6
Step 3.
Keep the combustion air damper and
the by-pass damper opened for 10 minutes
before closing it. It will ensure sufficient tem-
peratures for combustor light-off.
To refuel the Villa Vista™ Series fireplace when
the unit is still hot (Some burning fuel remaining
or a glowing combustor)
Step 1.
Open the by-pass and air controls fully.
Step 2.
Open the door approximately 1 inch,
wait five seconds until the draft is stable and
then open it completely. Load the fuel, close
the door and by-pass (temperatures within the
firebox should be enough to maintain catalytic
operation).
G. Poor chimney draft -
With no fire, there
should be sufficient draft to exhaust cigarette
smoke introduced under the baffle. Chim-
neys installed against an outside wall without
protection may generate back draft problems
which will cause start-up problems. To
prevent this, open a nearby window, roll up
a piece of paper and light it.
Then, hold it in the upper part of the firebox
to warm up the chimney. Wait until the draft
is sufficient, then start the fire.
H. Blower for forced air kit operating -
Make
sure that the blower is at the “off” position
when you open the fireplace door for reload-
ing.
IMPORTANT CAUTIONS
A. Do not block the hot air vents to the fireplace
as this will cause the fireplace to overheat.
B. Never use gasoline, gasoline-type lantern
fuel, kerosene, charcoal lighter fluid, or
similar liquids to start or ‘freshen up’ a fire
in this fireplace. Keep all such liquids well
away from the fireplace while it is in use.
C. Do not burn coal. The sulphur in coal will
corrode the firebox and chimney.
D. Do not burn driftwood which has been in the
ocean or salt water. The salt will corrode
the firebox and chimney.
E. Do not operate the unit with the door partly
open since this may cause smoke to be
drawn into the room.
F. Do not burn wood in the area in front of the
log retainers.
G. Do not abuse the unit by burning paper, or
cardboard or construction material such as
pressed wood, plywood or lumber.
H. Do not allow the wood to smoulder or burn
without flame, since this will produce exces-
sive creosote in the unit as well as increased
particulate emissions.
Smoke Detectors Recommended
Since there are always several potential sources
of fire in any home, we recommend installing
smoke detectors. If possible, install the smoke
detector in a hallway adjacent to the room
(to reduce the possibility of occasional false
activation from the heat produced by these
appliances). If your local code requires a smoke
detector be installed within the same room, you
must follow the requirements of your local code.
Check with your local building department for
requirements in your area.
Carbon Monoxide Monitor Recommended
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
: Early signs of
carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to the flu
with headaches, dizziness and/or nausea. If you
have these signs, obtain fresh air immediately.
Some people are more affected by carbon mon-
oxide than others, including pregnant women,
people with heart or lung disease or anemia,
those under the influence of alcohol, and those
at high altitudes.
It is against federal regulations to operate
wood heaters in a manner inconsistent with
operating instructions in the manual.
Dealing With A Chimney Fire
Regular chimney maintenance and inspection
can prevent chimney fires. If you have a chimney
fire, follow these steps:
1. Close the fireplace doors and the combus-
tion air damper.
2. Alert your family of the possible danger.
3. If you require assistance, alert your fire
department.
4. If possible, use a dry chemical fire extin-
guisher, baking soda or sand to control the
fire. Do not use water as it may cause a
dangerous steam explosion.
5. Check outside to ensure that sparks and hot
embers coming out of the chimney are not
igniting the roof.
6. Do not use the fireplace again until your
chimney and fireplace have been inspected
by a qualified chimney sweep or a Fire
Department Inspector.
OK
Achieving Clean Burns
Check the exhaust in about 15 to 20 minutes
(see below). Large amounts of smoke indicate
an improper burn setting (either too high or too
low). Adjust and recheck in 5 to 10 minutes.
REFUELING: During the refueling and
rekindling of a cool fire, or a fire that has
burned down to the charcoal phase, operate
the stove at a medium to high firing rate for
about 10 minutes to ensure that the catalyst
reaches approximately 600°F.
Smoking – Causes and Troubleshooting
To reduce the likelihood of smoking when
opening the doors, set the air damper to the
“accelerated combustion” position and open
the by-pass damper before opening the doors.
Your fireplace has been designed and tested
to provide smoke free operation. Occasionally,
there may be a small amount of smoking upon
lighting the fire, until the chimney heats up but
this should not continue. If the fireplace does
continue to smoke, it is probably for one of the
following reasons:
A. The door is partly open -
Open the door
fully.
B. Negative pressure in the house -
As the
fire burns, air goes up the chimney. This
air must be replaced through leakage into
the house or through the outside air duct.
When operating the Villa Vista fireplace,
open a nearby window temporarily to check
if there is adequate air replacement.
C. Fans operating (e.g. range hood) -
These
fans draw air out of the house and may
actually cause a negative pressure in the
house. Turn off all fans and open a nearby
window to determine if this is the cause of
the problem.
D. Wet wood -
Wet or tarred wood will smoul-
der and smoke instead of burn properly.
Your dealer can help you determine if you
have properly seasoned wood for burning.
E. Dirty or blocked chimney -
Check to make
sure the chimney is clear and reasonably
clean. If dirty call a certified chimney sweep
or use a properly sized chimney brush to
clean.
F. Chimney not long enough -
The minimum
chimney height is 12 feet, not including the
fireplace height. The chimney must extend
at least 3 feet (915 mm) above its point of
contact with the roof and at least 2 feet (610
mm) higher than any roof or wall within 10
feet (3 m) of it.
Figure 6
