Drolet WOODSTOVES owner manual Reloading, Creosote Formation and Need for Removal

RELOADING

Once you have obtained a good bed of embers, you should reload the unit. In order to do so, open the air controls to maximum a few seconds prior to opening the stove's door. Then proceed by opening the door very slowly; open it one or two inches for 5 to 10 seconds, before opening it completely to increase the draught and thus eliminate the smoke which is stagnant in a state of slow combustion in the stove. Then bring the red embers to the front of the stove and reload the unit.

For optimal operation of your wood stove, we recommend you operate it with a wood load approximately equivalent to the height of fire bricks.

It is important to note that wood combustion consumes ambient oxygen in the room .In the case of negative pressure, it is a good idea to allow fresh air in the room, either by opening a window slightly or by installing a fresh air intake system on an outside wall. Refer to page 16 of the present manual.

CREOSOTE FORMATION AND NEED FOR REMOVAL

When wood is burned slowly, it produces tar and other organic vapours, which combine with expelled moisture to form creosote. The creosote vapours condense in the relatively cool chimney flue of a slow-burning fire. As a result, creosote residue accumulates on the flue lining. When ignited this creosote makes an extremely hot fire. When burning wood, the chimney connector and chimney should be inspected at least once every two months during the heating season to determine if a creosote build-up has occurred.

We strongly recommend that you install a magnetic thermometer on your smoke exhaust pipe, approximately 18" above the stove. This thermometer will indicate the temperature of your gas exhaust fumes within the smoke exhaust system. The ideal temperature for these gases is somewhere between 275o F and 500o F. Below these temperatures, the build-up of creosote is promoted. Above 500 degrees, heat is wasted since a too large quantity is lost into the atmosphere.

TO PREVENT CREOSOTE BUILD UP

•Always burn dry wood. This allows clean burns and higher chimney temperatures, therefore less creosote deposit.

•Leave the air control full open for about 10 min. every time you reload the stove to bring it back to proper operating temperatures. The secondary combustion can only take place if the firebox is hot enough.

•Always check for creosote deposit once every two months and have your chimney cleaned at least once a year.

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