Hearthstone Quality Home Heating Products, Inc
® Castleton Model 8030 AU
18
B
UILDING
A
F
IRE
Once you understand the controls of your wood
stove and have the appropriate firewood, you are
ready to start a fire.
•
WARNING: NEVER USE GASOLINE, GASOLINE-
TYPE LANTERN FUEL, KEROSENE, CHARCOAL
LIGHTER FLUID, OR SIMILAR LIQUIDS TO START
OR 'FRESHEN UP' A FIRE IN THIS HEATER.
KEEP ALL SUCH LIQUIDS WELL AWAY FROM
THE HEATER WHILE IT IS IN USE.
B
REAKING
I
N
Y
OUR
W
OOD
S
TOVE
It is imperative that your stove is "broken in"
gradually. Soapstone must be "seasoned"; over-
firing a new stove may cause soapstone to crack or
may damage other stove parts. Natural moisture in
the freshly quarried soapstone must be driven out
slowly to minimize the “shock” to the stone of its first
exposure to high firebox temperatures. In addition,
the asbestos-free furnace cement must be cured
slowly to ensure adequate sealing and bonding.
When you light your first fires, the woodstove will
emit some smoke and fumes. This is normal “off-
gassing” of the paints and oils used when
manufacturing the woodstove. If you find it
necessary, open a few windows to vent your room.
The smoke and fumes will usually subside after 10
to 20 minutes of operation. The odor and smoke will
end once the stove is “cured”.
The first few fires of the season may produce other
odors from impurities that exist in the area
immediately surrounding the stove. Some potential
impurities are cleaning solvents, paint solvents,
cigarette smoke, and soot from scented candles, pet
hair, dust, adhesives, a new carpet, and new
textiles. These odors will dissipate over time. You
can alleviate these odors by opening a few windows
or otherwise creating additional ventilation around
your stove. If any odor persists, contact your dealer
or an authorized service technician.
If you adhere to the operating procedures in this
manual, the steel, cast iron, and soapstone
components of your stove will give you many years
of trouble-free use. With use, the color of the
soapstone may change and small fractures may
appear on the surface. These changes do not affect
the function of the stove. If a panel breaks
completely, it must be replaced
Avoid the following conditions that can cause the
glass, soapstone, steel or cast iron pieces to break:
•
Do not throw wood into the stove.
•
Do not use the door as a lever to force wood into
the stove.
•
Do not load wood encrusted with ice into a
burning stove - the thermal shock can cause
damage.
•
Do not use a manufactured log grate or
otherwise support the fuel. Burn the fire directly
on the floor of the firebox.
B
UILDING
A
B
REAK
I
N
F
IRE
1) Open the front door and place five or six double
sheets of tightly twisted newspaper in the center
of the firebox. Arrange kindling in a crisscross
pattern over the newspaper. Kindling should be
approximately ten pieces, 1/2" (13 mm) in
diameter and 10" to 18" (254 mm to 457 mm)
long.
2) Fully open the primary air control by pushing the
control handle fully to the left, away from the
firebox.
3) Light the paper under the kindling. Leave the
door slightly ajar momentarily until the kindling
has started to burn and draft begins to pull.
4) Close the door and allow the fire to burn. Keep
the door closed while the stove is in use.
5) KEEP A WATCHFUL EYE ON YOUR STOVE to
maintain a steady, low-heat fire. Your first fire
should make the stove warm but
not hot to the
touch
. Visible steam, or boiling moisture and
hissing indicate the soapstone is too hot. At
most, a few small chunks of wood should be
added to the fire to reach safe break-in
temperatures.
6) Once the stove is warm but
not hot to the
touch,
close the primary air control by pushing it
fully to the right to allow the fire to die out
completely.
7) Let the stove return to room temperature.
Your first fire and first fire each season thereafter
should be built and maintained as outlined above.
Your patience will be rewarded by a properly
seasoned stove.
•
NOTE: The cool flue gas temperatures
present during the break-in procedure may
cause rapid creosote build-up. The door
glass may also get dirty. A good hot fire will
clean it. We recommend a visual inspection
(and cleaning if necessary) of your
stovepipe and chimney once the break-in
procedure is completed.
