Cast iron fireplaces
Instructions for installation, use and maintenance – EN – Rev.07
31
14. SUMMER TIME
After having performed the cleaning of the hearth, of the stack and of the flue, removing completely the ash
and other possible residuals, close all doors of the hearth and the related registers.
It is suggested to perform the flue cleaning at least once a year; in the meantime, verify the actual state of
the door seals, which do not assure the good operation of the device, if they are not completely integral
(i.e. if they do not adhere anymore to the door)! Therefore, it is necessary to replace them.
In case of humidity of the room where the device is located, place the absorbing salts within the hearth.
Protect the internal cast iron parts with neutral Vaseline, if you wish to keep the aesthetic appearance
unchanged in time.
15. CALCULATION OF THE THERMAL POWER
There is not an absolute rule for calculating the correct necessary power. This power is given according to
the space to be heated, but it depends also largely on the insulation. On an average, the calorific value
necessary for a properly insulated room is 40 kCal/h per m
3
(for an external temperature of 0 °C).
Given that 1 kW corresponds to 860 kCal/h, it is possible to adopt a value of 50 W/m
3
.
Let’s suppose one wishes to heat a room of 150 m
3
(10 x 6 x 2.5 m) in an insulated apartment. In this case,
it is necessary to have 150 m
3
x 50 W/m
3
= 7500 W or 7.5 kW. As main heating, a 10 kW device is
therefore sufficient. (see Table 3)
Approximate combustion
value
Required quantity in
relation to 1 kg of dry
wood
Fuel
Unit
kCal
kW
Fuel
Dry wood (15% humidity)
kg
3600
4.2
Wet wood (50% humidity)
kg
1850
2.2
1.00
Wood briquettes
kg
4000
5.0
1.95
Brown coal briquettes
kg
4800
5.6
0.84
Normal anthracite
kg
7700
8.9
0.75
Coke
kg
6780
7.9
0.47
Natural gas
m3
7800
9.1
0.53
Naphtha
L
8500
9.9
0.46
Electricity
kW/h
860
1.0
0.42
Table 3
