USING YOUR HEATER
Before using your wood heater, study this entire section carefully. It will assist you in achieving maximum efficiency
and enjoyment.
CURING THE PAINT
Various parts of your heater have been coated
with high quality paints to protect them and to give
them an attractive finish. You will need to “break-
in” your heater to harden or cure these coatings.
While curing, be careful not to touch the painted
surfaces as the paint will be quite soft.
The basic rule is: cure slowly, over about three
burns, without a hot fire. During the curing
process it is normal for some smoke and smell to
be given off from the surface of the heater. Each
time, some windows should be opened to allow
the paint odours to escape. Using a fan also helps
disperse the odours. For this reason it is best done
during the day.
1. The first fire should be kindling only and should
last for about 20 minutes. Leave the door
slightly ajar to stop the door rope from sticking.
2. Once the heater has cooled down, repeat the
process.
3. The third fire should be a normal fire of at least
45 minutes.
By this time, your heater should be cured. In
colder conditions, or if the heater uses a fan, it
may take slightly longer. The house should be
ventilated until all odours are gone.
OPERATING THE AIR CONTROL
You can control whether your heater burns on
high or low with the air control lever found on
either the front or the side of the heater,
depending on the model. The high and low
positions are clearly marked on all models.
For low burns - Use this setting for low burning, or
for extended burn times.
For medium burns - This is the optimal setting for
normal use.
For high burns - Use this setting for starting the fire
and for at least 30 minutes after loading and
reloading.
LIGHTING THE FIRE
Wood burns most efficiently when placed in a very
hot fire. These procedures are designed to bring
your firebox to the right temperature as quickly as
possible.
Put the air control on high.
Place a large amount of kindling in a criss-cross
pattern over a firelighter. Make sure plenty of air
can get into the stack and around each piece of
kindling.
Add a few small pieces of wood on top. The
firebox should be about half full of fuel.
Ignite the firelighter.
Leave the door slightly ajar for the first few minutes
to allow extra air to hasten the build up of flame.
Do not leave the heater unattended while the door
is ajar.
Continue to add small pieces of wood until a bed
of hot glowing coals is established.
Place two or three thoroughly dry split logs (about
80-100mm diameter) on the well established fire.
Logs will burn better if they are placed with their
ends near the glass, ie front to back.
Leave the air control on high for about 30
minutes. After this time, the firebox should be hot
enough for normal operation, so you can turn
down to medium or low.
Adding fresh wood cools the fire down, so when
you need to replenish the fuel, turn the air control
to high for about 30 minutes to bring the firebox
temperatures back up to normal
Always leave the air control on high for at least 30
minutes after reloading.
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