14
Jøtul C
550
CB Rockland 139656 5/15/15
Operation
Read the following section carefully before building a fire
in your fireplace insert..
Combustion Efficiency
EPA qualified tested efficiency values are not currently
available for the Jøtul C 550. The EPA default efficiency
for non-catalytic wood heaters is 63% per Federal
Register 40 CFR Part 60, Subpart AAA. There are,
however, aspects of efficiency that you should be aware
of in order to get the most from your stove.
Operation habits and fuel moisture can have a
significant effect on efficiency. Poorly seasoned wood
having a higher than optimum moisture content, can
reduce the amount of energy transferred tothe living
area as a result of the energy expended to evaporate
the excess fuel moisture in order for the wood to burn.
Operational aspects, such as not building a robust
kindling fire to readily ignite the larger fuel pieces, can
result in an inefficient smoldering fire. Additionally,
most modern wood heaters’ optimum performance and
efficiency are at the medium to medium -low burn rates.
The location of the stove can have a significant
effect on heating efficiency, primarily in regards to
distribution of the heat. For example, a wood heater
centrally located in the residence in an open living area
will likely provide better circulation of heat than will a
stove located in a room adjacent to the larger living area.
CO Emissions
EPA qualified tested carbon monoxide (CO) values are
not currently available for the Jøtul C 550.. There are,
however, aspects of CO that you should know. Most
all means of combustion produce CO, including wood
fires. Maintaining a well-established fire and avoiding
operation that produces a smoldering, smoky fire, will
greatly reduce CO levels.
It is highly recommended that a CO monitor (de-
tector) be installed in the same room as the stove. The
monitor, however, should be located as far away as
possible from the stove to avoid alert soundings when
adding fuel to the fire.
Wood Fuel and Performance
The Jøtul C 550. is designed to burn natural wood only.
Higher efficiencies and lower emissions generally result
when burning air-dried, seasoned hardwoods, as opposed
to softwoods, green or freshly cut hardwoods. Wood that
has been air-dried for a period of 6 to 14 months will provide
the cleanest, most efficient heat. Wood seasoned more
than 2 years will burn too quickly to take advantage of the
stove’s low end efficiency strength.
A seasoned log will have check marks on the ends and
be lighter than an unseasoned log which will show little
or no check marks.
We recommed using a moisture meter to determine
the moisture content of your wood. For purposes of
home heating, your fuel should have a moisture content
between 12 - 20%. Wood with higher moisture content
will burn, however, very inefficiently. Most of its heat
value will be lost to driving water out of the wood.
Worse, that moisture will condense as creosote in the
relatively cool chimney flue, increasing the potential
for a chimney fire. Use of unseasoned wood defeats the
purpose of any modern wood-burning stove.
DO NOT BURN:
• Coal;
• Garbage;
• Synthetic fuel or logs;
• Material containg rubber, including tires;
• Material containing plastics;
• Waste petroleum products, asphalt products, paints,
paint thinners or solvents;
• Materials containing asbestos;
• Construction or demolitioin debris;
• Railroad ties or pressure-treated wood;
• Manure or animal remains;
• Salt water driftwood or other previously salt-water;
saturated materials;
• Unseasoned wood; or
• Paper products, cardboard, plywood, or particle board.
(The prohibition against burning these materials does
not prohibit the use of fire starters made from paper,
cardboard, saw dust, wax or similar substances for the
purpose of starting a fire.)
The burning of any of these materials can result
in the release of toxic fumes, or render the heater
ineffective and cause smoke. Never use gasoline,
gasoline-type lantern fuel, kerosene, charcoal lighter
fluid, or similar liquids to start or “freshen-up” the fire.
Always keep such liquids away from the heater at all
times.
C 550 CB Functionality
When used with dry wood and a well-drafting chimney
system, modern non-catalytic wood stoves burn fuel
efficiently by the precise control and delivery of primary
and secondary air to the fire.
Primary Air
is drawn into an inlet at the rear of the
firebox and directed through a regulator shutter under
the front door before entering the lower fire chamber.
Additional primary air is directed to the top of the front
door to act as an air wash which may prevent extreme
soot build-up on the glass panel. The amount of primary
air available to the fire determines the intensity of heat
output and rate of fuel combustion; the greater the
amount of air, the greater the heat output, the faster the
wood burns. The primary air setting also determines the
