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W415-0257 / 08.02.01
WOOD PILE
MAINTENANCE
Burn only dry, clean unpainted wood that has been seasoned.
It produces more heat and less soot or creosote. Freshly cut
wood contains about 50% moisture while after proper sea-
soning only about 20% of the water remains. As wood is
burned, this water boils off consuming energy that should be
used in heating. The wetter the wood, the less heat is given
off and the more creosote is produced.
Both hardwood and softwood burn equally well in this stove
but hardwood is denser, will weigh more per cord and burn a
little slower and longer. Firewood should be split, stacked in
a manner that air can get to all parts of it and covered in early
spring to be ready for burning that fall. Dry firewood has cracks
in the end grain. Cut the wood so that it will fit horizontally, front
to back, making for easier loading and less of a likelihood
that the wood will roll onto the glass.
STOVE MAINTENANCE
Check your chimney and chimney connector for creosote and
soot buildup weekly until a safe frequency for cleaning is
established. If accumulation is excessive, disconnect the stove
and clean both the chimney and the stove. You may want to
call a professional chimney sweep to clean them. Both have
to be cleaned at least once a year or as often as necessary.
SMOKING: A properly installed stove should not smoke.
If yours does, check the following: Has the chimney had time
to get hot? Is the smoke passage blocked anywhere in the
stove, chimney connector or chimney? Is the room too airtight
and the air intake not connected to the outside? Try with a
window partly open. Is the smoke flow impeded by too long a
horizontal pipe or too many bends? Is it a weak draft perhaps
caused by a leaky chimney, a cold outside chimney, too short
a chimney, or a chimney too close to trees or a higher roof?
Has a direct flue connection been used rather than a chimney
liner continuous from cap to fireplace flue collar.
CREOSOTE FORMATION AND REMOVAL
When wood is burned slowly, it produces tar and other or-
ganic vapours which combine with expelled moisture to form
creosote. These vapours condense in the relatively cooler
chimney flue of a slow burning fire and when ignited, make
an extremely hot fire. So, the smoke pipe and chimney should
be inspected monthly during the heating season to deter-
mine if a buildup has occurred. If creosote has accumulated
it should be removed to reduce the risk of a chimney fire.
RUNAWAY OR CHIMNEY FIRE
Runaway fires can be the result of two major factors:
1. Using incorrect fuel, or small fuel pieces which wood nor-
mally be used as kindling.
2. Leaving the door ajar too long and creating extreme tem-
peratures as the air rushes in the open door.
SOLUTIONS:
1. Do not burn treated or processed wood, coal, charcoal,
coloured paper or cardboard.
2. Be careful not to over-fire the unit by leaving the door open
too long after initial start-up. A thermometer on the chimney
connector and/or stove top helps.
WHAT TO DO IF A RUNAWAY OR CHIM-
NEY FIRE STARTS:
1. Close the draft fully.
2. Call local fire department.
3. Examine flue-pipes, chimney, attic, and roof of the house,
to see if any part has become hot enough to catch fire. If
necessary spray with a fire extinguisher or water from a
garden hose.
4. Do not operate the stove again until you are certain the
chimney and its lining have not been damaged.
DON'TS
1. Take ash out immediately. Let it accumulate to a depth of at
least one inch. A good ash layer provides for a longer lasting and
better burning fire.
2. Burn wet wood.
3. Close the door too soon or damper down too quickly.
4. Burn one large log rather than two or three smaller, more reason-
ably sized logs.
5. Burn at continually "low setting", if glass door is constantly black-
ened. This means the firebox temperature is too low.
DO'S
1. Build a hot fire
2. Use only dry wood.
3. Several pieces of medium sized wood
are better than a few big pieces.
4. Clean chimney regularly.
5. Refuel frequently using medium sized
wood.
6. "Fine Tune" the air settings for optimum
performance.