Creosote
Creosote is a
Because letting the smoke cool off and slow down is one of the keys to creosote production, it makes sense to line a chimney to match the stove’s outlet size, for safety reasons as well as performance. Canadian law requires a matching liner to serve any stove or insert vented through a fireplace chimney; in the US, the Na- tional Fire Protection Association recommends a liner if the chimney is more than three times bigger (in square area) than the outlet on the stove or insert. Some locali- ties enforce the NFPA guidelines as part of their build- ing codes.
Fuel
Even the best stove installation will not perform well with poor fuel. The best fuel is hardwood that has air- dried
Back-puffing
Encore 1450
Draft Testing
An easy way to test your chimney draft is to close the stove’s damper, wait a few minutes to let the airflow stabilize, then see whether you can vary the strength of the fire by swinging the air control open and closed. Results 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’s no change, then the draft isn’t strong enough yet to let you close the damper, and you’ll need to open it for a while longer and manage the fire with the air inlet until the draft strengthens.
Test chimney draft with a draft gauge.
Negative Pressure
Good draft also depends on a supply of air to the stove; a chimney can’t pull in more air than is available to it. Sluggish draft results when a house is tight enough to prevent the ready flow of air to the stove, or by com- petition between the stove and other equipment that removes air from the house - especially
Conclusion
30002425 | 27 |