Operating Instructions
Building regulations
Installation of this Firebelly woodburning stove must comply with all local building regulations, including
those referring to national and European standards. It is a good idea to consult your local chimney sweep
to check the suitability of the chinmney and ensure there is adequate updraft and suggest any remedies to
potential chimney problems. Document J of the Building Regulations contains further information regarding
the installation of solid fuel appliances and can be viewed here : www.odpm.gov.uk or follow the link on the
Firebelly website.
Lighting the stove
When lighting the stove for the first time it should not be stoked excessively as all the materials must be given
time to adapt to the effects of heat. The paint will take some time to fully cure and during this period some
odours will be evident. It is recommended that doors or windows should be opened the first time the stove is
fired.
Before lighting check the firebricks and other internal components are in position
figure 1
and that all
packaging has been removed.
Step 1
Open the top air control and bottom air control fully.
figure 2
(to open the top air control push the lever to the right. The top air control becomes hot in use and so the
supplied tool should always be used. To open the bottom air control push the lever fully to the right.
Step 2
Place rolled up and scrunched up newspaper at the back of the stove. Put small tinder on top of the
newspaper and then a few slightly larger pieces of wood on top of this, light the newspaper and close the
door.
Step 3
Let the fire burn until all the pieces of wood are alight and burning. Then more and larger pieces of
wood/logs can be added.
Step 4
Once the fire is established the bottom air control can be closed so that all the air for the fire comes
via the top air control. The burning rate of the fire can now be controlled by adjusting the top air control and
by regulating the amount of wood added. The bottom air control should normally remain closed once the
stove is running. If the fire has been allowed to die too low then the bottom air control can be opened to
allow air to the base of the fire in an attempt to revive it.
Do not run the stove with the door open
Warning. The external surfaces of the stove become hot during operation. Use the supplied
tool to operate the air controls when the stove is running.
Tips
•
The first stage of the fire, just after lighting, is usually the smokiest because the cold wood and cold
stove take heat away from the flames. During this stage, ensure both air inlets of the stove are fully
open to get a hot flame. It might appear that this initial hot burn lets too much heat
go up the
chimney, but it is a necessary part of an efficient fire. The extra heat “primes” the chimney to produce
a strong draft, and helps keep the flue clean by loosening creosote that might have been deposited
by the previous fire. The hot initial burn also drives moisture out of the firewood and gives an ignition
source for the smoke that is released from the wood.
•
Make small changes. Do not try to add too much fuel at once, the fuel should not be stacked higher
than the top of the back fire brick. Adding fuel gradually will help maintain a steady temerature and
burning rate so that the stove burns efficiently and cleanly. Adding a large amount of fuel all at once
will dramatically reduce the temperature inside the stove. After adding a large piece of wood/log it
is a good idea to increase the top air opening slightly more until the new fuel begins to burn and the
stove returns to temperature.
•
This also applies to the air controls. Adjusting them gradually will help maintain a steady combustion
rate.
•
Do not run the stove with the top air control fully closed. The top air control supplies air for the glass
‘air shield’ system. The further open the top air control the more effective the air shield system.
•
Use a piece of newspaper to wipe the inside of the window glass before lighting the stove each time
to prevent the gradual build up of deposits.
•
Small, hot fires are more efficient than large slumbering fires. Most of the energy in burning wood
is released as a bright flame. The turbulence in the flames creates good mixing between the
figure 1
fire bricks
figure 2
2
secondary air
control. Push right
to open.
primary air
control. Push
right to open.