Hearth and Home Technologies RUTHERFORD-42 owner manual Troubleshooting Guide

Start Fire Problems

Possible Cause

Solution

Can’t get fire started

Not enough kindling/paper or no

Use dry kindling, more paper. Arrange kindling & wood for

Excessive smoke or spillage

kindling/paper

air movement.

Burns too slowly

Damper closed/not fully open

Open damper.

Smolders, sizzles

Not enough air for fire to ignite

Check for restricted cap/shroud.

Check for flue blockage.

Pre-warm flue before starting fire (refer to starting fire

section).

Check for adequate vent height (refer to chimney assembly

section).

Open window below the fireplace towards the wind.

Open outside air doors.

Wood condition is too wet, too large

Use dry, seasoned wood (refer to wood fuel section).

Bed of coals not established before

Start with paper & kindling to establish bed of coals (refer to

adding wood

starting fire section).

Flue blockage such as birds’ nests or

Have chimney inspected for creosote and cleaned by a

leaves in termination cap

certified chimney sweep.

Down draft or negative pressure

Do not use exhaust fans during start-up (refer to negative

Competition with exhaust devices

pressure section).

Open window below the fireplace towards the wind.

Fire burns too fast

Extremely dry or soft wood

Mix in hardwood.

Mix in less seasoned wood after fire is established (refer to

wood fuel section).

No glass doors

Add glass doors to slow down air flow.

Overdrafting

Check for correct vent height; too much vertical height

creates overdrafting.

Check location of vent termination (refer to chimney

assembly section).

Heat & Glo • RUTHERFORD-42 • 4059-309 Rev G • 11/08

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