Valcourt Waterloo, Installation And Operation Manual

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FP15 & FP15A Waterloo - Installation and Operation Manual
4.3.2 Ash Removal
Ash should be removed from the firebox every two or three days of full time heating. Do not let the ash
build up in the firebox because it will interfere with proper fire management.
The best time to remove ash is after an overnight fire when the fireplace is relatively cool, but there is still
some chimney draft to draw the ash dust into the fireplace and prevent it from coming into the room.
After ashes have been removed from the fireplace and placed in a tightly covered metal container, they
should be taken outside immediately. The closed container of ashes should be placed on a non-combustible
floor or on the ground well away from all combustible materials pending final disposal. Ashes normally
contain some live charcoal that can stay hot for several days. 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. Other waste should not be placed in this container.
NEVER STORE ASHES INDOORS OR IN A NON-METALIC CONTAINER OR ON A WOODEN DECK.
4.3.3 Raking Charcoal
Rekindle the fire when you notice that the room temperature has fallen. You will find most of the remaining
charcoal at the back of the firebox, furthest from the door. Rake these coals towards the door before
loading. There are two reasons for this raking of the coals. First, it concentrates them near where most of
the combustion air enters the firebox and where they can ignite the new load quickly, and second, the
charcoal will not be smothered by the new load of wood. If you were to simply spread the charcoal out, the
new load will smoulder for a long time before igniting.
Remove ash first, and then rake charcoal towards the front of the firebox before loading so that it will ignite
the new load.
4.3.4 Firing Each New Load Hot
Place the new load of wood on and behind the charcoal, and not too close to the glass. Close the door and
open the air control fully. Leave the air control fully open until the firebox is full of flames, the wood has
charred to black and its edges are glowing red. Firing each load of wood hot accomplishes a few things:
•
Drives the surface moisture from the wood,
•
Creates a layer of char on the wood, which slows down its release of smoke,
•
Heats the firebox components so they reflect heat back to the fire, and
•
Heats the chimney so it can produce strong, steady draft for the rest of the cycle.
DO NOT LEAVE THE FIREPLACE UNATTENDED WHILE A NEW LOAD IS BEING FIRED HOT.
DO NOT OVERFIRE.
When you burn a new load of wood hot, the result will be a surge of heat from the fireplace. This heat surge
is welcome when the room temperature is a little lower than desirable, but not welcome if the space is
already warm. Therefore, allow each load of wood to burn down so that the space begins to cool off a little
before loading. Letting the space cool before loading is one of the secrets to clean burning and effective
zone heating.