21
Dutchwest Non-Catalytic Convection Heater
30003849
•
Inspect for and remove ash build-up behind the com-
bustion package. This should be done in conjunction
with annual cleaning of the chimney connector since
this inspection is most conveniently done through the
flue collar opening. Inspect the passages to either
side of the combustion package (a mirror will be
helpful) and vacuum away ash using a flexible vacu-
um hose inserted into each passage. Care should be
taken not to damage the white fibrous material in this
rear chamber. (Fig. 30)
The Chimney Connector
TWO WEEKS:
•
Inspect the chimney connector and chimney. Clean if
necessary.
TWO MONTHS:
•
Inspect the chimney and chimney connector. Pay
particular attention to the horizontal runs of chimney
connector, and the elbows. Clean the system if nec-
essary.
ANNUAL SPRING CLEANING:
•
Disassemble the chimney connector and take it
outdoors for inspection and cleaning. Replace weak
sections of connector.
•
Inspect the chimney for signs of deterioration. Re-
pairs to a masonry chimney should be made by a
professional mason. Replace damaged sections of
prefabricated chimney. Your local Dutchwest dealer
or a chimney sweep can help determine when re-
placement is necessary.
•
Thoroughly clean the chimney.
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Inspect and
Vacuum Both
Rear Corners
Ash Build-Up
ST876
Fig. 30
Inspect and clean out ash accumulation on either
side of the non-catalytic combustion system.
Draft Management
Your stove is only one part of a system that includes
the chimney, the operator, the fuel, and the home. The
other parts of the system will affect how well the stove
works. When there is a good match between all the
parts, the system works well.
Wood stove operation depends on natural (unforced)
draft. Natural draft occurs when exhaust gas is hotter
(and therefore lighter) than the outdoor air at the top of
the chimney. The greater the temperature difference,
the stronger the draft. As the hot exhaust gas rises out
of the chimney, it generates suction that draws air into
the stove for combustion. A slow, lazy fire when the
stove’s air inlets are fully open indicates a weak draft.
A brisk fire, supported only by air entering the stove
through the air inlets, indicates a good draft. The inlets
are passive; they regulate how much air can enter the
stove, but they don’t force air into it.
The efficiency of a modern woodburning appliance,
(in which the amount of air available for combustion is
regulated), depends on the chimney to keep exhaust
gases warm all the way outdoors. The characteristics
of your chimney - whether it is steel or masonry, interior
or exterior, matched or mismatched to the stove outlet,
- determine how quickly it will warm up and how well
it will sustain the optimum temperatures necessary to
maintain strong draft and efficient combustion. Here fol-
lows a description of various flue system characteristics
and the related effects on stove performance.
Masonry Chimney
Although masonry is the traditional material used for
chimney construction, it can have distinct performance
disadvantages when used to vent a controlled-combus-
tion woodstove. Masonry forms an effective ‘heat sink’
- that is, it absorbs and holds heat for long periods of
time.
The large mass, however, may take a long time to
become hot enough to sustain a strong draft. The
larger the chimney (in total mass), the longer it will take
to warm up. Cold masonry will actually cool exhaust
gases enough to diminish draft strength. This problem
is worse if the chimney is located outside the home or