Hearth and Home Technologies NorthStar-BK, NorthStar-GT Diagnostics and Problem Solving

C. Diagnostics and Problem Solving

1. If I can’t get a good fire going, what am I doing wrong?

Diagnostic Question		Possible Causes of Condition		Solutions
Are the air controls open?	•	No draft	Open air controls
	•	No combustion air
Is there enough paper?	Insufficient heat to ignite kindling		Use more paper
Is there enough kindling?	Insufficient heat to ignite fuel		Use drier kindling
Is the kindling dry?
Is there enough or too much wood?	• Insufficient heat to establish draft		Use small split wood that is well sea-
Is it too large?	•	Insufficient air passage	soned (split, covered on top minimum 6
Is it dry enough?	•	Insufficient surface area	months, preferably a year)
	• Ignition temperature high due to
		moisture
Are there adequate air spaces	Insufficient combustion air and		Arrange kindling and wood for air move-
between fuel pieces?	exposed surface area		ment
Is the chimney pre-warmed?	Exposed, cold chimney downdrafting		Use lighted rolled newspaper at flue
			opening to start upward air movement
Is there smoke in the house?	•	Obstruction in chimney	• Have chimney checked if it worked
	• Downdraft from chimney tem-			previously
		perature or from negative house	•	Pre-warm chimney
		pressure	• Shut off exhaust devices
			•	Open window slightly
Does the kindling wood not ignite?	Condition, amount, arrangement of		Use more, drier, well-spaced kindling
	kindling and fuel		and fuel.
Does the kindling ignite, but the fuel	•	Amount of kindling	•	Use more kindling
doesn’t?	•	Condition of fuel	• Use smaller, dry wood
Does the fuel ignite, but not burn well?	•	Draft problem	• Use well-seasoned wood and suf-
	•	Condition of fuel		ficient amount
			• Turn exhaust fans off
			•	Open window slightly

2. I smell smoke in the house after we have had a fire. What is the cause/what can I do?

Diagnostic Question	Possible Causes of Condition	Solutions
Is the chimney clean?	No: Creosote odor	Have chimney cleaned

3. I smell smoke in the house during operation. What is causing it?

Diagnostic Question		Possible Causes of Condition		Solutions
Do fires start and burn well?	No:		No:
	•	Chimney obstruction	• Check & clean chimney if needed
	• Not enough kindling and/or fuel to		• Use adequate kindling & fuel
		establish draft	•	Open air controls
	•	Inadequate combustion air	•	Open window
	• Air controls not open		• Check for need for balanced air
				make-up (Outside Air)
	Yes:		• Check door rope for seal.
		Competition with exhaust devices	Yes:
			• Do not use exhaust fans during
				startup
			• Check for need for balanced air
				make-up (Outside Air)

Page 56 Heat & Glo • NorthStar EPA Fireplace • 480-1081C September 1, 2008