© 2023 United States Stove Company
15
CHIMNEY MAINTENANCE
CAUTION:
DO NOT OVERFIRE APPLIANCE. YOU ARE
OVERFIRING IF ANY PART OF THE APPLIANCE
GLOWS RED. CLOSE THE DOOR AND SHUT DAMPER
IMMEDIATELY TO REDUCE THE AIR SUPPLY AND
SLOW DOWN THE FIRE.
CAUTION:
SLOW BURNING FIRES FOR EXTENDED USE OR
BURNING GREEN WOOD MAY CAUSE EXCESSIVE
CREOSOTE BUILD-UP. IGNITION OF CREOSOTE
OR OVERFIRING COULD CAUSE A CHIMNEY
FIRE. CHIMNEY FIRES BURN EXTREMELY HOT
AND MAY IGNITE SURROUNDING COMBUSTIBLE
MATERIALS. IN CASE OF A CHIMNEY FIRE, CALL
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IMMEDIATELY!
CREOSOTE FORMATION AND NEED FOR
REMOVAL
When wood is burned slowly, it produces tar and other
organic vapors, which combine with expelled moisture
to form creosote. The creosote vapors condense in the
relatively cool chimney flue of a slow-burning fire. As a
result, creosote residue accumulates on the flue lining.
When ignited this creosote makes an extremely high
temper fire. The chimney connector and chimney should
be inspected at least once every two months during the
heating season to determine if a creosote build-up has
occurred. If creosote has accumulated (3 mm or more),
it should be removed to reduce the risk of a chimney fire.
We strongly recommend that you install a magnetic
thermometer on your smoke exhaust pipe, approximately
18” above the stove. This thermometer will indicate the
temperature of your gas exhaust fumes within the smoke
exhaust system. The ideal temperature for these gases
is somewhere between 275°F and 500°F. Below these
temperatures, the build-up of creosote is promoted.
Above 500°F, heat is wasted since a too large quantity is
lost into the atmosphere.
TO PREVENT CREOSOTE BUILD UP
• Always burn dry wood. This allows clean burns and
higher chimney temperatures, therefore less creosote
deposit.
• Leave the air control fully open for about 5 min. every
time you reload the stove to bring it back to proper
operating temperatures. The secondary combustion
can only take place if the firebox is hot enough.
• Always check for creosote deposit once every two
months and have your chimney cleaned at least once
a year.
• If a chimney or creosote fire occurs, close all dampers
immediately. Wait for the fire to go out and the heater
to cool, then inspect the chimney for damage. If no
damage results, perform a chimney cleaning to ensure
no more creosote deposits is remaining in the chimney.
CAUTION:
A CHIMNEY FIRE MAY CAUSE IGNITION OF WALL
STUDS OR RAFTERS WHICH WERE ASSUMED TO
BE A SAFE DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE CHIMNEY.
IF A CHIMNEY FIRE OCCURS, HAVE YOUR
CHIMNEY INSPECTED BY A QUALIFIED EXPERT
BEFORE USING AGAIN.
ASH REMOVAL & DISPOSAL
Whenever ashes get 3 to 4 inches deep in your firebox,
and when the fire has burned down and cooled, remove
excess ashes. Leave an ash bed approximately 1 inch deep
on the firebox bottom to help maintain a hot charcoal bed.
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 the ground, away from all
combustible materials, pending final disposal. The ashes
should be retained in the closed container until all cinders
have thoroughly cooled.
CAUTIONS:
• ASHES COULD CONTAIN HOT EMBERS EVEN
AFTER TWO DAYS WITHOUT OPERATING THE
STOVE.
• THE ASH PAN CAN BECOME VERY HOT. WEAR
GLOVES TO PREVENT INJURY.
• NEVER BURN THE STOVE WITH THE ASH TRAP
OPEN. THIS WOULD RESULT IN OVER FIRING
THE STOVE. DAMAGE TO THE STOVE AND EVEN
HOUSE FIRE MAY RESULT.
SMOKE & CO MONITORS
Burning wood naturally produces smoke and carbon
monoxide(CO) emissions. CO is a poisonous gas when
exposed to elevated concentrations for extended
periods. While the modern combustion systems in
heaters drastically reduce the amount of CO emitted
NEVER OPERATE THIS PRODUCT WHILE UNATTENDED
