Wood Stove Gaskets & Door Seals

How to find your gasket size

Gaskets are matched to the channel they sit in, not to the stove's model name. The channel is the groove around the inside edge of the door, or around the frame the glass sits against. Measure its width with a ruler or a tape and buy the rope or flat gasket that matches it.

If the old gasket is still in place, pull a short length out and measure that instead — but measure it where it has not been crushed flat, because a gasket that has been closed against a door for several seasons reads smaller than it started. If the two measurements disagree, trust the channel.

Buying one size up to get a tighter seal is a common mistake. An oversized rope holds the door off its seat, which stops the latch pulling the door closed properly and leaves you worse off than the worn gasket did.

Rope gaskets and flat gaskets

Rope gaskets are round in section and go into the door channel. This is what seals a stove or insert door against its frame, and it is the part that wears first because it is compressed every time the door shuts.

Flat gaskets are rectangular or U-shaped in section and sit between the glass and its retaining frame. They wear more slowly, but they are usually replaced at the same time as the glass, or whenever the glass is removed for any reason.

Both types are sold here in a range of widths. The size→SKU table above the products is the quickest way to get from a measurement to the right part.

Adhesive: what comes in the box

Not every gasket on this page arrives ready to fit, so it is worth checking before you order.

• Kits with silicone or glue. Most of the rope gaskets ship with a tube of adhesive, which is what you want if you are replacing a door gasket from scratch.
• Self-adhesive and pre-glued. Several of the flat gaskets carry their own backing, so there is nothing else to buy.
• Rope only. The 100 ft fiberglass boxes are supplied without adhesive. If you are working from a bulk box, order adhesive separately.

Each product page states what is in that particular box in its spec table.

Bulk rolls and boxes

Three of the listings here are contractor quantities rather than single-door repairs: a 180 ft self-adhesive glass gasket roll, and 100 ft boxes of 1/2" and 5/8" fiberglass rope. If you service stoves for a living, or you look after several appliances on one property, these work out considerably cheaper per foot than buying kit after kit — and they mean you are not waiting on a delivery when a customer's door will not seal.

Fitting a new gasket

The job is straightforward and takes about half an hour on a cold stove.

Pull the old gasket out and scrape the channel clean — old cement left in the groove is the usual reason a new gasket sits proud and the door will not close. Run a bead of adhesive along the clean channel, press the new rope in without stretching it, and cut it so the two ends meet rather than overlap. Close the door and latch it while the adhesive sets so the gasket takes the shape of the seat.

A dollar-bill test tells you whether it worked: close the door on a note, and if it pulls out without resistance the seal at that point is not tight. Work around the door checking several positions.

Gasket FAQs

How do I know which gasket size I need?

Measure the width of the channel in the door or around the glass frame and match it to the table above. Do not size up to get a tighter seal — an oversized rope stops the door seating properly.

How often should a door gasket be replaced?

When it stops sealing. The dollar-bill test is the practical check: if a note pulls out of the closed door without any drag, the gasket has flattened enough to leak.

Do these fit my stove?

They fit any wood or pellet stove whose door channel matches the width you order. Gaskets are sold by size rather than by model, so the measurement is what matters.

What is the difference between the white and black rope gaskets?

They are offered in both colours in overlapping sizes. Match the size first; the colour choice is about what suits the stove.

Do I need adhesive as well?

It depends on the listing. Most rope gaskets ship as a kit with silicone or glue, several flat gaskets are self-adhesive, and the bulk fiberglass boxes come with none. The spec table on each product page says which.

Do you charge sales tax on gaskets?

No. StoveSource charges no sales tax in any state, and orders over $250 ship free to the lower 48.

Not sure what you are measuring, or which of two sizes to take? Call 1-888-914-0022 with your stove to hand and we will work it out with you.