Kiln Maintenance | Hot Kilns

June 14, 2025
maintenance maintenance Installation Kiln Assembly Ventilation Operation Maintenance Diagnostics Service Resources Cautions Maintaining your kiln Click on any category above to find instructions on repairing any aspect of your kiln. REPAIR & MAINTENANCE KNOWLEDGEBASE Calculating ventilation requirements for heat from a kiln room Is there a Kiln Installation Checklist? Brick: My firebrick has some cracks. What should I do? Brick: What is L&L's brick facing for and how do I use it? Calibration: What can I do to promote even kiln firings? Calibration: Why does the temperature read-out on my hand-held pyrometer differ from the temperature shown on the DynaTrol? Can I convert a manual J230 to an automatic JD230? If so, what parts are required? Can you use a centralized vent system instead of the Vent-Sure Vent? Can you vent through the roof? Case: Do kiln stands rust and what should be done about it? Changing from 208 volts to 240 volts - what to do? Do you need to insulate the ductwork for a Vent-Sure? DynaTrol: What to do if there is no display on the DynaTrol Electrical Supply Problems and slow kiln performance Electrical: How can I protect an existing power supply? Electrical: How do I hook up my kiln to power? Electrical: How do I switch my kiln from 3 phase to 1 phase and vise-versa? Electrical: How to size the circuit breaker, fuses, cord and/or power supply of your kiln. Electrical: Is it OK to have a 24 amp e18S-3 kiln on a 50 amp circuit? Electrical: Should you replace a K18 power cord? Electrical: What is the difference between 220 volts, 3 phase and 380/220 volts, 3 phase (Non-USA)? Electrical: What wire size is used to connect a kiln? Electrical: Why is the 3 phase WYE 2 section kiln Amp listing lower than the actual amp reading on Neutral? Element Connections are glowing. Why? What should be done? Elements: Can I put Small Elements in an Element Channel designed for Large Elements? Elements: How can I extend ceramic kiln element life? Elements: How can I tell the difference between elements wired in parallel versus series? Elements: One of my elements failed, should I replace them all or just the one that failed? Elements: What size elements should I order? Elements: What sort of pliers should I have for installing the very thick series elements into my kiln? Elements: Which kilns have element circuits wired in series and which are wired in parallel? Elements: Why are some elements not twisted? Elements: Why is the element for the powered bottom not long enough? Error Codes: Display Reads 2400 or CPLt When it Starts Up Error Codes: How to fix E- 2 or Err2 Error Codes: How to fix E-1 or Err1 Error Codes: How to fix E-22 or E- 6 error Error Codes: How to fix E-5 or Err 5 Error Codes: How to fix E-d or Errd Error Codes: How to fix PF, E- P, E-P, ErrP Error Codes: List of All Error Codes Error Codes: What to do when you see "FAIL"? Firing: How do I fire with fewer kiln sections on my Jupiter Kiln? Firing: How do I fire with fewer sections on my five section kiln? Genesis: How to Change Thermocouple Type (Type S or Type K) on a Genesis How can my kiln section stay on all the time in my computerized kiln, even when the on/off switch is off? How do I keep elements from falling out of the element holders in the corner of a kiln? How long does a Vent-Sure downdraft vent last? How to control an external ventilation system How to fix elements falling our of ceramic channels How to handle power interruptions, blackouts, and bad electrical power grids How to move DaVinci Cord Connection to make them cooler I blew up a a piece of ceramic, how do I get glaze out of the wall and off the element? I want to do reduction firing with alcohol drip. Does L&L provide any coating on elements to improve lifetime in such usage? Kiln stalls or stop heating with lots of clicking (relays) & no error code Location: Can I install my kiln on a non-fireproof floor? Longevity: How long does a kiln last? Longevity: How should my kiln be maintained on a regular basis? Manual Kilns: What do I do if the kiln doesn't heat at all? My kiln is going in a garage/ shed/ covered porch. Do I need the kiln vent? Programming: Why does my kiln jump over the Preheat without holding at the Preheat temp? Relays: How long do relays last? Switching a manual kiln from 208 volts to 240 volts The center of my kiln gets too hot compared to the top and bottom. The contactors on my Easy-Load, or Davinci kiln are loud. What can I do about it? The Spring Hinge does not go all the way back. What is wrong? The temperature in the control is jumping erratically. How do I fix it? There are small ceramic discs wedged in the element holders. What are they for? Thermocouples: How can the thermocouple wires get reversed on a Jupiter or DaVinci Automatic Kiln? Thermocouples: How do I know which thermocouples to get for my kiln? Thermocouples: How to Change Type (Type S or K) on DynaTrol Thermocouples: Markings on Type S Thermocouples and lead wire colors Thermocouples: What are Thermocouples? Thermocouples: What is a thermocouple (TC) and how does it work? Thermocouples: Where do T1, TC2 and TC3 go on a kiln? Weight of Kiln Rings or Sections and Tops and Bottoms for Lifting Guidance What do I do if I still smell something and I am using a Vent-Sure Downdraft kiln vent? What do I do if the control display doesn't show anything? What do I do if the display is normal but the kiln won't heat up? What do I do if the kiln heats too fast? What do I do if the kiln stalls? What does it cost ($) for the electricity to fire the kiln? What makes elements melt and sag? What to do if the kiln fires slowly? What's the worst thing that can happen from restarting after an Error Code? Why do my DaVinci kiln sections move out of alignment or slide off the floor slab over time? Why do stainless steel threads become jammed on element terminals? Why does my kiln corrode so quickly? Why does my kiln seem like it overfires the pottery? Why does my kiln seem like it underfires the pottery? Why does the kiln's breaker keep tripping? Why kiln amperage is higher than the rating when first turned on