As soon as the door is closed, you will observe a change in the flame pattern. The flames will get smaller and lazier because less oxygen is getting into the combustion cham- ber. The flames, however, are more efficient. The flames will remain lazy but become larger again as soon as the firebricks have been heated thoroughly and the chimney becomes heated and provides a good draft.
At this point, the roaring fire that you see when the door is opened is wastefully drawing heated room air up the chimney
So always operate with the door fully closed once the me- dium sized logs have caught fire.
You can now add larger pieces of wood and operate the fireplace normally. Once the fireplace is entirely hot, it will burn very efficiently with little smoke from the chimney. There will be a bed of hot coals in the firebox so you can safely fill the firebox with wood to the top of the andirons.
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Can't get the fireplace operating? Use more kindling and paper. Assuming the chimney and vent are sized correctly and there is sufficient combustion air, the lack of sufficiently dry quantities of small kindling is the problem. Thumb size is a good gauge for small kindling diameter.
Can't get heat out of the fireplace? One of two things may have happened. The fireplace door may have been closed prematurely and the fireplace itself has not reached opti- mum temperature.
FUEL LOADING AND BURN CYCLE
The bricks will be nearly all white and the glass mostly clear. The whiteness of the bricks and the cleanness of the glass are good indicators of your operating efficiency.
Not enough heat is produced when only one or two pieces of wood are burned.
Aminimum of three pieces are needed to encase a bed of coals that sustains the fire. Loosely stacked wood burns quicker than a tightly packed load.
Wood burns in cycles rather than giving a steady output of heat. It is best to plan these cycles around your household routine so that only enough coals are left to start the next load. In the evening, load your fireplace, at least, a half- hour before bed to ensure the fire is hot enough to close the draft control for an overnight burn.
Burn only dry seasoned wood. It produces more heat and less soot or creosote. Do not burn ocean beach wood. Its salt content can produce a metal eating acid.
