17
5
Troubleshooting
Start Fire Problems
Possible Cause
Solution
Can’t get fire started
Excessive smoke or spillage
Burns too slowly
Smolders, sizzles
Not enough kindling/paper or no
kindling/paper
Use dry kindling, more paper. Arrange kindling & wood for
air movement.
Damper closed/not fully open
Open damper.
Not enough air for fire to ignite
Check for restricted cap/shroud.
Open air kit (if installed).
Check for flue blockage.
Pre-warm flue before starting fire (refer to starting fire
section).
Check for adequate vent height (refer to chimney
assembly section).
Open window below the fireplace towards the wind.
Wood condition is too wet, too large
Use dry, seasoned wood (refer to wood fuel section).
Bed of coals not established before
adding wood
Start with paper & kindling to establish bed of coals (refer
to starting fire section).
Flue blockage such as birds’ nests
or leaves in termination cap
Have chimney inspected for creosote and cleaned by a
certified chimney sweep.
Down draft or negative pressure
Competition with exhaust devices
Do not use exhaust fans during start-up (refer to negative
pressure section).
Open window below the fireplace towards the wind.
Fire burns too fast
Extremely dry or soft wood
Mix in hardwood.
Mix in less seasoned wood after fire is established (refer
to wood fuel section).
No glass doors
Add glass doors to slow down air flow.
Overdrafting
Check for correct vent height; too much vertical height
creates overdrafting.
Check location of vent termination (refer to chimney
assembly section).
Heatilator • Birmingham 36-B OWNERS MANUAL • 4059-710 • Rev F • 11/25/13
