18
TROUBLE-SHOOTING
CHIMNEY FIRE
If your stove has been installed correctly and you have
also operated it correctly and regularly carried out the
recommended routine checks then it is unlikely that
you will ever experience a chimney fire, which can be
highly dangerous.
Chimney fires can be detected by an unusual roaring
sound and / or unusual vibrations coming from the
chimney breast or the stove itself. The sound is not to
be confused with the gentle ‘rushing’ sound you may
normally hear when a stove has a well performing
up-draught. You may also see sparks or flames exiting
from the chimney terminal outside.
• Prevention
If you suspect a chimney fire then immediately close
the Primary and Secondary air controls, evacuate the
building and call the Fire Service.
Never
open the
stove door as this will make the chimney fire worse by
providing additional combustion air. Do not re-enter
the building until you have been advised by the Fire
Service that it is safe.
Do not re-light the stove until the flue system has
been thoroughly inspected by an approved installer or
chimney sweep and any necessary repairs have been
carried out.
•
Causes: Inadequate cleaning
Chimney fires occur when soot and creosote have
built up to such a level that they ignite. It is important
therefore that your flue system has as many cleaning
access points as practicable to enable comprehensive
removal of soot, creosote and other debris. This will
also minimise the amount of time it takes for a
qualified sweep to clean the system making the
system safer and its cleaning more cost-effective in
the long run.
•
Causes: Continuous low burning
To discourage the potential for such soot and creo-
sote build-ups, long periods of consistent ‘slumber’
or overnight burning should be avoided or that these
should at least be compensated for by regular
burning on full output for short periods (eg 30
minutes per day) to help burn off any likely deposits
before they become problematic.
•
Causes: Poor fuel choice
As previously mentioned
unseasoned or damp wood or fuel should always be
avoided as these produce excessive soot and creosote.
STOVE, FLUE OR OTHER
COMPONENTS GLOWING RED
• Prevention
The Primary and Secondary air controls should be
immediately closed to let the fire die down to an
acceptable level and to reduce the heat output which
will in turn eliminate the glow from the over-heated
components. Over-firing is dangerous and could
permanently damage or warp your stove and its
components. The effects of over-firing are fairly
obvious to anyone in the stove industry and will
invalidate your Graphite Warranty. Check the stove
and the flue system for signs of damage before you
re-use the stove.
• Causes: Over-Firing
This is caused by using the
stove at a higher output than recommended for
prolonged periods of time and / or over-filling the
firebox with fuel. The excessive heat in the flue system
produced by over-firing could potentially also lead to a
chimney fire (
See ‘Chimney Fire’ above)
.
SMOKE AND FUMES ESCAPING
INTO THE ROOM
When properly installed and operated your stove
should not normally emit fumes or smoke into the
room. When first using the stove it is normal to
experience paint fumes or see light smoke rising from
some of the stove’s painted surfaces, but these should
eventually pass as the paint cures. Occasional minor
smoke escape may also occur during the refuelling
process. However, persistent smoke or fumes could be
dangerous and in this situation you should take
immediate avoiding action.
• Prevention
Open doors and windows to ventilate the room and
let the fire go out to allow the stove to cool. Never
pour water onto the fire as this could cause the cast
iron components to break.
Most importantly
, never re-light the stove until the
problem has been identified and solved. If in doubt, in
the first instance always seek the expert advice of your
approved installer, or authorised Graphite dealer.
There are a number of factors, either alone or
combined, which could cause such problems:
• Causes: A blockage
When safe to do so, examine
the flue-way above the baffle plate as well as the
chimney system via any inspection hatches and clear
any soot blockages. Excessive deposits could also
indicate that the chimney or flue itself also needs
cleaning.
• Causes:
Inadequate supply of combustion air
Check that any permanent air vent fitted to supply the
extra combustion air required for the stove has not
been accidentally blocked. Remember there should
never be an extractor fan in the same room as a
stove, even in a large open plan area. A simple way of
checking whether or not the stove is receiving enough
combustion air is to open a window in the same room
as the stove whilst the stove is operating. If this
improves the problem then this would certainly
indicate that the stove is being starved of combustion
air and the advice of the original installer should be
sought.
