The fireplace burns the wood too fast. What can I do?
| Diagnostic Questions |
| Possible Causes of Condition |
| Solutions |
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| Do you have glass doors? | • | Need to slow air intake |
| Add glass doors. |
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| What is the condition of the | • | Extremely dry wood |
| Mix in less seasoned wood after fire established. |
| wood? |
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I smell smoke in the house during operation. What’s causing that?
| Diagnostic Questions |
| Possible Causes of Condition |
| Solutions |
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| Does the fire start and burn | No: |
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| well? | • Damper not fully open |
| Open damper; check and clean chimney if needed; use adequate | |
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| • | Chimney obstruction |
| kindling and fuel; open glass doors or open window, check for |
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| need for balanced air | ||
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| • | Not enough kindling and/or fuel to establish |
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| draft |
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| • | Inadequate combustion air |
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| Yes: |
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| • | Fire too close to front |
| Build fire farther back. Do not use exhaust fans during startup |
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| • | Competition with exhaust devices |
| and/or check for need for balanced air |
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I smell smoke in the house after we’ve had a fire in the fireplace. What is the cause/what can we do?
| Diagnostic Questions |
| Possible Causes of Condition |
| Solutions |
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| Is the damper closed? | • No: Downdraft or negative pressure |
| Close the damper at end of burn. | |
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| • | Yes: Negative pressure from exhaust fans |
| Check for need for glass doors. Check for need for balanced air |
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| and/or house stack effect. |
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| Is the chimney clean? | • No: Creosote odor |
| Have chimney cleaned. | |
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| • | Yes: Damper closed too early |
| Wait until fire completely out before closing damper. |
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34 | Heat & Glo • |