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3.2.1 The use of manufactured logs
There are numerous types of manufactured logs sold on the market. You must be very careful with
this type of product. Many brands of manufactured logs contain chemical additives. DO NOT
BURN ANY MANUFACTURED LOGS CONTAINING CHEMICAL ADDITIVES. If you do, you
may damage your stove and void the warranty. Logs containing chemical additives burn a lot hotter
and were designed for decorative fireplaces. Decorative fireplaces generally have larger, cooler, and
less air-tight fireboxes. Your E.P.A Century stove, on the other hand, has a smaller, completely
sealed firebox which attains much higher temperatures. It is therefore not designed to support
excessive heat caused by the addition of chemicals in manufactured logs. Manufactured logs made
of 100% wood residues do not cause any threat to your stove. You must however be careful.
Manufactured logs typically release a much larger heat output over a short period of time. Therefore,
you cannot place a large quantity of such logs into your stove, like you would with regular cord
wood. Start with one log, and gradually increase the load to 2 or 3 logs and see how your stove
reacts. Use a chimney (flue) thermometer and make sure that temperatures remain within the normal
operating range.
3.2.2 Simple wood moisture test
Add one large piece of wood to the top of an established fire. If it starts to burn on three sides within
one minute, it is dry and seasoned and right for burning. If it turns black and starts to burn in about
three minutes or more, it is damp. If it turns black and does not start burning until five minutes or
more, it is green and wet. If it hisses at any time, the wood is soaked and will not burn until the
excess of moisture is boiled away.
3.3 NOTES ABOUT FIRST FIRING
The fresh paint on your stove needs to be cured to preserve its quality. Once the fuel load is properly
ignited, only burn small fires in your stove for the first four hours of operation. Never open the air
control more than necessary to achieve a medium burn rate. Make sure that there is enough air
circulation while curing the stove. Open one or more windows. The odours can be smelled during
the 3 or 4 first fires. Never start your stove outside.