Figure 2 - Accelerated Combustion Setting
Figure 3 - Medium Combustion Setting
The air combustion control should be in the
closed position when the fireplace is not in
operation. This will minimize air leakage up the
chimney.
The combustion air control and the
bypass damper control must be opened before
opening the door to minimize the possibility
of back draft coming into the room
(
Figure 1
)
.
More details are available in
Refueling For Best
Performance
on
Page 6
.
Heat Output
The Montecito Estate™ CAT fireplace is the largest
member of the IHP high efficiency fireplaces. The
heat generated from its fire is more efficiently
captured and distributed. In spite of the large
amount of heat that the Montecito Estate CAT
fireplace can deliver, it should not replace the
main source of heat in your home. This fireplace
will bring extra warmth and ambiance to your
home by distributing its heat as described further
in the manual.
Accelerated Combustion
The maximum heat output for the Montecito Es-
tate fireplace is achieved by burning with the
door closed and the combustion air opened
and pulled out. Through this method, the
Montecito Estate fireplace can produce up to
80,000 BTU of heat per hour. However, it will
be necessary to reload with wood every one or
two hours. This is the least efficient method
of burning the Montecito Estate CAT fireplace.
For instance, a long chimney will necessitate
closing the damper more. To obtain the proper
combustion, close the damper completely, then
open it about 1/2” to 3/4”. Three medium size
pieces of cord wood-burning on a bed of hot
coals will generate an approximate heat output
will of 35,000 BTU per hour and the loading
time will be about every 3-4 hours.
Use caution when firing with the combustion
air control wide open. Only burn cord wood
in this manner. Small dry pieces of softwood
and construction scraps will burn very intensely
using this method and may damage the firebox
as well as the catalytic combustor.
Medium Combustion
This is the recommended mode of operating the
Montecito Estate CAT fireplace and should be
the one normally used since it will deposit the
least amount of creosote on the glass and in
the chimney. The combustion air control must
be 3/4 closed. The precise setting will depend
on many factors, including chimney length and
the moisture content of the wood.
Softwoods may also be burned using this
method but the combustion time will be sub-
stantially reduced.
Slow Combustion
When the air combustion control is completely
closed, the fireplace is in a slow combustion
phase. If the hearth is hot enough, slow com-
bustion will not extinguish the fire, but there
will be a noticeable change in the flame pattern.
The flames will be slow and may appear dirty
if the wood is too wet (moisture content of
20% and more).
Do not allow the wood to burn without flame,
since this will produce excessive creosote in
the unit. Creosote may accumulate on the glass
door. This method of burning should be used
only after operating the Montecito Estate CAT
fireplace with the air control opened to produce
a hot fire for about an hour or at medium pace
for at least three (3) hours. Slow combustion
can be used at night in order to reduce the heat
output and to prolong the burn. The burn time
will be between 6-8 hours and this combustion
rate, while the output level of BTU’s will be at
their lowest.
Figure 4
-
Slow Combustion Setting
NOTE: DIAGRAMS & ILLUSTRATIONS ARE NOT TO SCALE.
5
