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

 

 

Damper closed/not fully open

Open damper.

Smolders, sizzles

 

 

 

Not enough air for fire to ignite

Check for restricted cap/shroud.

 

 

 

 

 

Open air kit (if installed).

 

 

 

 

 

Check for flue blockage.

 

 

 

 

 

Pre-warm flue before starting fire (refer to starting

 

 

fire section).

 

 

 

 

 

Check for adequate vent height (refer to chimney

 

 

assembly section).

 

 

 

 

 

Open window below the fireplace towards the

 

 

wind.

 

 

 

 

Wood condition is too wet, too

Use dry, seasoned wood (refer to wood fuel

 

large

section).

 

 

 

 

Bed of coals not established

Start with paper & kindling to establish bed of

 

before adding wood

coals (refer to starting fire section).

 

 

 

 

Flue blockage such as birds’

Have chimney inspected for creosote and cleaned

 

nests or leaves in termination

by a certified chimney sweep.

 

cap

 

 

 

 

 

Down draft or negative pressure

Do not use exhaust fans during start-up (refer to

 

Competition with exhaust

negative pressure section).

 

devices

 

 

Open window below the fireplace towards the

 

 

 

 

wind.

 

 

 

Fire burns too fast

Extremely dry or soft wood

Mix in hardwood.

 

 

 

 

 

Mix in less seasoned wood after fire is established

 

 

(refer to wood fuel section).

 

 

 

 

No glass doors

Add glass doors to slow down air flow.

 

 

 

 

Overdrafting

Check for correct vent height; too much vertical

 

 

height creates overdrafting.

 

 

 

 

 

Check location of vent termination (refer to

 

 

chimney assembly section).

 

 

 

Heatilator • EL36/EL42 • 4044-132 • Rev V • 11/08

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Hearth and Home Technologies EL36 Series, EL42 Series Troubleshooting Guide, Start Fire Problems Possible Cause Solution