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 & | |
Excessive smoke or spillage | kindling/paper | wood for air movement. | |
Burns too slowly |
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Damper closed/not fully open | Open damper. | ||
Smolders, sizzles | |||
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| Not enough air for fire to ignite | Check for restricted cap/shroud. | |
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| Open air kit (if installed). | |
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| Check for flue blockage. | |
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| fire section). | |
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| Check for adequate vent height (refer to chimney | |
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| assembly section). | |
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| Open window below the fireplace towards the | |
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| wind. | |
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| Wood condition is too wet, too | Use dry, seasoned wood (refer to wood fuel | |
| 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 starting 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 certified 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 fireplace towards the | ||
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| wind. | |
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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 | |
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| (refer to wood fuel section). | |
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| No glass doors | Add glass doors to slow down air flow. | |
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| Overdrafting | Check for correct vent height; too much vertical | |
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| height creates overdrafting. | |
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| Check location of vent termination (refer to | |
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| chimney assembly section). | |
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Heatilator • EL36/EL42 • | 13 |