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Century FW2600 Installation and Operation Manual 

 

11 

3  Fuel 

3.1  Materials That Should Not be Burned  

 

GARBAGE OF ANY KIND, 

 

COAL OR CHARCOAL, 

 

TREATED, PAINTED OR COATED WOOD, 

 

PLYWOOD OR PARTICLE BOARD, 

 

FINE PAPER, COLORED PAPER OR CARDBOARD, 

 

SALT WATER DRIFTWOOD 

 

MANUFACTURED LOGS CONTAINING WAX OR CHEMICAL ADDITIVES 

 

RAILROAD TIES 

 

LIQUIDS SUCH AS KEROSCENE OR DIESEL FUEL TO START A FIRE 

3.2  How to Prepare or Buy Good Firewood 

3.2.1  What is Good Firewood? 

Good firewood has been cut to the correct length for the stove, split to a range of sizes and 
stacked in the open until its moisture content is reduced to 15 to 20 per cent. 

3.2.2  Tree Species 

The tree species the firewood is produced from is less important than its moisture content. 
The  main  difference  in  firewood  from  various  tree  species  is  the  density  of  the  wood. 
Hardwoods  are  denser  than  softwoods.  People  who  live  in  the  coldest  regions  of  North 
America usually have only 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  volume  of  wood  contains  less  energy.  Using 
softwoods  avoids  overheating  the  house,  which  can  be  a  common  problem  with  wood 
heating in moderate weather. Harder woods are best for colder winter weather when more 
heat and longer burn cycles are desirable. 

Note  that  hardwood  trees  like  oak, maple, ash  and beech are  slower  growing  and  longer 
lived than softer woods like poplar and birch. That makes hardwood trees more valuable. 
The advice that only hardwoods are good to burn is outdated. Old, leaky cast iron stoves 
wouldn’t  hold  a  fire  overnight  unless  they  were  fed  large  pieces  of  hardwood.  That  is  no 

Summary of Contents for FW2600

Page 1: ... Augustin de Desmaures Quebec Canada G3A 2H3 418 878 3040 Fax 418 878 3001 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 ual from time to time and cannot be responsible for problems injuries or damages arising out of the use of information contained in any manual obtained from u...

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: ...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 13 3 3 Manufactured Logs 14 4 Operating Your Stove 15 4 1 The use of a fire screen 15 4 2 Your First Fires 15 4 3 Lighting Fires 15 4 3 1 Conventional Fire Starting 16 4 3 2 The Top ...

Page 4: ... 1 Location of the certification label 27 7 2 Clearances to Walls and Ceiling 27 7 3 Floor protector 30 7 4 Reducing Wall and Ceiling Clearances Safely 31 7 4 1 Shield Construction Rules 31 7 4 2 Table of Clearance Reduction Percentages 33 8 The Venting System 34 8 1 General 34 8 2 Suitable Chimneys 34 8 2 1 Factory built Metal Chimneys 34 8 2 2 Factory built Metal Chimneys in mobile homes 35 8 2 ...

Page 5: ...it AC01336 42 Appendix 2 Installing the Fire Screen AC01342 44 Appendix 3 Installation and Use of Optional Air Circulation Fan and Thermodisc 45 Appendix 4 Installation of Secondary Air Tubes and Baffle 47 Appendix 5 Exploded Diagram and Parts List 49 CENTURY HEATING LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY 52 ...

Page 6: ...JUNCTION WITH A FIRE SCREEN AC01342 SOLD SEPARATELY THE DOOR MAY BE OPEN OR FIRE SCREEN REMOVED ONLY DURING LIGHTING PROCEDURES OR RELOADING ALWAYS CLOSE THE DOOR OR PUT BACK THE FIRE SCREEN AFTER IGNITION DO NOT LEAVE THE STOVE UNATTENDED WHEN THE DOOR IS OPENED WITH OR WITHOUT FIRE SCREEN NEVER USE GASOLINE GASOLINE TYPE LANTERN FUEL NAPHTHA FUEL OIL MOTOR OIL KEROSENE CHARCOAL LIGHTER FLUID OR ...

Page 7: ...98 lb 135 kg Firebox Volume 1 7 cu ft 0 048 m3 Maximum Log Length 17 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 dimensional Douglas fir pieces stapled together into cribs with ...

Page 8: ...Century FW2600 Installation and Operation Manual 8 ...

Page 9: ...living areas of your house to an adequate temperature we strongly recommend that you also have a conventional oil gas or electric heating system to provide backup heating Your success with zone heating will depend on several factors including the correct sizing and location of the stove the size layout and age of your home and your climate zone Three season vacation homes can usually be heated wit...

Page 10: ...g 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 process meets the latest air quality requirements with regards to VOC reduction or elimination The air tubes are stainless steel which can also be recycled Vermiculite is used for the baffl...

Page 11: ...who live in the coldest regions of North America usually have only 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 prod...

Page 12: ...ghtly too long make loading the stove very difficult The most common standard length of firewood is 16 400 mm The pieces should be a consistent length with a maximum of 1 25 mm variation from piece to piece 3 2 4 Piece Size Firewood dries 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 h...

Page 13: ... rarely dry enough to burn so it is advisable to buy the wood in spring and dry it yourself drying happens faster in dry weather than in damp maritime climates drying happens 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 ...

Page 14: ...ls warm and dry it is dry enough to burn if it feels burn a piece wet wood hisses and sizzles in the fire and dry wood does not You could buy a wood moisture meter to test your firewood 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...

Page 15: ...rnal 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 tempe...

Page 16: ...re has mostly burned you can add standard firewood pieces until you have a fire of the right size for the conditions 4 3 2 The Top Down Fire The top down fire starting method solves two problems with the conventional method first it does not collapse and smother itself as it burns and second it is not necessary to build up the fire gradually because the firebox is loaded before the fire is lit A t...

Page 17: ...s normal for its surface temperature to rise after a new load of wood is ignited and for its temperature to gradually decline as the fire progresses This rising and falling of temperature can be matched to your household routines For example the area temperature can be cooler when you are active such as when doing housework or cooking and it can be warmer when you are inactive such as when reading...

Page 18: ...es normally contain some live charcoal that can stay hot for several days If the ashes are disposed of by burial in soil or otherwise locally dispersed they should be retained in the closed container until all cinders have thoroughly cooled Other waste shall not be placed in this container NEVER STORE ASHES INDOORS OR IN A NON METALIC CONTAINER OR ON A WOODEN DECK 4 4 3 Raking Charcoal Rekindle th...

Page 19: ...e 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 heating 4 4 5 Turning Down the Air Supply Once the firewo...

Page 20: ...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 4 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 21: ...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 22: ...ith a damp cloth or paper towel and then drying Never try to clean the glass when the stove is hot In spring and fall when the stove is run at lower temperatures you may see some light brown stains forming especially at the lower corners of the glass This indicates that the 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 f...

Page 23: ...e from the door Now run a 1 4 6 mm bead of high temperature silicone in the door gasket groove Starting from the middle of the hinge side press the gasket into the groove Do not stretch the gasket as you place it Leave the gasket about 1 2 long when you cut it and press the end into the groove Tuck any loose fibres under the gasket and into the silicone Close the door and do not use the stove for ...

Page 24: ...ntain the finish at its original brilliance use only a damp soft cloth to clean plated surfaces If the paint becomes scratched or damaged you can give your wood stove a brand new look by repainting it with heat resistant paint Before painting roughen the surface with fine sand paper wipe it down to remove dust and apply two thin coats of paint For best results use the same paint that was originall...

Page 25: ...l or provincial fire authority for information on how to handle a chimney fire Have a clearly understood plan to handle a chimney fire 5 2 3 Cleaning the Chimney Chimney cleaning can be a difficult and dangerous job If you don t have experience cleaning chimneys you might want to hire a professional chimney sweep to clean and inspect the system for the first time After having seen the cleaning pro...

Page 26: ...TESTING AUTHORITY VIOLATES CSA B365 CANADA AND ANSI NFPA 211 USA CONNECT THIS STOVE ONLY TO A LISTED FACTORY BUILT CHIMNEY FOR USE WITH SOLID FUEL OR TO A LINED MASONRY CHIMNEY CONFORMING TO NATIONAL AND LOCAL BUILDING CODES IF REQUIRED A SUPPLY OF COMBUSTION AIR SHALL BE PROVIDED TO THE ROOM OR SPACE DO NOT CONNECT TO OR USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANY AIR DISTRIBUTION DUCTWORK UNLESS SPECIFICALLY AP...

Page 27: ...in this section have been determined by test according to procedures set out in safety standards ULC S627 Canada UL1482 U S A and UL737 U S A When the stove is installed so that its surfaces are at or beyond the minimum clearances specified combustible surfaces will not overheat under normal and even abnormal operating conditions No part of the stove or flue pipe may be located closer to combustib...

Page 28: ...A A 7 178 mm 7 178 mm B 21 533 mm 21 533 mm C 12 305 mm 12 305 mm D 11 292 mm 11 292 mm E 29 743 mm 29 743 mm F 21 540 mm 21 540 mm K 48 1219 mm 48 1219 mm L 72 183 cm 72 183 cm Note Clearances for single wall are also valid for an alcove installation Clearances for mobile homes MOBILE HOME CLEARANCES DOUBLE WALL PIPE CANADA USA A 10 254 mm 10 254 mm B 21 533 mm 21 533 mm C 12 305 mm 12 305 mm D 1...

Page 29: ...Century FW2600 Installation and Operation Manual 29 Clearances to combustible materials and floor protection ...

Page 30: ... 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 31: ...etter to a clearance Adhesives used in shield construction must not ignite or lose adhesive qualities at temperatures likely to be encountered Mounting hardware which extends from the shield surface into combustibles may be used only at the edges of the shield Mounting hardware must allow full vertical ventilation A Minimum clearance between the appliance top and an unshielded combustible ceiling ...

Page 32: ...Century FW2600 Installation and Operation Manual 32 Clearances for shield construction ...

Page 33: ...ombustible material on non combustible board spaced out at least 25 mm 1 in by non combustible spacers 50 18 po 33 24 po 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 12 po 50 24 po Brick spaced out at least 25 mm 1 in by non combustible spacers 50 18 ...

Page 34: ...cted to a suitable The heat in the flue gases that pass from the stove and chimney connector into the chimney is not waste heat This heat is what the chimney uses to make the draft draws in combustion air keeps smoke inside the stove and safely vents exhaust to outside You can think of heat in the flue gas as the fuel the chimney uses to make draft Your wood stove will provide optimum efficiency a...

Page 35: ...ot 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 a factory built thimble is required Installation and Operation Manual built Metal Chimneys se in a mobile home this stove is in diameter factory built chimney conforming to CAN UCL S629 Standards for 650 C Factory built The total length of the f...

Page 36: ...e in the stove slow kindling of new fires and smoke roll out when the door is opened for loading There are two guidelines to follow First the chimney should be installed up through the heated space of the house not out and up an outside wall Second the chimney should penetrate the top of the building at or near the highest heated space 8 4 1 Why inside chimneys are preferred Venting systems that r...

Page 37: ... the stove is installed low in the house Why the chimney should penetrate the highest heated space When it is cold outside the warm air in the house is buoyant so it tends to rise This tendency of warm air to rise creates a slight pressure difference in the house Called stack effect it produces a slightly negative pressure low in the house relative to outside and a slightly positive pressure zone ...

Page 38: ...Where a mobile home has been converted to a standard house by mounting it on a permanent basement foundation the supply of outdoor air is not required 8 5 2 Air Supply in Conventional Houses The safest and most reliable supply of combustion air for your wood stove is from the room in which it is installed Room air is already preheated so it will not chill the fire and its availability is not affec...

Page 39: ...pipe are found in the manufacturer s installation instructions These rules will be very different than those for single wall 8 6 1 Installation of Single Wall Chimney Connector The chimney connector assembly has been called the weak link in the safety of wood heating systems because failure to install the connector properly which has been common in the past can result in house fires The best flue ...

Page 40: ...ation instruction rules or those enforced where Maximum overall length of straight pipe 3 m 10 ft including elbows Minimum clearance from combustible material 450 mm 18 in The minimum clearance may be reduced by 50 percent to 225 mm 9 in if suitable shielding is n the pipe or on the combustible surface The assembly should be as short and direct as possible between the stove and chimney The use of ...

Page 41: ...ions must be oriented towards the appliance so that falling dust and condensation stay inside the pipe A flue pipe must never pass through a combustible floor or ceiling or through an attic roof space closet or concealed space Where passage through a wall or partition of combustible construction is desired the installation shall conform to CAN CSA B365 Installation Code for Solid Fuel Burning Appl...

Page 42: ...esh Air Intake Kit AC01336 WHEN INSTALLED WITH A FRESH AIR INTAKE KIT THE STOVE MUST BE ANCHORED TO THE FLOOR This mobile home approved stove requires installation of a fresh air intake kit A and an insulated fresh air intake pipe B sold separately Installation on the back AC01336 ...

Page 43: ...Century FW2600 Installation and Operation Manual 43 Installation on the bottom AC01336 ...

Page 44: ...opening Lean the upper part of the fire screen against the top door opening making sure to insert the top fire screen brackets behind the primary air deflector as in Detail A Lift the fire screen upwards and push the bottom part towards the stove then let the fire screen rest on the bottom of the door opening Warning Never leave the stove unattended while in use with the fire screen ...

Page 45: ...d for the space it is intended to heat You can purchase this option through your dealer Make sure to specify this part number AC02050 When using the optional fan allow the stove to reach operating temperature approximately one hour before turning it on The increased airflow from the fan cools the firebox and could affect the start up combustion efficiency if the fan is turned on too early You can ...

Page 46: ...0 Installation and Operation Manual 46 CAUTION ENSURE THAT THE FAN S POWER CORD IS NOT IN CONTACT WITH ANY SURFACE OF THE STOVE TO PREVENT ELECTRICAL SHOCK OR FIRE DAMAGE DO NOT RUN THE POWER CORD BENEATH THE STOVE ...

Page 47: ...annel 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 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 above ste...

Page 48: ...ry air tubes A can be replaced without removing the baffle board B Important Notes The air tubes are identified for placement as follows Model Type of tube FW2600 Front 30 holes of 0 140 Middle front 30 holes of 0 136 Middle rear 20 holes of 0 147 Rear 15 holes of 0 128 ...

Page 49: ...Century FW2600 Installation and Operation Manual 49 Appendix 5 Exploded Diagram and Parts List ...

Page 50: ...ASS WITH GASKET 11 1 4 X 15 3 8 1 9 AC06400 BLACK SELF ADHESIVE GLASS GASKET KIT 6 1 10 SE63024 GLASS RETAINER WITH SCREWS KIT 10 PER KIT 1 11 PL54631 ASH LIP 1 12 30060 THREAD CUTTING SCREW 1 4 20 x 1 2 F HEX STEEL SLOT WASHER C102 ZINC 10 13 PL54697 PRIMARY AIR CONTROL PLATE 1 14 30187 ZINC WASHER ID 17 64 x OD 1 2 1 15 30206 ZINC WASHER ID 5 16 x OD 3 4 1 16 PL65572 AIR CONTROL ROD GUIDE 1 17 S...

Page 51: ...119 3 1 2 X 8 X 1 1 4 REFRACTORY BRICK 2 35 29015 4 x 9 x 1 25 REFRACTORY BRICK 13 36 PL36027 3 X 9 X 1 1 4 REFRACTORY BRICK 2 37 PL54512 SECONDARY AIR TUBE 1 38 PL54513 SECONDARY AIR TUBE 1 39 PL54514 SECONDARY AIR TUBE 1 40 PL54515 SECONDARY AIR TUBE 1 41 21397 BAFFLE VERMICULITE BOARD 17 1 8 X 9 3 4 X 1 1 4 1 ...

Page 52: ...must not exceed the wholesale price of the replacement part All parts and labour costs covered by this warranty are limited according to the table below The manufacturer at its discretion may decide to repair or replace any part or unit after inspection and investigation of the defect The manufacturer may at its discretion fully discharge all obligations with respect to this warranty by refunding ...

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