Operating Your Appliance 27
Travis Industries 93508133 4020509
Hints for Burning
• Get the appliance hot before adjusting to low burn
• Use smaller pieces of wood during start-up and high burns to increase temperature
• Use larger pieces of wood for overnight or sustained burns
• Stack the wood tightly together to establish a longer burn
• Leave a bed of ashes (1/2" deep) to allow for longer burns
• Be considerate of neighbors & the environment: burn dry wood only
• Burn small, intense fires instead of large, slow burning fires when possible
• Learn your appliance's operating characteristics to obtain optimum performance
Selecting Wood
Dry Wood is Key
Dry wood burns hot, emits
less smoke and creates
less creosote.
Testing Wood
Moisture
Split wood stored in a dry
area will be fully dry within
a year. This insures dry
wood. If purchasing wood
for immediate use, test the
wood with a moisture
meter. Some experienced
wood burners can measure
wood moisture by knocking
pieces together and
listening for a clear "knock"
and not a "thud".
W
et
W
ood
Leads
To
Leads
To
Dry
Wood
Leads
To
Leads
To
Less
Heat
More
Heat
More Smoke
and Creostoe
Less Smoke
and Creostoe
Why Dry Wood is Key
Wet wood, when burned, must release water stored within the wood. This cools the fire, creates
creosote, and hampers a complete burn. Ask any experienced wood burner and he or she will agree:
dry wood is crucial to good performance.
Wood Cutting and Storage
Cut wood to length and
chop into quarters.
Store the wood off the ground in a
covered area. Allow for airflow
around the wood to dry the wood.
Air Flow
Air Flow
Air Flow