8 ACHIEVING PROPER DRAFT
Draft is the force which moves air from the stove up through the chimney. The amount of draft in your chimney depends on the length and diameter of chimney, local geography, nearby obstructions and other factors. Adjusting the air control (Item B - Figure 11) regulates the temperature. The draft can be adjusted from a low burn rate with the control fully closed, to a fast burn rate with the control fully open.
Inadequate draft may cause
Do not operate your stove for longer than 30 minutes with the air control on "HIGH" (fully open).
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS / SMOKE DETECTORS
All homes with a solid fuel burning fireplace should have at least one fire extinguisher in a central location known to all, and at least one smoke detector in the room containing the fireplace. If it sounds an alarm, correct the cause but do not
deactivate or relocate the smoke detector.
FUEL LOADING AND BURN CYCLE
WHEN LOADING THE STOVE, ENSURE THAT THE TWO UPPER COURSES OF FIREBRICK ARE NOT LIFTED UP AND OFF THEIR LEDGE.
For maximum efficiency, when the stove is thoroughly hot, load it fully to the top of the door opening and burn at a me- dium low setting. Maximum heat for minimum fuel (optimum burn) occurs when the stove top temperature is between 500°F (260°C) and 600°F (315°C). 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 or the wood may not burn completely. A minimum 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 stove, at least, a
It produces more heat and less soot or creosote. Do not burn ocean beach wood. Its salt content can produce a metal eat- ing acid. When refueling open the door slowly to prevent smoke spillage. Use a pair of long gloves (barbecue gloves) when feeding the fire. Because these stoves burn at the front, they are clean and efficient, but they are also very hot and gloves are useful. Keep a small steel shovel nearby to use as a poker and to remove ashes. Do not store the wood within 3 feet (1m) of the stove.
FLASH FIRE:
A flash fire is a small fire burned quickly when you don't need much heat. After your kindling has "caught", load at least 3 pieces of wood, stacked loosely. Burn with the draft control fully open or closed only slightly.
EXTENDED FIRE:
Load your larger pieces of wood compactly, packed close enough to prevent the flames from penetrating it completely. After approximately 30 minutes, depending on the size of the load, close the draft control completely making sure that the fire is not extinguished.
DO NOT OVERFIRE THE STOVE!
Overfiring can occur by:
a)burning large amounts of smaller wood pieces such as furniture scraps, skids or treated wood;
b)vigorously burning large loads of wood with the draft con- trol on "HIGH" (fully open) for long periods of time (one or two hours).
ASH REMOVAL PROCEDURES
It is essential to keep the grate free of a heavy build up of ashes.
Remember to burn solid fuel correctly: air should be allowed to flow from the ash pit area through the grate and through the fuel. If the grate or ash pan are con- gested, the burn performance will be effected.
When burning solid fuel, always empty the ash pan at least once a day or whenever it is full of ashes. Never allow the ashpan to overfill thereby allowing ash to be in contact with the underside of the grate. If this condition is allowed, the grate will wear out prematurely.
Hot ashes may be kept in a metal container with a tight fitting lid. Keep the closed container on a noncombustible floor or ground, well away from all combustible materials. The ashes should be retained in the closed container until all cinders have thoroughly cooled. Cold wood ashes can be used on the garden or in the compost.
