JANUARY 2014
page 6
www.fisherstoves.co.nz
Set the air control to fully open, light the firelighters or the newspaper and close but do not latch the door.
After about 5-10 minutes, when the wood is flaming brightly, latch the door (some longer flue installations
may require door to be left unlatched for up to 15 minutes until the flue system is warm and producing strong
draught). Since leaving the door open slightly can cause dangerously high temperatures, never leave the
woodstove unattended while starting the fire.
When the flames from the kindling load just begin to subside, add several
small
pieces of firewood. Try to
avoid smothering the fire with the new pieces. Placing the pieces on the burning kindling can help prevent
smothering. As your Fisher heater is a radiant heater it requires approximately 45-60 minutes to preheat the
steel firebox before it can effectively radiate heat into the room.
place firewood in a uniform position, front
to rear loading.
A well maintained, hot fire will reduce the preheat cycle.
reKiNDLiNG A Fire FrOm ChArCOAL Or emBers
Embers found at the back of the firebox should be raked evenly
around the fire. If only a small amount of embers remain, you will
have to start with kindling. If there is a good quantity of glowing
embers to work with, place at least three, and preferably more than
five pieces of small firewood on the embers. Open the air inlets
fully and close the door.
If everything is just right, fast ignition of the new load should be
expected. Allow the fire to burn with bright turbulent flames until
the wood is completely alight. This usually takes between 15 and
0 minutes, depending on the size of the pieces and the moisture
content of the wood. When the wood is burning well, reduce the air
setting to produce the amount of heat and length of burn desired.
Reducing the air control setting in two or three stages will result in
less air pollution because the fire will not have to recover from the
single, large reduction in air supply.
The most important rule is
NeVer LeT The Fire smOuLDer.
As long as there is solid wood in the
firebox, there must be flames present or the unburned gases will escape, both reducing efficiency and
increasing air pollution.
Always open the fire door slowly to allow fresh air to enter and maintain the smoke path. If you open the door
too quickly, smoke can puff out.
TO reKiNDLe A Fire
FrOm hOT COALs
Spread the charcoal evenly
throughout the firebox. Place small
pieces of wood on and behind the
coals. Open the air inlets fully and
leave them open until the pieces
of wood are well charred. This
illustration shows the arrangement
of pieces for an extended fire.
