Kiln Care · by Seattle Pottery Supply
Your Kiln Health Check — Prep Sheet
A few minutes of prep makes your video call dramatically more useful. The more we can see and the more details you have ready, the faster we pinpoint the problem — and the more likely we ship the right part the first time.
⚡ Quick checklist (the 60-second version)
- Kiln make, model, serial #, voltage, and phase written down
- A few photos taken (nameplate, full kiln, open control box, elements, the problem area)
- What's wrong described in a sentence or two — plus any error code
- A phone or laptop with a camera + decent internet (we'll email a Google Meet link)
- If you've never used Google Meet, plan to open the link a few minutes early to test it
- Flashlight, screwdrivers, and a multimeter (if you have one) within reach
- You're at your kiln, with good light and the kiln cool, empty, and powered off
When you book, we email a Google Meet link — just click it at your scheduled time. It's a free video call.
- Never used Meet? Open the link a few minutes early to test your camera and microphone.
- On a computer, it opens right in your web browser — no app or account needed.
- On a phone, install the free Google Meet app. Joining on your phone is ideal — you can carry the camera right up to your kiln, and even show us inside it.
- Prefer to just call? Your invitation includes a good old-fashioned dial-in phone number — call it to join by voice (audio only, so we won't be able to see the kiln).
1Gather your kiln's details
Have these ready — they tell us exactly what we're working with and which parts fit.
- Brand / manufacturer (Skutt, L&L, Olympic, Paragon, Cone Art, Amaco, Cress, Evenheat…)
- Model number
- Serial number
- Voltage (120V / 208V / 240V — or "not sure")
- Phase (single or three phase — or "not sure")
- Approximate age / when you got it
- Controller type (digital touchscreen, or a manual Kiln-Sitter)
Where to find these: the data nameplate / info badge — usually on the control box or side panel. A clear photo of it captures most of this automatically.
2Describe the problem
Jot a few notes so nothing gets forgotten on the call:
- What's happening, in your own words
- The exact error code on the controller, if any (write it down precisely)
- When it started, and how often it happens
- How many times a month do you fire your kiln?
- Does the problem happen every time, or just sometimes?
- What you were firing (cone / schedule) when it went wrong
- Anything that changed recently — moved the kiln, new outlet, power outage, a recent repair
- Does it power on at all? Is the breaker tripping?
3Take these photos beforehand
Upload them with your Equipment Repair Request Form (link at the bottom) — or text/email them. Clear, well-lit photos speed everything up:
- 📸 The data nameplate / info badge (make sure the numbers are readable)
- 📸 The whole kiln — lid open and lid closed
- 📸 The control box / panel from the outside
- 📸 Inside the kiln — the elements in their grooves (looking for breaks, hot spots, or coils pulled out)
- 📸 The specific area of concern or any visible damage
- 📸 Your outlet/plug and the breaker it's on
Only photograph what's safe to reach — don't open anything while it's powered.
4Have these tools within reach
You may not need them all, but having them nearby means we can act live instead of rescheduling:
- Phone, tablet, or laptop with a working camera + decent internet (a phone is ideal — you'll show us around the kiln)
- Flashlight or headlamp (kiln interiors are dark)
- Screwdrivers — Phillips and flathead
- Nut driver / small socket set — for panel and terminal screws, if you have one
- Multimeter — optional but ideal. If you have one, we can test elements and voltage live
- Work gloves
- Notepad and pen
- Your kiln's manual, if you can find it
5Set up your space
- Be physically at your kiln during the call (not in another room)
- Good lighting around the kiln
- The power outlet accessible, with room to walk around the unit
- Kiln cool, empty, and unplugged (or breaker off) unless your tech asks otherwise
- A reasonably quiet spot so we can hear each other
- Studios & schools: have someone who knows the kiln's history and usage on hand
6Safety, one more time
- Never touch wiring, elements, or terminals with the power on
- Only open the control box when the kiln is unplugged / breaker off
- If you smell burning, see scorching, or anything feels unsafe — stop and tell us
- High voltage is no joke; we'll guide every step carefully and handle anything that shouldn't be DIY
What happens on the call
A relaxed 20–30 minute live video call over Google Meet with a real SPS kiln technician (we email you the link when you book). You'll show us the kiln on camera, we'll diagnose it together in plain language, and we'll either bid the repair or send you a parts list with a checkout link for the exact parts you need. The $49 is a non-refundable diagnostic fee that pays for the technician's time — it's the only way to start a repair with us.
Send your details & photos here
After you book, complete our Equipment Repair Request Form and upload your photos right there (nameplate, problem area, control box, elements). It goes straight to your technician — the more they can see before the call, the faster the fix.
Open the form & upload photos →Tip: include your appointment date/time so we can match it to your booking.