R
BODEGA BAY WOOD INSERT
air quality AND your Quadra-Fire Insert
In recent years there has been an increasing concern about the quality of our air. Much of the blame for poor air quality has been placed on the burning of wood for home heating. In order to improve this situation we at
The story of the Three Burning Stages . . .
It helps to know a little about the actual burn process, which entails three discernible burning stages. The first stage is called the kindling stage. During this stage the fuel reaches the boiling temperature of water, 212°F, evaporating the moisture found to some degree in all wood.
Because the process takes heat from the insert during this initial drying stage, each new load of wood reduces the chances for a good, clean burn. For this reason it is always best to burn dry, seasoned firewood, and operate the controls properly. The bottom control on the right side of your insert is called the
During the secondary stage, the wood gives off flammable gases which burn above the fuel with bright flames. These flames above the fuel must be maintained until the third stage to ensure proper burning. During this stage you may adjust your insert for a low burn rate. To achieve a low burn rate it is necessary to close down the air while still maintaining some flames. If the flames tend to go out, the setting is too low. The Primary Control, located above the
The third stage of burning is the charcoal stage. This happens when the flammable gases have been burned and the charcoal remains. The coals burning with hot blue flames is a naturally clean portion of the burn. It is very important to reload your insert while enough lively hot coals remain in order to provide the amount of heat needed to dry and rekindle the next load of wood. Open up both controls for a short while before reloading to liven up the coal bed. You should also break up any large chunks and distribute the coals so the new wood is laid on hot coals. Leave both controls open (close the
START-UP AIR SYSTEM
The combustion air enters at the rear of the firebox through the rear air tubes. This air supply is controlled by the
PRIMARY AIR SYSTEM
The primary air enters at the upper front of the firebox near the top of the glass door. This preheated air supplies the neces- sary fresh oxygen to mix with the unburned gases, helping to create second, third and fourth stages of combustion. This air is regulated by the Primary Air Control. For more primary air (more heat), push rod in. For less primary air (less heat), pull rod out. See Figure 18A.
In other words . . .
Pulling either control towards you closes off the air available to the insert in that area. Pushing either control opens it, allow- ing air circulation to the area. A good analogy to remember for this procedure is the gas pedal on your car. Pushing in the gas pedal makes the engine run faster. Letting off (pulling the control back) makes the car run slower.
Figure 18A
OPEN - PUSH IN
CLOSE - PULL OUT
Primary Air Control
Page 18 | August 20, 2008 |
