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STOVE MAINTENANCE
The glass may be come sooty with use, even if the fire is lit with dry wood
with a moisture content of 15 – 20%. Wiping with dry paper is often
sufficient when cleaning regularly. If the soot has been on the glass for
a long time, dip the damp paper into the soft, none abrasive ashes and
wipe clean. Ash and water will remove the soot. This is the only cleaning
method we recommend. Detergents and special soot removes/fireplace
glass cleaner are available from supermarkets, DIY shops and local stove
dealer, we do not recommend these. Never use cleaning agents that contain
abrasives or that have a corrosive effect on printed or painted glass.
Never use cleaning agents that contain any abrasives, these can damage
the glass.
Ensure that no embers remain when removing ash from the stove. The ash
must be stored in a fireproof container with a lid for for at least a week
before being disposed of.
Also clean inside the area where the ash-pan is located, otherwise spilled
ash can prevent the ash-pan from being fully inserted and prevent the
fireplace door from being closed properly.
Soapstone can be cleaned using washing-up liquid or wiped with pure
acetone. Do not place flammable objects or candles on the soapstone.
The grate and other cast iron components can be cleaned using a
wirebrush.
It is important that the gaskets are checked from a combustion point of
view, because worn gaskets reduce combustion because the stove draws
additional air.
Painted parts of the stove can be cleaned with a damp cloth and, if
necessary, a little washing-up liquid. Damage, such as scratches, to painted
parts can be repaired using Contura touch up paint. Contact your dealer.
Because there is a constant flow of air though the stove, cold room air is
drawn in and hot air released, dust can gather behind and under the stove.
Therefore, one should regularly clean under and behind the stove.
Components close to the centre of the fire may need to be replaced.
Examples of such components are the stove cladding and grate. The life of
these components depends on how much and the manner in which the stove
has been used.
Only use spare parts recommended by Contura.
CHOICE OF FUEL
All sorts of logs, such as birch, beech,
oak, elm, ash, conifers and fruit trees
can be used as fuel in the stove.
Different types of wood have different
density, the higher the density the
higher the energy value. Oak, beech and
birch have the highest density.
The wood’s moisture
content
Fresh wood is about 50 per cent water.
Some of the water circulates freely
between the fibres and some of the
water is bound in the cells. The wood must always be dried so that the free
water evaporates. The timber is ready for use when the moisture content
has fallen below 20 %. If wood with a higher moisture content is lit, a large
part of the energy content of the wood is used boiling off the water. If the
wood is damp, the combustion is also poor, layers of soot and tar build up
in the chimney and could, at worst, lead to a chimney fire. In addition, it
causes the glass of the stove to soot and may cause discomfort to those
living nearby.
To ensure thoroughly dry wood, the wood should be cut in the winter and
stored, well aired, under a roof. Never cover the wood pile with a tarpaulin
to the ground. The tarpaulin will then act as a sealed cover and the wood
will be prevented from drying. Always store a small amount of wood indoors
for several days before use, so that the surface moisture has time to
evaporate.
You must NOT burn the following
Under no circumstances whatsoever may fossil fuels, pressure impregnated
wood, painted or glued wood, chipboard, plastic or colour brochures be used
as fuel. All these materials can create hydrochloric acid and heavy metals
that are damaging both to the environment and the stove. Hydrochloric
acid can also attack the steel in the chimney or the mortar in a stone built
chimney.
Candles
Do not use old candle stubs as fuel. Melted wax runs down into the stove’s
damper system and makes the stove unusable. Repairs for this are very
expensive.
The fire should not be too big. Large
fires are uneconomic and also produce
high smoke temperatures that can
damage the stove and the chimney. The
recommended amount of wood is 1.5
kg/hour and the maximum permitted is
2.2 kg/hour and then refers to burning
split birch or other broadleaf wood with
18% moisture content. When lighting
the same weight of conifer wood,
significantly higher stove temperatures
are reached. Maximum fire for long
periods reduces the life of the stove and
exceeding the permitted wood amounts
can lead to damage to parts of the stove
and the warranty being invalidated.
AVOID TOO LARGE A FIRE
Managing waste
The stove packaging is cardboard, wood and a small amount
of plastic. The materials must be sorted and recycled.
Hearth plate glass must
be discarded as waste
material together with
pottery and porcelain
