background image

Century FW3000 Installation and Operation Manual 

 

15 

4  Operating Your Stove 

4.1  Your First Fires 

Two  things  will  happen  as  you  burn  your  first  few  fires;  the  paint  cures  and  the  internal 
components of the stove are conditioned.  

As  the  paint  cures,  some  of  the  chemicals  vaporize.  The  vapors  are  not  poisonous,  but 
they do smell bad. Fresh paint fumes can also cause false alarms in smoke detectors. So, 
when you first light your stove, be prepared by opening doors and/or windows to ventilate 
the  house.  As  you  burn  hotter  and  hotter  fires,  more  of  the  painted  surfaces  reach  the 
curing  temperature  of  the  paint.  The  smell  of  curing  paint  does  not  disappear  until  you 
have burned one or two very hot fires.  

Burn one or two small fires to begin the curing and conditioning process. Then build bigger 
and hotter fires until there is no longer any paint smell from the stove. Once the paint smell 
disappears, your stove is ready for serious heating. 

4.2  Lighting Fires 

Each person who heats with wood develops their own favorite way to light fires. Whatever 
method you choose, your goal should be to get a hot fire burning quickly. A fire that starts 
fast  produces  less  smoke  and  deposits  less  creosote  in  the  chimney.  Here  are  three 
popular and effective ways to start wood fires. 

4.2.1  Conventional Fire Starting 

The  conventional  way  to  build  a  wood  fire  is  to 
bunch up 5 to 10 sheets of plain newspaper and 
place  them  in  the  firebox.  Next,  place  10  or  so 
pieces  of  fine  kindling  on  the  newspaper.  This 
k

indling  should  be  very  thin;  less  than  1”  (25 

mm). Next, place some larger kindling pieces on 
the  fine  kindling.  Open  the  air    control  fully  and 
light  the  newspaper.  If  you  have  a  tall,  straight 
venting  system  you  should  be  able  to  close  the 
door  immediately  and  the  fire  will  ignite.  If  your 
venting  system  has  elbows  or  an  outside 
chimney, you may need to leave the door closed 
but  unlatched  for  a  few  minutes  as  the 
newspaper  ignites  and  heat  in  the  chimney 
produces  some  draft.  Once  the  fire  has  ignited, 
close  the  door  and  leave  the  air  control  fully 
open. 

 

A conventional kindling fire with 

paper under finely split wood. 

DO  NOT  LEAVE  THE  STOVE  UNATTENDED  WHEN  THE  DOOR  IS  SLIGHTLY 
OPENED DURING IGNITION. ALWAYS CLOSE THE DOOR AFTER IGNITION. 

After the kindling fire has mostly burned, you can add standard firewood pieces until you 
have a fire of the right size for the conditions. 

Summary of Contents for CB00004

Page 1: ...ry heating com Stove Builder International Inc 250 rue de Copenhague St Augustin de Desmaures Quebec Canada G3A 2H3 After sale service 418 908 8002 E mail tech sbi international com This manual is available for free download on the manufacturer s web site It is a copyrighted document Re sale is strictly prohibited The manufacturer may update this manual from time to time and cannot be responsible ...

Page 2: ...lled a house fire may result To reduce the risk of fire follow the installation instructions Contact local building or fire officials about restrictions and installation inspection requirements in your area Please read this entire manual before you install and use your new stove Failure to follow instructions may result in property damage bodily injury or even death It is important that you follow...

Page 3: ...That Should Not be Burned 11 3 2 How to Prepare or Buy Good Firewood 11 3 2 1 What is Good Firewood 11 3 2 2 Tree Species 11 3 2 3 Log Length 12 3 2 4 Piece Size 12 3 2 5 How to Dry Firewood 13 3 2 6 Judging Firewood Moisture Content 14 3 3 Manufactured Logs 14 4 Operating Your Stove 15 4 1 Your First Fires 15 4 2 Lighting Fires 15 4 2 1 Conventional Fire Starting 15 4 2 2 The Top Down Fire 16 4 2...

Page 4: ...ation 25 7 Clearances to Combustible Material 26 7 1 Location of the certification label 26 7 2 Clearances to Walls and Ceiling 26 7 3 Floor protector 28 7 4 Reducing Wall and Ceiling Clearances Safely 29 7 4 1 Shield Construction Rules 29 7 4 2 Table of Clearance Reduction Percentages 30 8 The Venting System 31 8 1 General 31 8 2 Suitable Chimneys 31 8 2 1 Factory built Metal Chimneys 31 8 2 2 Ma...

Page 5: ...alling the Optional Fresh Air Intake Kit AC01337 38 Appendix 2 Installation and Use of the Optional Blower and Thermodisc 39 Appendix 3 Installation of Secondary Air Tubes and Baffle 41 Appendix 4 Exploded Diagram and Parts List 43 CENTURY HEATING LIMITED WARRANTY 46 ...

Page 6: ...ROCEDURES OR RELOADING DO NOT LEAVE THE STOVE UNATTENDED WHEN THE DOOR IS SLIGHTLY OPENED DURING IGNITION ALWAYS CLOSE THE DOOR AFTER IGNITION NEVER USE GASOLINE GASOLINE TYPE LANTERN FUEL NAPHTHA FUEL OIL MOTOR OIL KEROSENE CHARCOAL LIGHTER FLUID OR SIMILAR LIQUIDS OR AEROSOLS TO START OR FRESHEN UP A FIRE IN THIS STOVE KEEP ALL SUCH LIQUIDS OR AEROSOLS WELL AWAY FROM THE STOVE WHILE IT IS IN USE...

Page 7: ...pping Weight CB00004 317 lb 144 kg Shipping Weight CB00014 322 lb 146 kg Firebox Volume 2 4 cu ft 0 068 m3 Maximum Log Length 20 east west Flue Outlet Diameter 6 150 mm diameter vertical Baffle Material Vermiculite Burn time and heating capacity may vary subject to location in home chimney draft chimney diameter locality heat loss factors climate fuels and other variables The EPA test fuel is dime...

Page 8: ...Century FW3000 Installation and Operation Manual 8 ...

Page 9: ...f the house where the family spends most of its time This is normally the main living area where the kitchen dining and living rooms are located By locating the stove in this area you will get the maximum benefit of the heat it produces and will achieve the highest possible heating efficiency and comfort The space where you spend most of your time will be warmest while bedrooms and basement if the...

Page 10: ... your stove which is most of its weight is carbon steel Should it ever become necessary many years in the future almost the entire stove can be recycled into new products thus eliminating the need to mine new materials The paint coat on your stove is very thin Its VOC content Volatile Organic Components is very low VOCs can be responsible for smog so all the paint used during the manufacturing pro...

Page 11: ...spruce birch and poplar other low density species to burn and yet they can heat their homes successfully Homeowners with access to both hardwood and softwood fuel sometimes use both types for different purposes For example softer woods make good fuel for relatively mild weather in spring and fall because they light quickly and produce less heat Softwoods are not as dense as hardwoods so a given vo...

Page 12: ...es more quickly when it is split Large unsplit rounds can take years to dry enough to burn Even when dried unsplit logs are difficult to ignite because they don t have the sharp edges where the flames first catch Logs as small as 3 75 mm should be split to encourage drying Wood should be split to a range of sizes from about 3 to 6 75 mm to 150 mm in cross section Having a range of sizes makes star...

Page 13: ...ns faster in warm summer weather than in winter weather small pieces dry more quickly than large pieces split pieces dry more quickly than unsplit rounds softwoods take less time to dry than hardwoods softwoods like pine spruce and poplar aspen can be dry enough to burn after being stacked in the open for only the summer months hardwoods like oak maple and ash can take one or even two years to dry...

Page 14: ...the fire and dry wood does not You could buy a wood moisture meter to test your firewood 3 3 Manufactured Logs Do not burn manufactured logs made of wax impregnated sawdust or logs with any chemical additives Manufactured logs made of 100 compressed sawdust can be burned but use caution in the number of these logs burned at one time Start with one manufactured log and see how the stove reacts You ...

Page 15: ...e to get a hot fire burning quickly A fire that starts fast produces less smoke and deposits less creosote in the chimney Here are three popular and effective ways to start wood fires 4 2 1 Conventional Fire Starting The conventional way to build a wood fire is to bunch up 5 to 10 sheets of plain newspaper and place them in the firebox Next place 10 or so pieces of fine kindling on the newspaper T...

Page 16: ...paper between the logs Now place some fine kindling across the two logs and some larger kindling across those log cabin style Light the newspaper 4 2 4 Using Fire Starters Many people like to use commercial fire starters instead of newspaper Some of these starters are made of sawdust and wax and others are specialized flammable solid chemicals Follow the package directions for use Gel starter may ...

Page 17: ...t will interfere with proper fire management The best time to remove ash is after an overnight fire when the stove is relatively cool but there is still some chimney draft to draw the ash dust into the stove and prevent it from coming into the room After ashes have been removed from the stove and placed in a tightly covered metal container they should be taken outside immediately The closed contai...

Page 18: ...the chimney the result will be a surge of heat from the stove This heat surge is welcome when the room temperature is a little lower than desirable but not welcome if the space is already warm Therefore allow each load of wood to burn down so that the space begins to cool off a little before loading Letting the space cool before loading is one of the secrets to clean burning and effective zone hea...

Page 19: ...you are around to tend the stove and should provide enough heat for four hours or more Small fires like this are a good time to use softer wood species so there will be less chance of overheating the house 4 3 6 2 Long Lasting Low Output Fires Sometimes you will want to build a fire to last up to eight hours but don t need intense heat In this case use soft wood species and place the logs compactl...

Page 20: ...s 2 0 c f to 2 5 c f 6 to 8 hours 2 5 c f to 3 0 c f 8 to 9 hours 3 0 c f 9 to 10 hours Long burn times are not necessarily an indication of efficient stove operation When you are home during the day and able to tend the fire it is preferable to build a smaller fire that might provide three or four hours of heating than to fully load the firebox for a much longer burn Shorter burn cycles make it e...

Page 21: ...e fire has been smoky and some of the smoke has condensed on the glass When the weather is mild you may find that letting the fire go out is better than trying to maintain a continuous fire Use the technique described above for building a fire to take the chill off the house If you do get brown stains on the glass you can remove them with special cleaners for wood stove glass doors Do not use abra...

Page 22: ... is flat adhesive backed woven fibreglass Remove the glass retaining screws A and clips B Lift out the glass C and pull off the old gasket This is a good time to clean the glass thoroughly The gasket must be centred on the edge of the glass To do this easily peel back a section of the paper covering the adhesive and place the gasket on a table with the adhesive side up Stick the end of the gasket ...

Page 23: ...n condense inside the chimney connector and chimney forming a combustible deposit called creosote If creosote is allowed to build up in the venting system it can ignite when a hot fire is burned in the stove and a very hot fire can progress to the top of the chimney Severe chimney fires can damage even the best chimneys Smouldering smoky fires can quickly cause a thick layer of creosote to form Wh...

Page 24: ...ff plastic brushes The brush is forced up and down inside the chimney flue to scrub off the creosote The chimney connector assembly should always be cleaned at the same time the chimney is cleaned CAUTION Operation of your stove without the baffle and or firebricks may cause unsafe and hazardous temperature conditions and will void the warranty NOTE Before installing the firebricks check to ensure...

Page 25: ...CTION WITH ANY AIR DISTRIBUTION DUCTWORK UNLESS SPECIFICALLY APPROVED FOR SUCH INSTALLATION DO NOT CONNECT THIS UNIT TO A CHIMNEY FLUE SERVING ANOTHER APPLIANCE DO NOT INSTALL IN A MOBILE HOME 6 2 Regulations Covering Stove Installation When installed and operated as described in these instructions the Century FW3000 wood stove is suitable for use as a freestanding heater in residential installati...

Page 26: ...o it in order to have a safe and compliant installation In addition you will find information about your stove model serial number etc You can find the certification label on the back of the stove 7 2 Clearances to Walls and Ceiling The clearances to combustible walls may be slightly different in Canada and the U S A and may also differ depending on whether you use single or double wall flue pipe ...

Page 27: ...Century FW3000 Installation and Operation Manual 27 Clearances to combustible materials and floor protection ...

Page 28: ... mm From door opening J N A USA only 8 203 mm M 8 203 mm N A Canada only N N A USA only Note 2 Steel with a minimum thickness of 0 015 0 38 mm or ceramic tiles sealed together with grout No protection is required if the unit is installed on a non combustible floor ex concrete Note 1 The floor protection at the back of the stove is limited to the stove s required clearance if such clearance is smal...

Page 29: ...Construction Rules 1 Minimum space behind shield 25 mm 1 in In Canada 21 mm 7 8 in 2 Minimum clearance along the bottom of shield 25 mm 1 in 3 Maximum clearance along the bottom of shield 75 mm 3 in 4 Minimum clearance along the top of shield at ceiling 75 mm 3 in 5 Shield extension beyond each side of appliance 450 mm 18 in 6 Shield extension above appliance 500 mm 20 in 7 Edge clearance for ceil...

Page 30: ...mbustible material on non combustible board spaced out at least 25 mm 1 in by non combustible spacers 50 33 Ceramic tiles or equivalent non combustible material on non combustible board with a minimum of 24 gauge 0 61 mm sheet metal backing spaced out at least 25 mm 1 in by non combustible spacers 67 50 Brick spaced out at least 25 mm 1 in by non combustible spacers 50 N A Brick with a minimum of ...

Page 31: ...east 5 inches Canada only or no more than 7 inches is permitted if it allows the proper venting of combustion gases and that such application is verified and authorized by a qualified installer Otherwise the diameter of the flue should be 6 inches To be suitable a factory built metal chimney must comply with UL 103 HT U S A or ULC S629 Canada 8 2 1 Factory built Metal Chimneys These are sometimes ...

Page 32: ...6 flue it should be relined with a suitably listed 6 stainless steel liner Do not downsize the flue to less than 6 unless the venting system is straight and exceeds 25 feet in height When passing through a combustible wall the use of an insulated listed thimble is required 8 3 Minimum Chimney Height The top of the chimney should be tall enough to be above the air turbulence caused when wind blows ...

Page 33: ...ghest heated space 8 4 1 Why inside chimneys are preferred Venting systems that rise straight up from the stove flue collar provide the best performance Chimneys that rise inside the warm space of the house tend to provide a small amount of draft even when there is no fire burning This means that when you light a fire the initial smoke goes up the chimney and strong draft builds quickly as the chi...

Page 34: ...he finest stove will not work well when connected to this chimney 8 5 Supply of Combustion Air In Canada wood stoves are not required to have a supply of combustion air from outdoors except in mobile homes because research has shown that these supplies do not give protection against house depressurization and may fail to supply combustion air during windy weather However to protect against the ris...

Page 35: ...ve backwards through the duct to outdoors Check the outdoor air duct for soot deposits when the full system is cleaned and inspected at least once each year 8 6 Installing the Chimney Connector The chimney connector is the single or double wall pipe installed between the stove flue collar and the chimney breech Single wall pipe components are available from most hardware and building supply stores...

Page 36: ...he past can result in house fires The best flue pipe assembly is one that rises straight up from the stove to the base of the chimney with no elbows Straight assemblies are less likely to cause problems like smoke roll out when the door is opened for loading They are also more stable and easier to maintain than assemblies with elbows Horizontal runs of flue pipe should be avoided where possible be...

Page 37: ... should include an inspection wrap with one end unfastened or a telescopic section Minimum upward slope towards the chimney 20 mm m 1 4 in ft One end of the assembly must be securely fastened to the flue collar with 3 sheet metal screws and the other end securely fastened to the chimney There must be provision for cleaning of the pipes either through a clean out or by removal of the pipe assembly ...

Page 38: ...Installing the Optional Fresh Air Intake Kit AC01337 When installed with a fresh air intake kit the stove must be anchored to the floor with screws The installation instructions are provided with the Fresh Air Intake Kit AC01337 sold separately A AC01337 B AC02090 ...

Page 39: ...rease the flow of air past heat exchange surfaces and to help circulate warm air in the room When used regularly the blower can provide a small increase in efficiency up to 2 percent However the use of a blower should not be used as a way to gain more output from a stove that is undersized for the space it is intended to heat You can purchase this option through your CENTURY dealer Make sure to sp...

Page 40: ... firebox and could affect the start up combustion efficiency if the blower is turned on too early You can also install a thermodisc to enable the blower to start or stop automatically when the stove is hot or too cold The thermodisc part number is AC05530 for a basic model and ACO2055 for a quick connect model Installation instructions are supplied with the blower and the thermodisc CAUTION ENSURE...

Page 41: ...hole Then lift and insert the left end of the tube into the rear left channel 2 Align the notch in the left end of the tube with the key of the left air channel hole Using a Wise grip hold the tube and lock it in place by turning the tube as shown in detail A Make sure the notch reaches the end of the key way 3 Repeat step 1 and 2 for the other secondary air tubes 4 To remove the tubes use the abo...

Page 42: ... tubes A can be replaced without removing the baffle board B Important Notes The air tubes 3 4 diameter are identified for placement as follows Model Type of tube FW3000 Front 37holes of 0 172 Middle front 37 holes of 0 172 Middle rear 37 holes of 0 172 Rear 37 holes of 0 172 ...

Page 43: ...Century FW3000 Installation and Operation Manual 43 Appendix 4 Exploded Diagram and Parts List ...

Page 44: ...N 5 16 DIA X 1 1 2 LONG 2 6 SE63001 REPLACEMENT GLASS WITH GASKET S31141 1 7 AC06400 3 4 FLAT X 6 BLACK SELF ADHESIVE GLASS GASKET KIT 1 8 PL55105 GLASS RETAINER FRAME 1 9 PL55101 DECORATIVE BOTTOM DOOR TRIM 2 10 30124 SCREW 8 32 X 5 16 TRUSS QUADREX ZINC 7 11 30060 THREAD CUTTING SCREW 1 4 20 x 1 2 F HEX STEEL SLOT WASHER C102 ZINC 7 12 PL55076 ASH LIP 1 13 AC01337 5 FRESH AIR INTAKE KIT 1 14 999...

Page 45: ...ISC 1 33 44046 THERMODISC F110 20F 1 34 SE45632 01 FW3000 INSTRUCTION MANUAL KIT 1 35 29015 4 x 9 x 1 1 4 REFRACTORY BRICK 9 36 29010 4 1 2 X 9 X 1 1 4 REFRACTORY BRICK 10 37 PL36049 4 1 2 X 4 1 2 X 1 1 4 REFRACTORY BRICK 1 38 PL36024 1 7 8 X 4 1 2 X 1 1 4 REFRACTORY BRICK 1 39 SE16059 ASH DUMP PLUG 1 40 PL55095 SECONDARY AIR TUBE 4 41 21216 VERMICULATE BAFFLE 14 3 4 X 20 1 8 X 1 1 ...

Page 46: ...n of the defect The manufacturer may at its discretion fully discharge all obligations with respect to this warranty by refunding the wholesale price of any warranted but defective parts The manufacturer shall in no event be responsible for any uncommon indirect consequential damages of any nature which are in excess of the original purchase price of the product A one time replacement limit applie...

Reviews: