Vermont Casting 2160 Reloading and Reviving a Wood Fire, Remove and Store Ash Safely, 2001049

Dutchwest Sequoia

correct this situation, roll up a couple pieces of newspa- per, place them on top of the kindling and toward the back of the stove, light them and close the doors. This should heat the chimney enough to initiate a draft.

Once the draft is established, open the front door and light the rest of the fuel from the bottom. Do not light the main bed of fuel until the chimney begins drawing, and repeat the procedure as often as necessary if the initial attempt is unsuccessful.

4.After the temperature on the probe thermometer has reached 450-500°F (232-260°C) (depending on your individual wood and draft situation), close the stove damper. This will activate the combustor. To ensure continued operation of the combustor, let the tem- perature approach at least 850°F (454°C) before reducing the air settings.

5.Close the primary air control to a medium setting, or about 6:00-7:00 on the imaginary clock face referred to on Page 18. The fire volume will diminish immedi- ately, but the stove will continue to warm up. Main- tain control of the fire using the primary air and combustor air controls, and remember: reduce the setting for a smaller fire, increase the setting for a larger fire. Refer back to the air control settings chart on Page 18 for recommended settings at different burn rates.

DO NOT OVERFIRE THIS HEATER. Overfiring may cause a house fire, or can result in permanent damage to the stove and to the catalytic combustor. If an exterior part of the stove or the chimney connector glows, you are overfiring.

Reloading and Reviving a Wood Fire

Open the stove damper and wait at least fifteen sec- onds for the draft to increase. Open the door slowly and add the fuel. Split wood will fill the firebox more com- pletely and reduce the frequency of reloading.

Leave the stove damper open for a short time until the probe temperature reaches 800°F (430°C), then close it.

Frequently the temperature will drop below 800°F

(430°C) after reloading, particularly if the loading door is open a long time. Should the temperature drop below this level, stimulate the fire by increasing the primary air supply while leaving the stove damper open. Reduce the air supply and close the stove damper when the temperature has reached 800°F (430°C).

NOTE: If the charcoal bed is relatively thick and your fuel is well-seasoned, it is possible to add fresh fuel (smaller pieces first), close the door and damper, and reset the air control within five minutes.

Draft is affected by a number of variables, such as outside temperatures and quality of fuel. Adjusting your

operation in response to these variables may be helpful. To maintain good draft under adverse condi- tions, refuel as often as necessary to keep the bed of the firebox covered with a ‘robust’ layer of hot coals. Run the stove at temperatures a little above minimum recommended temperatures.

Remove and Store Ash Safely

Wearing protective stove gloves, check the ash pan before reloading the stove. If the ash level is close to the top, empty the pan. Before replacing the ash pan, clear away any ash that has spilled over the sides and back of the pan.

When burning wood, empty the ash drawer regularly, typically every one to three days. The frequency will vary depending on how hot you run your stove: the hotter the fire, the more wood you burn, and the faster ash will accumulate.

Ash may contain hot coals and must be treated with extreme care.

Coal ash will accumulate rather quickly and will require emptying the ash drawer at least once a day. Empty it before shaking and reloading to allow the newly-shaken ash to cool before the next shakedown.

ST744

Fig. 22 Wear a heavy stove glove for protection when removing ash.

Always Dispose of Ash in a Safe Manner

Ash should be removed frequently and placed outdoors in a metal container with a tight-fitting lid. The closed container of ash should be placed on a noncombustible floor or on the ground, well away from all combustible materials, pending final disposal. If the ash is disposed of by burial in soil or otherwise locally dispersed, it should be retained in the closed container until all cinders have thoroughly cooled. Wood ash may be used as a garden fertilizer.

CAUTION: Never use a vacuum cleaner to remove ash from the stove; always remove and dispose of the ash properly.

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