16
USA/Canada
5.6 Starting and Maintaining a Fire
Burn only solid wood directly on the bottom grate of the
stove. Do not elevate the fire in any way.
WARNING: THE ASH PAN DOOR MUST ALWAYS BE SECURELY
CLOSED WHEN THE STOVE IS IN OPERATION. BURNING THE STOVE
WITH THE ASH DOOR OPEN WILL PROMOTE UNEVEN THERMAL
EXPANSION AND CAN RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE STOVE AND
VOID YOUR WARRANTY.
Traditional Fire Building
1. With both the primary and start-up air control levers
in the full open position
(to the right)
, place several
sheets of crumbled paper directly on the grate. On
top of the newspaper, place several pieces of small
dry kindling (approx. 1” in diameter) with two to three
larger logs (approx. 3” to 5” in diameter) on top.
2. Light the fire and close the door, slowly building the
fire by adding larger and larger logs. Be sure to follow
the break-in procedure before creating a hot fire that
might damage the stove.
3. Once the stove has reached a surface temperature
range of between 400° and 600°, (204°C -316°C),
adjust the primary air control lever as necessary to
generate the heat output and burn time desired.
We recommend using a magnetic stove top ther-
mometer to monitor the surface temperature of the
stove. The optimum surface temperature range for
the most efficient burn is between 400° and 600°
(204°C -316°C). for the best locations to place a stove-
top thermometer.
Top-Down Fire Building
Many people find this method to be superior to the
traditional method.
1. With both the primary and start-up air control levers
in the full open position
(to the right)
, place two short
1/4-split logs on the firebox floor, perpendicular to the
rear wall, about 6 inches apart.
2. Place kindling across the base logs.
3. Place one or two smaller logs on top of the kindling.
5. Place newspaper between the two bottom logs under
the kindling. Light the news paper and close the door.
Continue to add kindling and small logs as necessary
to build the fire. Keep the air control fully open until
the fire is well-established.
WARNING: DO NOT OVERFIRE THIS HEATER. IF ANY PART
OF THE STOVE OR CHIMNEY CONNECTOR GLOWS, YOU ARE
OVERFIRING. A HOUSE FIRE OR SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE
STOVE OR CHIMNEY COULD RESULT.
ATTEMPTS TO ACHIEVE HEAT OUTPUT RATES THAT
EXCEED HEATER DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS CAN RESULT IN
PERMANENT DAMAGE TO THE HEATER.
Creosote and Soot Formation and
the Need for Removal
When wood is burned slowly, it produces tar and other
organic vapors which combine with expelled moisture
to form creosote. These creosote vapors condense in
the relatively cool chimney flue of a slow burning fire.
The creosote that accumulates in the flue is highly
flammable and is the fuel of chimney fires. To prevent
a chimney fire, the creosote needs to be removed by
sweeping the chimney and flue connector. The frequency
of sweeping will depend on how you operate your stove.
An accumulation of 1/4” or more on the sides of the flue or
connector is considered hazardous and should be removed.
In the event that creosote in your chimney or flue connector
ignites, the resulting fire is often accompanied by a roaring
noise and a crackling sound as flakes of burned creosote
break loose. lf you suspect you are having a chimney fire,
immediately close the primary air control and make sure
the stove door is closed. Call the fire department and get
everyone safely out of the house.
Trying to extinguish the fire in the stove will not help. In
fact it can make the matter worse by allowing more oxygen
through the door, which then accelerates the fire in the
chimney. When the roaring and crackling has stopped, you
should resist the temptation to open the door and look at
the fire. The fire may have suffocated, but could rekindle
when you open the door. After a chimney fire, do not use
your stove until the chimney and the flue connector has
been cleaned and inspected to ensure that no damage
has occurred.
5.7 Adding Fuel
When reloading the stove while it is still hot and a bed of
hot embers still exists, follow this reloading procedure:
• Always wear gloves when tending to the stove.
• Place only the Primary Air Control in the full open
position (far right). The Start-up Air Control should be
fully closed when the stove is operating.
• Wait a few seconds before opening the door.
• Use a stove tool or poker to distribute the hot embers
equally around the firebox and away from the air
inlet ports at the front center of the firebox floor.
• Load the fuel, usually with smaller logs first.
• Close the door, be sure to latch the door tightly.
• Wait 5 – 10 minutes before adjusting the air controls
to the desired heat output setting. (If you have at
least a 2” thick ember bed when reloading, it may be
possible to close the door and immediately adjust the
air control setting).
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