A. Negative pressure in the house
As the fire burns, air goes up the chimney.
This air must be replaced through leakage
into the house or through the outside air
duct. When operating the Montecito fire-
place, open a nearby window temporarily
to check if there is adequate replacement
air supply.
B. Fans operating (e.g.: range hood)
These fans draw air out of the house and
may actually cause a negative pressure in the
house. Turn off all fans and open a nearby
window to determine if this is the cause of
the problem.
C. Wet wood
Wet or tarred wood will smoulder and smoke
instead of burn properly.
D. Dirty or blocked chimney
Check to make sure the chimney is clear and
clean.
E. Chimney not long enough
The minimum chimney height is twelve
(12) feet (3.7 m) not including the fireplace
height. The chimney must extend at least
three (3) feet (915 mm) above its point
of contact with the roof and at least two
(2) feet (610 mm) higher than any roof or
wall within ten (10) feet (3 m) of it. When
installed with offsets, the minimum chimney
height is fifteen (15) feet (4.6 m). Additional
height will increase draft and will decrease
the tendency to smoke.
F. Poor chimney draft
With no fire, there should be sufficient draft to
exhaust cigarette smoke introduced under the
baffle. Chimneys installed against an outside
wall without protection may generate back draft
problems which will cause start-up problems.
To prevent this, open a nearby window, roll up
a piece of paper and light it. Then, hold it in
the upper part of the firebox to warm up the
chimney. Wait until the draft is sufficient, then
start the fire.
IMPORTANT CAUTIONS
A. Do not block the hot air vents to the fire-
place as this will cause the fireplace to
overheat.
B. Never use gasoline, gasoline-type lantern
fuel, kerosene, charcoal lighter fluid, or
similar liquids to start or ‘freshen up’ a
fire in this fireplace. Keep all such liquids
well away from the fireplace while it is in
use.
C. Do not burn coal. The sulphur in coal will
corrode the firebox.
D. Do not burn driftwood which has been in the
ocean or salt water. The salt will corrode
the firebox and chimney.
E. Do not burn wood in the area in front of the
grate.
F. Do not abuse the unit by burning paper, or
cardboard or construction material such as
pressed wood, plywood or lumber.
G. Do not allow the wood to smoulder or burn
without flame, since this will produce
excessive creosote in the unit.
MAINTAINING YOUR MONTECITO™
FIREPLACE
Creosote - Formation and Need for Removal
When wood is burned slowly, it produces tar
and other organic vapors, which combine
with expelled moisture to form creosote. The
creosote vapors condense in the relatively
cool chimney flue of a slow-burning fire. As
a result, creosote residue accumulates on the
flue lining. When ignited this creosote makes
and extremely hot fire.
The chimney shall be inspected at least twice
a year during the heating season to determine
when a creosote buildup has occurred.
When creosote has accumulated it shall be
removed to reduce the risk of a chimney fire.
When the creosote accumulation is large, a
creosote fire in the chimney can damage the
chimney and overheat the surrounding wood
framing. Creosote formation in a chimney can
be minimized by making sure there is always
visible flame burning, avoid smouldering fires
and by proper refuelling techniques.
Chimney Maintenance
Regular chimney inspection and maintenance
combined with proper operation will prevent
chimney fires. Keep your chimney clean. Do not
allow more than 1/16” (1.6 mm) creosote build
up in your chimney. The amount of creosote will
depend on variables such as frequency of use
and type of fire. We recommend that you:
A. Initially inspect the chimney system weekly.
From this, you will learn how often it will be
necessary to clean your chimney.
B. Have your chimney cleaned by a qualified
chimney sweep. If you wish to clean it
yourself, we recommend using a stiff plastic
or non-metallic brush. If a metal brush is
used, its size should be slightly smaller than
the flue to avoid damaging the chimney. Do
not use a brush that will scratch the stainless
steel interior of the chimney.
C. Do not expect chemical cleaners to keep
your chimney clean. The rain cap can be
removed for inspection and/or cleaning of
the chimney.

Dealing With a Chimney Fire

Regular chimney maintenance and inspection
can prevent chimney fires. If you have a chimney
fire, follow these steps:
1. Close the fireplace door and the combustion
air controls.
2. Alert your family of the possible danger.
3. If you require assistance, alert your fire
department.
4. If possible, use a dry chemical fire extin-
guisher, baking soda or sand to control the
fire. Do not use water as it may cause a
dangerous steam explosion.

Finish Door Casing Care

Use a glass cleaner and a soft cloth to polish
the casing. Do not use abrasives such as steel
wool, steel pads or an abrasive polish for they
may scratch the casing’s finish.
Figure 2B - Top Baffle Removal
Figure 2A - Top Baffle Removal
Revised to be verbatim per UL127 (done 3-14-08)
5. Check outside to ensure that sparks and hot
embers coming out of the chimney are not
igniting the roof.
6. Do not use the fireplace again until your
chimney and fireplace have been inspected
by a qualified chimney sweep or a Fire
Department Inspector.
Top Baffle Removal Prior to Cleaning The
Chimney
Before starting to clean your chimney, we
recommend that you remove the top baffle to
avoid creosote dust collection at the top of the
baffle. Follow these steps to set the top baffle
out of the way:
1. Remove the side refractory holder. They are
located at the top of the refractory.
2. Lift the front baffle.
3. Slide the back baffle under the front baffle.
You now have access to the chimney.
NOTE: DIAGRAMS & ILLUSTRATIONS ARE NOT TO SCALE. 5