Vermont Casting 1640 Single Venting, Fuel, Creosote, Backpuffing, Draft Testing

Intrepid 1640 Woodburning Stove

There should be no more than eight feet of single-wall stove pipe between the stove and a chimney. Longer runs can cool the smoke enough to cause draft and creosote problems. Use double-wall stove pipe for longer runs.

Single Venting

Your stove requires a dedicated flue. Do not connect the stove to a flue used by any other appliance. Chim- ney draft is a natural form of energy and follows the path of least resistance. If the stove is vented to a flue that also serves an open fireplace or another appliance, the draft will also pull air in through those avenues. The additional air flow will lower flue temperatures, reduce draft strength and promote creosote development; overall stove performance will suffer. The effect is similar to that of a vacuum cleaner with a hole in the hose. In some extreme instances, the other appliance can even impose a negative draft and result in a dangerous draft reversal.

Fuel

Even the best stove installation will not perform well if poor fuel is used. I available, always use hardwood that has been air-dried (‘seasoned’) 12-18 months. Soft- wood burns more rapidly than hardwood and has a high resin content conducive to creosote production. De- cayed wood of any type has little heat value and should not be used.

All unseasoned (‘green’) wood has a high moisture content. Much of its heat value will be used to evapo- rate moisture before the wood can burn. This signifi- cantly reduces not only the amount of energy available to warm your home, but also the intensity of the fire and temperature of the exhaust gas. Incomplete combustion and cool flue temperatures promote creosote formation and weak draft.

You can judge the moisture content of wood by its appearance and weight or use a commercially available moisture meter for an exact measurement. Unsea- soned wood will be a third heavier than dry wood. Also, look for cracks (‘checking’) in the ends of the log that result from contraction as the wood dries. The longer and wider the cracks, the dryer the wood is.

Purchase your fuel from a reputable dealer.

Creosote

Creosote is a by-product of low-temperature stove operations, weak draft or both. It is a tar that results when unburned gases condense inside the flue system at temperatures below 290°F. Creosote is volatile and can generate chimney fire. All of the installation charac- teristics that adversely affect chimney draft also pro- mote creosote condensation. Consequently, you can minimize creosote accumulation with an effective chimney design and the use of operational techniques that encourage good draft and complete combustion.

Backpuffing

Backpuffing is a condition that results when the draft is too weak to pull flue gases out of the chimney system as fast as the fire is generating more. Volatile gases build up within the firebox until reaching a density and temperature at which they ignite. With this ignition, you may hear a muffled popping sound and see a bit of smoke forced out of the air inlets.

This condition is most likely to occur in the spring or fall when moderate outdoor temperatures and low intensity fires combine to inhibit draft strength. If your stove backpuffs, open the damper to let the smoke rise to the flue more quickly. Also, open the air inlets to induce a livelier fire and speed airflow through the stove. Avoid large loads of firewood at one time. You should always see lively, dancing flames in the firebox; a lazy, smoky fire is inefficient and will promote draft problems.

Draft Testing

An easy way to determine whether your chimney draft is strong enough is to close the stove damper, wait a few minutes to let the airflow stabilize, and then test whether you can vary the strength of the fire by swing- ing the air control open and closed. Results here are not always instant; you may need to wait a few minutes for a change in the air control setting to have an effect on the fire. If there is no change, the draft is not yet strong enough to let you close the damper. You will need to open it for awhile longer and manage the fire with the air inlet until the draft strengthens. Keep a record of your operational habits and relate them to their effects on the stove’s function. You will be re- warded with safe and efficient performance.

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