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4 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 |
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Damper closed/not fully open | Open damper. | ||
Smolders, sizzles | |||
Not enough air for fire to ignite | Check for restricted cap/shroud. | ||
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| Check for flue blockage. | |
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| section). | |
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| Check for adequate vent height (refer to chimney assembly | |
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| section). | |
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| Open window below the fireplace towards the wind. | |
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| Open outside air doors. | |
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| Wood condition is too wet, too large | Use dry, seasoned wood (refer to wood fuel section). | |
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| 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. | |
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| Down draft or negative pressure | Do not use exhaust fans during | |
| Competition with exhaust devices | pressure section). | |
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| Open window below the fireplace towards the wind. | |
Fire burns too fast | Extremely dry or soft wood | Mix in hardwood. | |
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| Mix in less seasoned wood after fire is established (refer to | |
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| wood fuel section). | |
| No glass doors | Add glass doors to slow down air flow. | |
| Overdrafting | Check for correct vent height; too much vertical height | |
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| creates overdrafting. | |
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| Check location of vent termination (refer to chimney | |
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| assembly section). |
Heat & Glo • | 13 |