USER INSTRUCTIONS
6.burning tips
6.1Fuel Quality (Wood)
Use wood with a moisture content of less than 20%. Seasoned logs have the bark beginning to lift and peel away and cracks radiating from the centre. They feel lighter than fresh cut wood of a similar size and sound hollow when struck against each other. Logs should not feel damp or have moss and fungal growths.
Symptoms related to wet wood:
—Difficulty starting and keeping a fire burning well
—Smoke and small flames
—Dirty glass and/or firebricks
—Rapid creosote
—Low heat output
—Short burn times, excessive fuel consumption and blue/grey smoke from the chimney
• Burn at high output at high output for a short period each day to avoid large
• Use Stovax Protector chimney cleaner to reduce this problem
6.2 Fuel Quality (Solid Fuel)
• Use recommended solid fuels approved for use with closed appliances.
Symptoms related to unsuitable fuels include:
— Difficulty starting and keeping a fire burning well
— Smoke and small flames
— Dirty glass and/or fire bricks
— Short life span for grate, baffles and internal firebricks
— Permanent staining of glass
6.3 Air inlets puffing smoke
Combustion gases build up in the firebox and ignite as small explosions, causing smoke to puff out of the air inlets and other openings. This occurs if the air controls are shut soon after adding new fuel to a very hot fire. Stop by opening the air controls to increase combustion air and burning rate.
6.4 Flue Draught
The chimney has two main functions:
1) To safely remove the smoke, gases and fumes from the house.
2) To provide a sufficient amount of draught (suction) in the appliance ensuring the fire keeps burning.
Draught is caused by the rising hot air in the chimney when the appliance is lit.
Symptoms of poor performance related to flue draught include:
— Excessive fuel consumption (high flue draught)
— Poor burning control, overheating (high flue draught)
— Wind noise from air controls (high flue draught)
—Difficulty getting a fire going and keeping it burning well (low flue draught)
—Low heat output (low flue draught)
—Smoke entering room when doors opened (low flue draught)
The construction, position, size and height of the chimney all affect the performance of the flue draught.
Other factors effecting the flue draught include:
—Trees or other buildings nearby causing turbulence
—High and gusty winds
—Outside temperature
—Outside weather conditions
—Incorrect additional ventilation to building
—Blocked flue / chimney
For advice on the correction of persistent flue problems consult a qualified solid fuel heating engineer before continuing to use the appliance.
6.5Weather conditions
The weather conditions outside the building can effect the burning performance of the appliance. These could include:
Weather Conditions | Problem | Effect |
|
|
|
Windy days | Buildings/Obstacles | Smoky Appliance |
| cause turbulent air |
|
| around chimney. |
|
Calm days | Oversized Chimney. | Smoky Appliance |
Damp / Rainy days | Flue temperature | Lighting and |
| not hot enough. | burning problems |
| Rain water inside |
|
| chimney. |
|
To reduce these problems:
•Use good quality kindling wood to start the fire
•Burn initially at a high temperature for a short period
•Fit a rain cowl to the chimney
Your installer should advise you on possible solutions.
If the appliance emits smoke into the room continuously:
•Close the air controls and allow the appliance to go out
•Ventilate the room to clear the fumes
•Leave the room
Do not re-light the appliance until the problem is solved.
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