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Vermont Castings Madison
Operation
How the Madison Works
Combustion control is achieved in the Madison through
two separate air delivery systems.
The primary air control lever, located at the left
rear corner of the stove, controls the amount of
incoming primary air for starting, maintaining, and
reviving the fire. More air entering the stove makes the
fire burn hotter and faster, while less air prolongs the
burn at a lower heat level.
For the greatest air supply and maximum heat
output (but the shortest burn time), move the lever to
the left most position. For a fire that will last longer
with less heat, move the lever to the right. You can set
the lever anywhere in between the upper and lower
extremes.
DO NOT USE CHEMICALS OR FLUIDS TO
START THE FIRE. DO NOT BURN GARBAGE
OR FLAMMABLE FLUIDS SUCH AS GASO-
LINE, NAPTHA, OR ENGINE OIL. ALSO,
NEVER USE GASOLINE-TYPE LANTERN
FUEL, KEROSENE, CHARCOAL LIGHTER
FLUID, OR SIMILAR LIQUIDS TO START OR
"FRESHEN UP" A FIRE. KEEP ALL SUCH
LIQUIDS WELL AWAY FROM THE MADISON
WHILE IT IS IN USE.
CAUTION: THE MADISON WILL BE HOT
WHILE IN OPERATION. KEEP CHILDREN,
CLOTHING AND FURNITURE AWAY. CON-
TACT MAY CAUSE SKIN BURNS.
DO NOT OVERFIRE THIS HEATER.
OVERFIRING MAY CAUSE A HOUSE FIRE,
OR CAN RESULT IN PERMANENT DAMAGE
TO THE STOVE. IF ANY PART OF THE
STOVE GLOWS, YOU ARE OVERFIRING.
The Madison features an automatic thermostat to
ensure an even heat output at any manual setting you
select. As the fuel burns, the thermostat reacts to the
heat radiating from the stove surface and,
consequently, adjusts the air shutter attached to it. As
the fire intensity (and heat output) builds, the
thermostat slowly closes the air shutter, thereby
restricting incoming combustion air. As the fire intensity
then wanes (and heat output lessens), the thermostat
responds and gradually opens the air shutter which
allows more combustion air to again enliven the fire.
This ebb and flow action functions continuously to
prolong the burn cycle until the fuelbed is exhausted.
Another separate supply of oxygen is delivered to
the upper area of the firebox to support combustion of
gases released from the main fuel bed. This Second-
ary Air enters the stove through two, unrestricted inlets
and is heated while passing through separate channels
before being delivered through three stainless steel
multi-ported tubes located at the top of the firebox.
Burn Only High-Quality Wood
THE MADISON IS DESIGNED TO BURN NATURAL
WOOD ONLY; DO NOT BURN ANY OTHER FUELS.
You will enjoy the best results when burning wood
that has been adequately air-dried. Avoid burning
“green” wood that has not been properly seasoned.
The wood should be no longer than 18" (460 mm) in
length, however, you will find that shorter wood lengths
ease refueling and promote the most efficient combus-
tion.
The best hardwood fuels include oak, maple,
beech, ash, and hickory that has been split, stacked,
and air-dried outside under cover for at least one year.
For areas that do not have a supply of hardwood,
commonly burned softwoods include tamarack, yellow
pine, white pine, Eastern red cedar, fir, and redwood.
These too should be properly dried.
Keep wood a safe distance from the heater and
keep it out of the areas around the heater used for
refueling and ash removal.
Use the Air Control Setting that Works
Best for You
No single air control setting will be appropriate for
every situation. Settings will differ depending on the
quality of the fuel, the amount of heat desired, and how
long you wish the fire to burn.
The control setting also depends on your particular
installation’s “draft,” or the force that moves air from
the stove up through the chimney. Draft is affected by
such things as the length, type, and location of the
chimney, local geography, nearby obstructions, and
other factors.
Too much draft may cause excessive temperatures
in the Madison, and could even damage it. On the
other hand, too little draft can cause backpuffing into
the room and/or the “plugging” of the chimney.
How do you know if your draft is excessively high
or low? Symptoms of too much draft include an
uncontrollable burn or a glowing-red stove part. A sign
of inadequate draft is smoke leaking into the room
through the stove or chimney connector joints, low
heat, and dirty glass.
In newer homes that are well-insulated and
weather-tight, poor draft may result from insufficient air
in the house. In such cases, a slightly opened window
near the stove on the windward side of the house will
provide the fresh air needed.