R
Cumberland Gap Wood Stove
Moisture | C. Burning Process |
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The majority of the problems appliance owners experience are caused by trying to burn wet, unseasoned wood.
•Wet, unseasoned wood requires energy to evaporate the water instead of heating your home, and
•Causes evaporating moisture which cools your chimney, accelerating formation of creosote.
WARNING
Fire Risk.
•Do NOT burn wet or green wood.
•Store wood in dry location.
•Stack wood so both ends are exposed to air. Wet, unseasoned wood can cause accumulation of creosote.
Seasoned Wood
•Cut logs to size
•Split to 6 inches (152 mm) or less in diameter
•Air dry to a moisture content of not more than 20%
-Soft wood - about nine months to dry
-Hard wood - about eighteen months to dry
NOTICE: Seasoning time may vary depending on drying conditions.
Storing Wood
Steps to ensure properly seasoned wood:
•Stack wood to allow air to circulate freely around and through woodpile.
•Elevate wood pile off ground to allow air circulation underneath.
•Smaller pieces of wood dry faster. Any piece over 6 in. (152 mm) in diameter should be split.
•Wood (whole or split) should be stacked so both ends of each piece are exposed to air. More drying occurs through the cut ends than the sides.
•Store wood under cover to prevent water absorption from rain or snow. Avoid covering the sides and ends completely.
WARNING
Fire Risk
Do NOT store wood:
•In front of the appliance.
•In space required for loading or ash removal.
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
These wood appliances must be properly operated in order to ensure that they perform the way they are designed to perform.
NOTICE: Improper operation can turn any wood appli- ance into a smoldering environmental hazard.
1. Kindling or First Stage
It helps to know a little about the actual process of burning in order to understand what goes on inside the appliance. The first stage of burning is called the kindling stage.
In this stage:
•Wood is heated to a temperature high enough to evapo- rate the moisture present in all wood.
•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 appliance.
Fire requires three things to burn:
•Fuel
•Air
•Heat
If heat is robbed from the appliance during the drying stage, the new load of wood has reduced the chances for a good clean burn.
It is always best to burn dry, seasoned firewood. When the wood isn’t dry, you must open the air controls and burn at a high burn setting for a longer time to start it burning.
The heat generated from the fire should be warming your home and establishing the flue draft, not evaporating the mois- ture out of wet, unseasoned wood, resulting in wasted heat.
2. Second Stage
In the secondary stage wood gives off flammable gases which burn above the fuel with bright flames.
During this stage of burning:
•The flames must be maintained and not allowed to go out to ensure the cleanest possible fire.
•If the flames tend to go out, it is set too low for your burn- ing conditions.
Page 26 | November 5, 2010 |
