maker power feed to the power outlet. Be sure to push the wire all the way down the slot in the side of the mist tube before putting the cap back on.
You'll need
- ~½ gallon Tank Guard or white vinegar
- 3–5 gallon bucket
- The included flex hose
- ¼" siphon hose, turkey baster, or sponge
Tank Guard or white vinegar. Tank Guard is Aquafire's own reservoir treatment, made for these tanks — it's what we recommend. Plain white vinegar works as an alternative, and the steps below are the same either way.
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Step 1
Turn off the water feed if your unit is direct plumbed.
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Step 2
Connect the included flexible hose to the drain port on the front of the unit (AWA/AWP models) or on the top for AWPR series. Place the other end in a 3–5 gallon bucket. On the Lite (AWL) there is no drain port — place the bucket under the unit and remove the drain plug on the bottom instead.
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Step 3
Press and hold the left button (B2) to start the drain cycle. When the cycle stops, some water will remain in the lower tank reservoirs — this is normal. Remove the remaining water from each mist tube using a ¼" siphon hose, turkey baster, or small sponge.
Avoid using any material that could flake off or leave debris in the lower tank.
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Step 4
Add approximately ½ gallon of Tank Guard using the fill/drain hose and pressing B1 for manual fill — or pour equal amounts directly into each mist tube. The level should be just above the top of the mist maker (approx. 2").
Do not overfill. Excess solution may leak out of the front vents.
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Step 5
Let the Tank Guard soak for 10–20 minutes to loosen hard water scaling on the float sensors.
Do not operate the fireplace during the cleaning process.
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Step 6
Before draining, agitate the solution in each lower tank. Raise and lower the mist maker rack vigorously so you can hear it splashing. Do this 10–15 times in each mist tube to break up residue on the float sensors.
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Step 7
Drain the solution using the drain hose and B2 button, just as you drained the water.
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Step 8
Fill the unit with fresh water by turning the supply back on (if plumbed) or using the hose and B1 fill cycle. Fill and drain the entire system twice to flush out all cleaner and contaminants.
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Step 9
After the 3rd fill (two rinse cycles complete), run the unit as you would normally. Your system is clean and ready to go.
After your cleaning
2–3 days after a cleaning, you may still experience mist issues. This is most likely caused by leftover debris from the initial cleaning — debris can continue to slough off days after a deep clean. This is completely normal.
If mist issues persist, open the mist tubes, check for debris, re-agitate the mist rack and float sensor. You may need to flush the water to rid the tank of debris or complete another full clean.
Pro tip: The more frequently you clean the insert, the less likely you are to experience delayed debris. Once you get into a cleaning schedule, the mist and float sensor issues should dissipate.
Resetting the maintenance reminder
When your Aquafire displays the maintenance alert — all three LEDs blinking — it's time for a PM cleaning. Once you've finished, reset the reminder on the unit itself:
- 1With the unit off, locate the control panel
- 2Press and hold the middle + left buttons together
- 3Hold until the LEDs stop blinking — the reminder is reset
Cleaning less often starts with the water
To significantly reduce the buildup and effects of hard water on your Aquafire, we recommend the Vapor Pure Water Softener System. Engineered alongside water quality experts specifically for Aquafire inserts, Vapor Pure is provided complimentary with your Aquafire Pro or Aquafire with Direct Plumb Kit.