Hearth and Home Technologies EM-415 Diagnostics and Problem Solving, Diagnostic Questions

B. Diagnostics and Problem Solving

I can’t get a good fire going. What am I doing wrong?

Diagnostic Questions		Possible Causes of Condition	Solutions
Is the damper open?	• No draft		Open damper.
Is there enough paper/starter?	•	Insufficient heat to ignite kindling	Use more paper/starter.
Is there enough kindling?	•	Insufficient heat to ignite fuel	Use more dry kindling.
Is the kindling dry?
Is there enough or too much	•	Insufficient heat to establish draft	Use small split wood that is well seasoned (split, covered on top at
wood? Is it too large? Is it dry	•	Insufficient air passage	least 6 months, preferably a year).
enough?
	•	Insufficient surface area
	•	Ignition temperature high due to moisture
Are there adequate air spaces	• Insufficient combustion air and exposed		Arrange kindling and wood for air movement.
between fuel pieces?		surface area
Is the chimney pre-warmed?	•	Exposed, cold chimney down drafting	Use lighted rolled newspaper at throat or flue opening to start
			upward movement.
Is there smoke in the house?	• Damper closed		Check damper; have chimney checked if it worked previously;
	•	Obstruction in chimney	pre-warm chimney, shut off exhaust devices, open window slightly.
	• Down draft from chimney temperature or
		from negative house pressure
Does the kindling, wood not	•	Condition, amount, arrangement of kindling	Use more, drier, well-spaced kindling and fuel.
ignite?		and fuel
Does the kindling ignite, but the	•	Amount of kindling	Use more kindling; use smaller, dry wood.
fuel doesn’t?	•	Condition of fuel
Does the fuel ignite, but not	•	Condition of fuel	Use well-seasoned wood and sufficient amount; turn exhaust fans
burn well?	•	Draft problem	off; open window slightly. Perform Simplified House Pressure Test.

I don’t get enough/any heat from the fireplace. What can I do about it?

Diagnostic Questions		Possible Causes of Condition	Solutions
How much wood is used for	•	Insufficient fuel	Make larger fires.
fire?
How well seasoned is the	•	Condition of fuel	Burn seasoned wood: covered on top, split and stacked for 9
wood?			months to 2 years.
Do you have a blower (where	•	Yes: Turning blower on too early or setting	Yes: Wait until fire established and leave on lower speed.
possible)?		too high, cooling firebox	No: Add blower if available.
		No: Need for all heat boosts possible
How much heat output do you	•	Unrealistic expectations	Explanation of decorative nature of fireplace; suggestion of
expect?			approved fireplace insert.

Heat & Glo • EM-415/EM-415H • 31317 Rev Q • 10/06 33