
R
Isle Royale Wood Stove
10 Troubleshooting Guide
With proper installation, operation, and maintenance your woodstove will provide years of 
Start Fire Problems | Possible Cause | Solution | 
Can not get fi re started  | 
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Excessive smoke or spillage  | Not enough kindling/paper or no  | Use dry kindling, more paper. Arrange kindling &  | 
Burns too slowly  | kindling/paper  | wood for air movement.  | 
Not enough heat output  | 
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  | Check for restricted termination cap  | 
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  | Check for blockage of outside air kit (if installed).  | 
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  | Check for fl ue blockage.  | 
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  | Not enough air for fi re to ignite  | a Fire Section).  | 
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  | Check for adequate vent height (refer to Chimney  | 
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  | Height Section).  | 
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  | Open window below the appliance towards the  | 
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  | wind.  | 
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  | Wood condition is too wet, too  | Use dry, seasoned wood (refer to Seasoned Wood  | 
  | large  | Section).  | 
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  | Bed of coals not established  | Start with paper & kindling to establish bed of  | 
  | before adding wood  | coals (refer to Building a Fire Section).  | 
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  | Flue blockage such as birds’  | Have chimney inspected for creosote and cleaned  | 
  | nests or leaves in termination  | by a certifi ed chimney sweep.  | 
  | cap  | 
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  | Down draft or negative pressure  | Do not use exhaust fans during   | 
  | Competition with exhaust  | Negative Pressure Section).  | 
  | devices  | 
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  | Open window below the appliance towards the  | |
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  | wind.  | 
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Fire burns too fast  | 
  | Mix in hardwood.  | 
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  | Extremely dry or soft wood  | Mix in less seasoned wood after fi re is established  | 
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  | (refer to Wood Fuel Section).  | 
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  | Check for correct vent height; too much vertical  | 
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  | height creates overdrafting.  | 
  | Overdrafting  | 
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  | Check location of vent termination (refer to  | |
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  | Chimney Termination Requirement Section).  | 
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November 22, 2011  | Page 31  | |
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