Inspect kiln elements or burners

A kiln that fires unevenly makes unpredictable work. Regular inspection catches problems before they ruin a load.

For electric kilns (elements)

Look for:

• Sagging: elements drooping out of their grooves
• Bright spots: sections that glow brighter than the rest (indicates wear/thinning)
• Broken connections: where element wire meets the terminal block
• Corrosion: white buildup or pitting on the element wire

For gas kilns (burners)

Look for:

• Blocked ports: debris or spider webs in burner openings
• Rust: on burner tubes or orifices
• Damaged flame paths: blocked baffles or damaged bag walls

Document findings

Write down:

• Date of inspection
• Condition of each element/burner (number them)
• Which ones need replacement soon
• Approximate number of firings since last replacement

Prevention > emergency

Replacing a worn element before it fails costs the same and saves you a ruined kiln load.