Hearth and Home Technologies RUTHERFORD-50 Troubleshooting Guide, Start Fire Problems, Solution

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 & wood for
Excessive smoke or spillage	kindling/paper	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.
		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 large	Use dry, seasoned wood (refer to wood fuel section).
	Bed of coals not established before	Start with paper & kindling to establish bed of coals (refer
	adding wood	to starting fire section).
	Flue blockage such as birds’ nests	Have chimney inspected for creosote and cleaned by a
	or leaves in termination cap	certified chimney sweep.
	Down draft or negative pressure	Do not use exhaust fans during start-up (refer to negative
	Competition with exhaust devices	pressure section).
		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).

Heat & Glo • RUTHERFORD-50 • 4059-333 Rev F • 11/08 13