22
Dutchwest Sequoia
2001049
ST744
Seneca
empty ash
1/8/03 djt
ST744
Fig. 22
Wear a heavy stove glove for protection when remov-
ing ash.
situation, roll up a couple pieces of newspaper, 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
temperature 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 im-
mediately, but the stove will continue to warm up.
Maintain 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 exte-
rior 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 help-
ful. To maintain good draft under adverse conditions,
refuel as often as necessary to keep the bed of the fire-
box covered with a ‘robust’ layer of hot coals. Run the
stove at temperatures a little above minimum recom-
mended 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 hot-
ter 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.
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 cin-
ders 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.