How Can I Extend the Life of My Kiln? Try These 3 Tricks

You can use your kiln for a variety of projects, including fun mugs you make as a hobby all the way up to important industrial fixtures you produce for a living. Whether you use your kiln for fun or for funds, there are things you can do to make it last longer and give you the most use possible. 

 

Use high temperature ceramic coatings

High temperature ceramic coatings can do wonders to help your kiln last longer. High temp ceramic coatings like ITC 100 HT Ceramic Coating save energy, reduce maintenance, improve temperature uniformity, increase peak temperature, and reduce corrosion. Because high temp coatings last a long time, they will add years onto the life of your kiln by providing this extra protection.

 

Always clean the elements

When you first purchase your kiln, dust and other debris can build up on the elements of the kiln during shipping. Dust can also build up from regular use of the kiln. If the elements have dust caked on them, it interferes with the oxidation, causing the elements to fire hotter than they normally would. To prevent this, vacuum the element grooves on a regular basis to remove the dust. You will also want to make sure there is no glaze or bits of clay melted into the grooves.

 

Keep up good ventilation

Your kiln will produce fumes when it's running, and those fumes can attack the elements of the kiln. The fumes can also cause cracks in the coating. Installing downdrafts can help protect your kiln against this problem. The downdrafts pull the fumes from the kiln chamber before they have a chance to damage the kiln's elements. If you don't use downdrafts for ventilation, you can prop the lid a few inches until the kiln reaches 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit to allow the fumes to flow out of the chamber. 


On average, the elements in a kiln will last up to 100 firings. To help the elements on the overall kiln last longer, use high temperature ceramic coatings, keep the elements clean, and practice good ventilation. Check out our inventory today to get yourself some high temp coatings that will protect your kiln.