Operating Your Appliance

19

Hints for Burning

Get the appliance hot before adjusting to low burn

Use smaller pieces of wood during start-up and high burns to increase temperature

Use larger pieces of wood for overnight or sustained burns

Stack the wood tightly together to establish a longer burn

Leave a bed of ashes (1/2" deep) to allow for longer burns

Be considerate of neighbors & the environment: burn dry wood only

Burn small, intense fires instead of large, slow burning fires when possible

Learn your appliance's operating characteristics to obtain optimum performance

Selecting Wood

Dry Wood is Key

Dry wood burns hot, emits less smoke and creates less creosote.

Testing Wood Moisture

Split wood stored in a dry area will be fully dry within a year. This insures dry wood. If purchasing wood for immediate use, test the wood with a moisture meter. Some experienced wood burners can measure wood moisture by knocking pieces together and listening for a clear "knock" and not a "thud".

Wet

Dry

Wood

Wood

Leads

To

Less

Heat

Leads

To

More Smoke

and Creostoe

Leads

To

More

Heat

Leads

To

Less Smoke

and Creostoe

Why Dry Wood is Key

Wet wood, when burned, must release water stored within the wood. This cools the fire, creates creosote, and hampers a complete burn. Ask any experienced wood burner and he or she will agree: dry wood is crucial to good performance.

Wood Cutting and Storage

Cut wood to length and chop into quarters.

Store the wood off the ground in a

 

covered area. Allow for airflow

Air Flow

around the wood to dry the wood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Air Flow

Air Flow

© Travis Industries

100-01163

4041129

Page 19
Image 19
Lopi Freedom Bay Fireplace Insert Hints for Burning, Selecting Wood, Testing Wood Moisture, Why Dry Wood is Key