2.3 OPERATING THE TATIANA 997
FIREPLACE
Open Closed
2.3.1 Fuel
Whenever the fireplace is being prepared for use, make sure that the smoke pipe damper is fully open
before lighting it. It will work best when fuelled with seasoned cordwood. Hardwoods are preferred to
softwoods since the energy content of wood is relative to its density. Select therefore wood that has
been air-dried under cover for at least two years and has a moisture content of 15% maximum.
Hardwoods will result in a longer burning fire and less frequent refuelling. These hardwoods are
highly recommended :
maple, oak, hickory, beech, cherry and apple
. These whitewoods are also
recommended although they burn more quickly: ash, birch, cedar, elm, hemlock, pine, poplar, linden
tree. Excessively wet or green wood is not recommended and will be extremely difficult to burn and
will result in lower efficiency, increased creosoting and tarry deposits in the chimney.
Caution: In order to prevent damage to the fireplace/chimney system, do not fuel it with scrap or
garbage, wood chips or granules, sawdust, treated wood, painted wood, wood treated with creosote
or chemicals, any paper or cardboard or construction material such as pressed wood, plywood,
lumber or driftwood from the ocean which may contain salt or other chemicals which will corrode the
metal components of the fireplace and chimney.
Warning: Do not burn coal as smouldering coal may create carbon monoxide causing illness or even
death to human beings and pets. The sulphur in coal will also corrode the firebox and smoke pipe.
Warning: Only place wood logs on top of the grate to allow proper combustion air flow and to prevent
damage to the firescreen. Do not overfire this fireplace (Max. 11kg/24 lbs) of firewood) as it may
overheat causing a hazard, permanent damage to the fireplace or in the presence of creosote, even
igniting a chimney fire which may destroy the chimney and damage the structure.
2.3.2 First Fires
The fresh paint on the fireplace needs to be cured to preserve its finish and quality. For the first 40
hours of operation, only burn small quantities of wood in the fireplace (max. 5.5 kg/12 lbs) and do not
build a full fire during this period. Always start your fires as stated below in section 2.3.3. Even with a
small fire, there will be a strong burnt odor and some smoke during the first fires so properly aerate
the room where the fireplace is located. After the initial 40 hours of operation or once the smell of
burning paint or grease is finally gone, at each fire gradually increase the quantity of wood being
burnt to the maximum of 11 kg (24 lbs) to slowly cure the paint on the fireplace and smoke pipe.
2.3.3 Building a Fire
To start a fire, using two cool hand tools, remove the firescreen, making sure that the ashes have had
24 hours to cool, then clean-out surplus ash leaving a minimum 2.5cm ( 1’’) of ash to protect the
grate, open the smoke-pipe damper, crumple some newspaper on top of the grate then criss-cross
several pieces of dry kindling in the firebox on top of the newspaper and light the newspaper. Criss-
crossing or arranging the fuel so that air can get underneath, will help the fire to get started easily.
Once the newspaper and the kindling are well ignited, using two cool hand tools, reinstall the
firescreen.
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Before using the fireplace always open the smoke pipe
damper (as shown on left) with damper cane.
Once the fire has died down and the fireplace is cool to
the touch, close the smoke pipe damper (as shown on
right) with damper cane.