B. Fans operating (e.g.: range hood)
These fans draw air out of the house and
may actually cause a negative pressure in the
house. Turn off all fans and open a nearby
window to determine if this is the cause of
the problem.
C. Wet wood
Wet or tarred wood will smoulder and smoke
instead of burn properly.
D. Dirty or blocked chimney
Check to make sure the chimney is clear and
clean.
E. Chimney not long enough
The minimum chimney height is twelve (12)
feet not including the fireplace height. The
chimney must extend at least three (3) feet
(915 mm) above its point of contact with
the roof and at least two (2) feet (610 mm)
higher than any roof or wall within ten (10)
feet (3 m) of it. When installed with offsets,
the minimum chimney height is fifteen (15)
feet. Additional height will increase draft and
will decrease the tendency to smoke.
F. Poor chimney draft
With no fire, there should be sufficient draft to
exhaust cigarette smoke introduced under the
baffle. Chimneys installed against an outside
wall without protection may generate back draft
problems which will cause start-up problems.
To prevent this, open a nearby window, roll up
a piece of paper and light it. Then, hold it in
the upper part of the firebox to warm up the
chimney. Wait until the draft is sufficient, then
start the fire.
IMPORTANT CAUTIONS
A. Do not block the hot air vents to the fire-
place as this will cause the fireplace to
overheat.
B. Never start a fire using gasoline, kerosene,
charcoal lighter fluid or any other combus-
tible liquid.
C. Do not burn coal. The sulphur in coal will
corrode the firebox.
D. Do not burn driftwood which has been in the
ocean or salt water. The salt will corrode
the firebox and chimney.
E. Do not burn wood in the area in front of the
grate.
F. Do not abuse the unit by burning paper, or
cardboard or construction material such as
pressed wood, plywood or lumber. Wood
protectors, metallic paper, coal, plastic,
waste, sulphur and/or oil will damage the
fireplace.
G. Do not allow the wood to smoulder or burn
without flame, since this will produce
excessive creosote in the unit.
MAINTAINING YOUR BRENTWOOD™
Creosote
When wood is burned slowly without a flame,
it produces tar and other organic vapors which
combine with expelled moisture to form a black
deposit called creosote which accumulates on
the flue lining. When ignited, this creosote
makes an extremely hot fire.
If the creosote accumulation is large, a creosote
fire in the chimney can damage the chimney
and overheat the surrounding wood framing.
Creosote formation in a chimney can be mini-
mized by making sure there is always visible
flame burning, avoid smouldering fires and by
proper refueling techniques.
Chimney Maintenance
Regular chimney inspection and maintenance
combined with proper operation will prevent
chimney fires. Keep your chimney clean. Do not
allow more than 1/16” (1.6 mm) creosote build
up in your chimney. The amount of creosote will
depend on variables such as frequency of use
and type of fire. We recommend that you:
A. Initially inspect the chimney system weekly.
From this, you will learn how often it will be
necessary to clean your chimney.
B. Have your chimney cleaned by a qualified
chimney sweep. If you wish to clean it
yourself, we recommend using a stiff plastic
or non-metallic brush. If a metal brush is
used, its size should be slightly smaller than
the flue to avoid damaging the chimney. Do
not use a brush that will scratch the stainless
steel interior of the chimney.
C. Do not expect chemical cleaners to keep
your chimney clean. The rain cap can be
removed for inspection and/or cleaning of
the chimney.
Top Baffle Removal Prior to Cleaning The
Chimney
Before starting to clean your chimney, we
recommend that you remove the top baffle to
avoid creosote dust collection at the top of the
baffle. Follow these steps to set the top baffle
out of the way:
1. Remove the side refractory holder. They are
located at the top of the refractory.
2. Lift the front baffle.
3. Slide the back baffle under the front baffle.
You now have access to the chimney.
WARNING
When cleaning the fireplace,
the ashes should be placed in
a metal container with a tight
fitting lid. The closed container
of ashes should be placed on a
non-combustible floor or on the
ground outside the house, pend-
ing final disposal. If the ashes
are disposed of by burial in soil
or otherwise locally dispersed,
they should be retained in the
closed container until all cinders
have thoroughly cooled.
Dealing With a Chimney Fire
Regular chimney maintenance and inspection
can prevent chimney fires. If you have a chimney
fire, follow these steps:
1. Close the fireplace door and the combustion
air controls.
2. Alert your family of the possible danger.
3. If you require assistance, alert your fire
department.
4. If possible, use a dry chemical fire extin-
guisher, baking soda or sand to control the
fire. Do not use water as it may cause a
dangerous steam explosion.
5. Check outside to ensure that sparks and hot
embers coming out of the chimney are not
igniting the roof.
6. Do not use the fireplace again until your
chimney and fireplace have been inspected
by a qualified chimney sweep or a Fire
Department Inspector.
Finish Door Casing Care
Use a glass cleaner and a soft cloth to polish
the casing. Do not use abrasives such as steel
wool, steel pads or an abrasive polish for they
may scratch the casing’s finish.
DISPOSING OF ASHES
Remove ashes only when the fire is out and
the ashes are cold (24 to 48 hours after the
fire is out).
Figure 2B - Top Baffle Removal
Figure 2A - Top Baffle Removal
NOTE: DIAGRAMS & ILLUSTRATIONS ARE NOT TO SCALE.
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