13
Starting the First Coal Fire:
Burning coal is much harder than burning wood. There is more care and work in building and maintaining a coal fire than a wood fire.
Anthracite is the best coal to burn, due to its long even burn with higher heat output and clean burn quality but is more difficult to manage
than Bituminous coal.
The size of coal is important. “Nut” coal sizes of 4 inches for Bituminous and 2¾ to 4½ inches for Anthracite coal are recommended.
Never use coal other than the sizes recommended. If the coal is too small it will smother the fire and if it is too large the coal will not burn
well.
When burning Bituminous coal, start the fire with wood (as described above). Always use dry kindling, as this will provide a hotter fire
and add small pieces of wood until you get a good hot ember bed. At this point add a small amount of coal. When the coal is hot enough
to ignite, add small amounts at a time, so as not to smother the fire. Keep in mind that Bituminous coal will require more maintenance as
this type of coal will produce more soot, requiring more frequent cleaning to prevent buildup.
Also make sure that the spin draft is wide open to establish the correct burn pattern. When adding coal to Bituminous fires always add
coal to the center of the bed creating the cone effect. Bituminous coal is more volatile and adding coal to the center of the bed causes
the flames to drive off the volatile gases. Remember that no two installations and chimney set-ups are the same, so be prepared to
experiment until you achieve the desired results. Always allow enough air to the firebox and keep the damper open so that volatile gases
are properly burned. When adding fuel, remember to break up the cone with a poker if it has formed a crust, but be careful to avoid
mixing the coal as this can form clinkers. For overnight burn operations, follow the above instructions and adjust the chimney damper.
When burning Anthracite coal, start the fire with wood (as described above). Add layers of coal making sure not to smother the fire,
the third layer should be a little heavier, but should not to extend above 2 inches below the top of the brick in the firebox. Before
adding more fuel, be sure to leave a red spot in the center of the bed. This hot spot will help ignite the gases given off the new charge.
A deep charge will give a more even heat and a longer fire. It may take up to a couple hours before the whole bed is fully ignited. When
the fire is established and the home is becoming warm, you may adjust the damper. It may still take some experimenting to ensure
proper operation, as no two installations are the same. Once the coal bed has reduced to half its original depth it is time to add fuel to the
furnace. Open the fuel door, using a small rake or hoe pull the coals towards the front of the bed, trying not to disturb the fire too much.
Next, add coal to the back, being careful not to seal off the top. Keep the ash pan cleaned out to ensure good airflow. You may want to
start this banking process early in the evening before retiring or before leaving the home so that you may make proper adjustments after
the fire is well established.
WARNING: It is unsafe to load any type of coal within 2 inches of the top of the firebrick. Load fuel carefully or damage may result.
NOTE: Do not burn coke, charcoal, highly volatile Bituminous coal, sub Bituminous, lignite or cannel coal (sometimes called channel coal
or candle coal). Never burn chemically processed logs, such as fire logs, as their use is intended for fireplaces only. Please follow all
guidelines in this manual concerning wood and coal burning applications due to safety concerns and to maintain warranty coverage.
BURN WOOD AND COAL ONLY!
Summary of Contents for FC300F
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