L.Wood Fuel
WARNING
Fire Risk.
•Do NOT burn garbage or flammable fluids such as gasoline, naptha or engine oil.
•DO NOT USE CHEMICALS OR FLUIDS TO START A FIRE.
•Do NOT burn treated wood or wood with salt (driftwood).
•May generate carbon monooxide if burn material other than wood.
May result in illness or possible death.
Moisture
WARNING! Risk of Fire!
•Do NOT burn wet or green wood.
•Wet, unseasoned wood can cause accumulation of creosote.
•Store wood in dry location.
•Stack wood so both ends are exposed to air.
The majority of the problems appliance owners experience are caused by trying to burn wet, unseasoned wood.
•Wet, unseasoned wood requires energy to evaporate the water instead of heating your home, and
•Causes evaporating moisture which cools your chimney, accelerating formation of creosote.
Hardwood vs Softwood
Your appliance performance depends on the quality of the firewood you use.
•Seasoned wood contains about 8,000 BTUs per pound .
•Hard woods are more dense than soft woods.
•Hard woods contain 60% more BTUs than soft woods.
•Hard woods require more time to season, burn slower and are harder to ignite.
•Soft woods require less time to dry, burn faster and are easier to ignite.
•Start the fire with softwood to bring the appliance up to operating temperature and to establish draft.
•Add hardwood for slow, even heat and longer burn time.
Soft woods | Hard woods | ||
• | Douglas Fir | • | Oak |
• | Pine | • | Maple |
• | Spruce | • | Apple |
• | Cedar | • | Birch |
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| • | Poplar |
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| • | Aspen |
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| • | Alder |
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Processed Solid Fuel Fire Logs
•NOT permitted for use in this appliance
Seasoned Wood
•Cut logs to size
•Split to 6 inches (152 mm) or less in diameter.
•Air dry to a moisture content of around 20%
-*Soft wood - about nine months to dry
-*Hard wood - about eighteen months to dry
*Note: Seasoning time may vary depending on drying conditions.
Storing Wood
Steps to ensure properly seasoned wood:
•Stack wood to allow air to circulate freely around and through woodpile.
•Elevate wood pile off ground to allow air circulation underneath.
•Smaller pieces of wood dry faster. Any piece over 6 inches (152 mm) in diameter should be split.
•Wood (whole or split) should be stacked so both ends of each piece are exposed to air. More drying occurs through the cut ends than the sides.
•Store wood under cover to prevent water absorption from rain or snow. Avoid covering the sides and ends completely.
WARNING! Risk of Fire! DO NOT store wood:
•In front of the appliance.
•In space required for loading or ash removal.
Heatilator • | 13 |