I have trouble keeping the front air chamber clean. Does anyone have any tricks? I'm getting a hot fire and keeping the creosote down everywhere but there. I'm not sure if it is related or not but I have the re-bar spacers in the bricks. I sure wish I had the new style bricks, but I tried to get P&M to give me those at a reasonable price when my stove was new, but Rory won't work with me.
Joks79, I switched over to the newer style of bricks midway through last season. I think I get more smoke when loading my stove than with the original ones, not sure why.
I also used to get more creosote in the front air loop then but I also found I had moisture in the front of the ash tray area against the door. I wrapped pink insulation around the ash door extension and built a wood box to place against the ash door area, it stays dry in there now.
I could be the bricks, the insulating of the door or combination of them both that helped to keep the air passage from plugging. If you don't have something around the ash door now, maybe try that first - its much cheaper than new bricks.