Optima Installation and Operation Manual
3
Table of content
PART A - OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE .................................. 6
1
Safety Information ............................................................................... 6
1.1
Summary of Operation and Maintenance Cautions and Warnings ......................... 6
2
General Information ............................................................................ 7
2.1
Optima Specifications ............................................................................................. 7
2.2
Zone Heating and How to Make it Work for You ..................................................... 9
2.3
The Benefits of Low Emissions and High Efficiency ............................................. 10
2.4
The SBI Commitment to You and the Environment .............................................. 10
2.4.1
What is Your New Stove Made Of? ................................................................... 10
3
Fuel ...................................................................................................... 11
3.1
Materials 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 ......................................................................................................... 11
3.2.4
Piece Size .......................................................................................................... 12
3.2.5
How to Dry Firewood ......................................................................................... 12
3.2.6
Where to store wood ......................................................................................... 14
3.2.7
Judging Firewood Moisture Content .................................................................. 14
3.3
Manufactured Logs ............................................................................................... 15
4
Operating Your Stove ....................................................................... 16
4.1
The use of a fire screen ........................................................................................ 16
4.2
Your First Fires ..................................................................................................... 16
4.3
Lighting Fires ........................................................................................................ 16
4.3.1
Conventional Fire Starting ................................................................................. 17
4.3.2
The Top Down Fire ............................................................................................ 17
4.3.3
Two Parallel Logs .............................................................................................. 17
4.3.4
Using Fire Starters ............................................................................................. 18
4.4
Maintaining Wood Fires ........................................................................................ 18
4.4.1
General Advice .................................................................................................. 18
4.4.2
Ash Removal ..................................................................................................... 18
4.4.3
Raking Charcoal ................................................................................................ 19
4.4.4
Firing Each New Load Hot ................................................................................. 20
4.4.5
Turning Down the Air Supply ............................................................................. 20
Building Different Fires for Different Needs ................................................................... 21
