6
Step 3.
Keep the combustion air damper and
the by-pass damper opened for 10 minutes
before closing it. It will ensure suffi cient tem-
peratures for combustor light-off.
To refuel the Villa Vista™ fi replace 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 fi ve seconds until the draft is stable and
then open it completely. Load the fuel, close
the door and by-pass (temperatures within the
fi rebox should be enough to maintain catalytic
operation).
G. Poor chimney draft -
With no fi re, there
should be suffi cient draft to exhaust cigarette
smoke introduced under the baffl e. 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 fi rebox
to warm up the chimney. Wait until the draft
is suffi cient, then start the fi re.
H. Blower for forced air kit operating -
Make
sure that the blower is at the “off” position
when you open the fi replace door for reload-
ing.
IMPORTANT CAUTIONS
A. Do not block the hot air vents to the fi re-
place as this will cause the fi replace to
overheat.
B. Never use gasoline, gasoline-type lantern
fuel, kerosene, charcoal lighter fl uid, or
similar liquids to start or ‘freshen up’ a fi re
in this fi replace. Keep all such liquids well
away from the fi replace while it is in use.
C. Do not burn coal. The sulphur in coal will
corrode the fi rebox and chimney.
D. Do not burn driftwood which has been in the
ocean or salt water. The salt will corrode
the fi rebox 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 fl ame, 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 fi re 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 fl u
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 infl uence 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 fi res. If you have a chimney
fi re, follow these steps:
1. Close the fi replace doors and the combus-
tion air damper.
2. Alert your family of the possible danger.
3. If you require assistance, alert your fi re
department.
4. If possible, use a dry chemical fi re extin-
guisher, baking soda or sand to control the
fi re. 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 fi replace again until your
chimney and fi replace have been inspected
by a qualifi ed 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 fi re, or a fi re that has
burned down to the charcoal phase, operate
the stove at a medium to high fi ring 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 fi replace has been designed and tested
to provide smoke free operation. Occasionally,
there may be a small amount of smoking upon
lighting the fi re, until the chimney heats up but
this should not continue. If the fi replace 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
fi re 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 fi replace,
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 certifi ed 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
fi replace 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.
