New Buck Corporation 20 Room Heater Troubleshooting, Heater Related Problems, Possible Cause

Backpuffing-A hot combustor (above 1400o F) can sometimes act like a glow plug (spontaneous combustion ignitor). Usually the wood gas-to-air mixture is either too lean or too rich to form a highly flammable mixture. There are times when this mixture is just right within the firebox during the normal burning process. If the combustor is running at or above the ignition temperature of the mixture, spontaneous combustion will result, causing the stove to vent puffs of smoke.

Non-UniformFlow-Non-uniform flow causes the combustor to heat and cool unevenly and is a result of fuel- loading configuration. This occurs when the flow pattern of the fire is concentrated on one side of the combustor. This condition causes thermal stress within the ceramic, resulting in cracking.

TROUBLESHOOTING

Operation of any wood heater can create problems. While the use of a catalytic-combustor equipped stove will substantially lessen some of these problems—such as creosote formation—other traditional wood-heater problems may remain.

The following guidelines apply to operation of all wood heaters, with problems related to catalytic heaters addressed where appropriate.

HEATER RELATED PROBLEMS

	Problem		Possible Cause		Solution
1.	Sluggish heater performance	1.	Obstruction in chimney	1.	Check for and remove
		2.	Improperly sealed trim kit		obstruction
				2.	Check trim kit gasketing seal
			or direct connect kit		to fireplace and gasket as nec-
					essary to seal unit. Gasket
					under stove if needed. Check
					seal of direct connect and
		3.	Manual damper in chimney		correct.
				3.	Open manual damper and
			is closed		wire shut with stainless steel
		4.	Closing bypass or exhaust		wire or remove damper.
				4.	Follow New Buck
			damper too soon		instructions for proper firing
		5.	Wet or unseasoned wood		procedures.
				5.	Burn dry, seasoned wood
			being burned
		6.	Too much wood added to	6.	Add small amounts of wood
			too few coals		to small coal beds. Once a
					good bed of coals has been
					established more wood can be
		7.	Dislodged stove parts		added.
				7.	Check all movable heater
		8.	Poor chimney draft		parts. Replace if necessary.
				8.	See section in “Chimney-
		9.	Combustor is plugged		Related Problems”
				9.	See section in “Combustor-
					Related Problems”
2.	Drop in Overall Efficiency	1.	Cold, windy weather	1.	Weather stripping, caulking,
		2.	Burning wet, pitchy or		insulation, storm windows
				2.	Burn quality wood available
			spongy wood		in your area
		3.	Combustor not in operating	3.	Close bypass or engage
			mode		combustor when temperatures
					are high enough and
		4.	Combustor not functioning		stabilized
				4.	See “Combustor-Related
					Problems”