Quadra-Fire 1900 Operating Instructions, Important Please Read Before Using Stove Burning Process

First, build the frame for the thimble, making sure that it is no smaller than 14½” (368mm) diameter, which will maintain a 2” (50mm) air space around the chimney section. Attach the wall spacer to the chimney side of the frame. Then insert the frame into the opening, toe-nailing it to the wall studs. Install the wall band in the framing to secure the chimney section in place. Insert a single section of chimney connector into the chimney through the wall band, being sure it does not protrude into the chimney beyond the edge of the chimney flue lining. Apply high temperature furnace cement to the end of the chimney section and install it over the connector, through the wall band, and through the wall spacer. Tighten the wall band to hold the chimney section firmly in place and against the chimney. Install the trim collar on the outside of the opening. Check to insure there is a 1” (25mm) air space between the connector and the chimney section. Also, during installation, always check to insure that a 2” (50mm) air space is being maintained to the wood framing. Do not fill this space with insulation. Insulation in this air space will cause a heat buildup which may ignite the wood framing.

FIGURE 10

FIGURE 11

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ BEFORE USING STOVE

BURNING PROCESS

In recent years there has been an increasing concern about air quality. Much of the blame for poor air quality has been placed on the burning of wood for home heating. In order to improve the situation, we at Quadra-Fire have developed cleaner-burning wood stoves that surpass the requirements for emissions established by our governing agencies. These wood stoves, like any other appliances, must be properly operated in order to insure that they perform the way they are designed to perform. Improper operation can turn most any wood stove into a smoldering environmental hazard.

It helps to know a little about the actual process of burning in order to understand what goes on inside a stove. The first stage of burning we will call the kindling stage. In this stage, the wood is heated to a temperature high enough to evapo- rate the moisture which is present in all wood. The wood will reach the boiling point of water (212°F) and will not get any hotter until the water is evaporated. This process takes heat from the coals and tends to cool the stove. Fire requires three things to burn: fuel, air and heat. So, if heat is robbed from the stove during the drying stage, the new load of wood has reduced the chances for a good clean burn. For this reason, it is always best to burn dry, seasoned firewood. When the wood isn’t dry, you must open the air control and burn the stove at a high burn setting for a longer time to start it burning.

The next stage of burning, the secondary stage, is the period when the wood gives off flammable gases which burn above the fuel with bright flames. During this stage of burning it is very important that the flames be maintained and not allowed to go out. This will insure the cleanest possible fire. If you are adjusting your stove for a low burn rate, you should close down the air to the point where you can still maintain some flame. If the flames tend to go out, the stove is set too low for your burning conditions. The air control in the center of the stove, beneath the ashcatcher, is used to adjust the stove for lower burn rates. Pulling this control towards you closes it, pushing it in opens it. The air control rod should be closed (pulled outward) for lower burns.

The final stage of burning is the charcoal stage. This occurs when the flammable gases have been mostly burned and only charcoal remains. This is a naturally clean portion of the burn. The coals burn with hot blue flames. It is very important to reload your stove while enough lively hot coals remain in order to provide the amount of heat needed to dry and rekindle the next load of wood. It is best to open the air control for a short while before reloading. This livens up the coalbed. Open door slowly so that ash or smoke does not exit stove through opening. You should also break up any large chunks and distribute the coals so that the new wood is laid on hot coals.

Air quality is important to all of us, and if we choose to use wood to heat our homes we should do so responsibly. To do this we need to learn to burn our stoves in the cleanest way possible. Doing this will allow us to continue using our wood stoves for many years to come.

COMBUSTION AIR SYSTEM

The combustion air enters at the upper front of the firebox, near the top of the glass door. This preheated air supplies the necessary fresh oxygen to keep the wood burning and mix with the unburned gases, helping to create secondary, tertiary and quaternary combustions. This air is regulated by the air control rod beneath the ashcatcher. For more combustion air push control in, for less combustion air pull control out.

Air control rod

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