180-AF25 v1.11 per PE32 revs
March 15, 2021
Page 24
AF25
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
LIGHTING THE FIRE
NOTE: As you heat up the stove for the first time, the paint will go through a curing process and will give off
an odor. To minimize the inconvenience, burn the stove at a low temperature setting for several hours. It is
advisable to open a door or window until the odor dissipates. You may also notice a change in color as the
paint cures, this is normal and will appear uniform after subsequent firings.
1. DO NOT USE A GRATE. BUILD THE FIRE DIRECTLY ON THE BRICK IN THE BOTTOM OF THE
STOVE.
2. Set the thermostat to
HIGH
(maximum) position and turn the fan (if fitted)
OFF
.
3.
Open both the loading door and the bypass door (bypass latch / rod pulled out using bypass handle).
4.
Place 10 balls of non-glossy paper towards the front of the bottom of the firebox then stack 20 pieces of
kindling on top of the paper in a crisscross fashion (leaving air gaps in between sticks).
5.
Light the fire and allow it to get a good start while leaving the loading door cracked open (approximately
3 to 5 minutes).
DO NOT LEAVE THE STOVE UNATTENDED.
6.
Once the kindling is fully on fire, place two or three medium size logs onto the fire. Keeping the loading
door unlatched, allow the logs to catch fire (approximately 5 minutes).
DO NOT LEAVE THE STOVE
UNATTENDED.
7.
Once the logs are burning, latch the loading door shut
BUT
keep the bypass door open. Leaving the
loading door open after the wood load has caught fire may cause premature failure of the catalytic
combustor.
8.
When nearly all of the wood in the firebox is fully burning, finish loading the appliance. Lay the wood as
far back in the stove as possible. Latch the loading door shut and observe the catalytic thermometer.
Once the needle is in the
ACTIVE ZONE
, close the bypass door.
9.
Let the fire burn with the thermostat at the
HIGH
setting for 20-30 minutes or until the fire is well
established. This ensures that the stove, catalyst, and wood load are all stabilized at optimum operating
temperatures. The temperature in the stove and the gases entering the combustor must be raised to
at least 500F (indicated by the thermometer needle in the
ACTIVE ZONE
) for catalytic activity to be
initiated.
10.
After 20-30 minutes or once the fire is well established, gradually turn the thermostat down to the
desired heat output setting. Please note that if the thermostat is turned down too low too quickly, the
fire may go out or the combustor may stop working, indicated by the thermometer needle falling into the
INACTIVE ZONE
. If this happens, simply thurn the thermostat back to a higher heat output setting to
let the fire reestablish itself.
11. If installed, turn the fan on after the initial warm up period of 20-30 minutes.
Probably the least understood requirement in maintaining a good fire is that of establishing a good base
of coals or embers. A good bed of hot coals or embers will maintain a more even temperature as well as
getting the new load of wood started easily. Put as much wood into the appliance as needed, practice will
teach the amount of wood necessary to keep the fire going until the next reloading time. Don’t be afraid to
fill it completely if necessary. With the Blaze King thermostat, the wood will only burn at the rate set on the
thermostat. Once the fire is established, the appliance should be left to complete the full burn cycle. This is
evident by a) only coal bed (ember bed) remaining or b) the catalytic thermometer hovers just inside the active
zone. Following this procedure will maximize the efficiency of the appliance as well as limit exhaust emissions
and smoke spillage.
