CARE AND OPERATION

BURN RECOMMENDED FUEL

This appliance is designed for use with natural well- seasoned wood. Do not burn particleboard scraps or pressed logs because they can produce conditions which will deteriorate metal. Green or uncured wood does not work well as fuel, and can cause increased creosote buildups. The value of green wood as a source of heat is limited. Do not overload or use kindling wood or mill ends as primary fuel as this may cause overfiring. Overfiring is a condition where excessive temperatures are reached, beyond the design capabilities of the stove. The damage that occurs from overfiring is not covered under the stove warranty.

What is the best wood for the fire?

Some woods are easier to light than others (i.e. horn- beam, beech, & oak do not light easily whereas aspen, birch and lime light easily but they do not last as long). Then come the softwoods and conifers. Regardless if you are burning a softer or harder wood, what is most important is that it is well-seasoned dry wood. Damp wood has far less heating power, this lowers the combustion temperature of the fire therefore, the output. Green wood is difficult to light, it burns badly and gives off smoke and causes the formation of deposits (tarring and soot staining) in the chimney flue and on the door glass.

What is tarring and soot staining in the chimney? When the smoke arrives in the chimney at low tempera- ture, part of the water vapor which they convey con- denses. The heaviest constituents are deposited on the inside of the flue (this is TARRING). The mixture oxidizes in the air and forms brownish patches (this is SOOT STAINING). Four essential points for avoiding these drawbacks, use dry wood, use a stove designed for wood, connect it to a chimney with thick walls and of suitable cross-section (size and height), and ensure the connecting pipes are as short as possible (horizontal pipes should be no more than 6" / 150mm).

Flue Gas Temperature

It is recommended to thoroughly heat the flue system during start-up, before adjusting the burn rate to a medium or low setting (see How To Start And Maintain A Fire, Page 16). To ensure that the flue system is thoroughly heated, adjust the primary air to a medium/high position for approximately 20-25 minutes after the startup air is closed before adjusting to a lower setting. This helps to establish the draft and it reduces creosote deposits on the internal surfaces of the stove, glass and chimney.

Hints:

Creosote condenses in a cold chimney, not a warm one. Avoid a smoldering fire for more than a twelve- hour period and your chimney will never get cold.

Burn a hot fire for a short period once or twice a day (and after reloading), and then adjust the primary air draft module to a medium or low position.

When loading wood, add one or two logs at a time, depending on size. Loading the appliance full of damp wood on a low fire is certain to cause poor combustion efficiency resulting in creosote and dirty glass.

If the wood is not quite as dry as it should be, to assist for a short period, smokeless coal can be added with the wood to raise the combustion temperature.

Have the chimney cleaned and inspected by a professional chimney sweep once a year.

WARNING: BURNING IMPROPER FUEL (I.E. CHAR- COAL) CAN RESULT IN CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING WHICH MAY LEAD TO DEATH!

CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING – EARLY SIGNS OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING RESEMBLE THE FLU WITH HEADACHES, DIZZINESS, OR NAU- SEA. IF YOU HAVE THESE SIGNS, GET FRESH AIR AT ONCE! HAVE THE HEATER INSPECTED BY A QUALIFIED SERVICE TECHNICIAN. SOME PEOPLE ARE MORE AFFECTED BY CARBON MONOXIDE THAN OTHERS. THESE INCLUDE PREGNANT WOMEN, PEOPLE WITH HEART OR LUNG DISEASE OR ANEMIA, THOSE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL, AND THOSE AT HIGH ALTITUDES.

WHY SEASON WOOD?

The key to the success of a good fire that produces heat from a woodstove is the wood. It needs to be well- seasoned natural wood.

What does “Well-Seasoned” mean?

When a tree is cut down, the wood is green, full of sap and moisture. This moisture content can exceed 80%, which must be reduced to less than 20%. Wood properly seasoned is then capable of generating the heat the stove was designed to provide.

Green wood does not burn easily. Attempting to burn green wood often results in a lot of smoke and very little fire. Time is the most important factor in seasoning wood. Ideally the moisture content should be reduced to 11-20%, although very few of us will be able to check that figure. There are several steps that should be taken to ensure that you come close to these figures.

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