18
Mason-Lite Owner
’s Operation & Precautions
Installers of the Mason-Lite are urged to leave the owner
’s
manual with the unit after installation is complete.
WARNING:
Do not attempt to operate your fireplace without
a fire safety screen installed.
CAUTION:
The manufacturer cautions against using chemical
chimney cleaners. Never use charcoal or coal in the fireplace
under any circumstances.
1) First Lighting of the Mason-Lite
– After construction is
completed, all elements of the fireplace and chimney
system must be completely dry. This means that the unit
must stand without any firing for a minimum of 28 days.
Only after that period of time can a first lighting take place.
The first fire must be small and well-controlled, started
with a small amount of kindling. Add no more than eight
pounds of wood, preferably small logs not more than
3”
(three inches) in diameter. You will probably burn no more
than three to four of these small logs. Do not let the fire
burn for more than one hour. After this first lighting
– when
the fireplace has started to
“cure” Do not set another fire
for at least 24 hours.
2) Second Lighting
– Start the fire slowly and gradually as
you did with the first lighting, but this time you can burn up
to ten pounds of firewood, probably four to five logs that
are
3” (three inches) in diameter. With the second lighting
you can let the fire burn two hours
– no more.
3) After First and Second Lightings
– When the fireplace
has been properly cured with 1st and 2nd lightings, you
will be able to add a full fuel load to the MASON-LITE
which is about 10 to 15 pounds of firewood at any given
time. Consider that this typical fuel load is three to four dry
hardwood logs that are about
6” (six inches) to 8” (eight
inches) in diameter.
4) Without a grate for your firewood to rest on, you cannot
get the air flow you need under the fire which makes for a
hotter, more satisfying fire.
5)
Don’t “over burn” – Always remember, your Mason-
Lite Fireplace is an elegant addition to your home.
It is not an indoor incinerator! If you start to use the
fireplace and begin a routine of
“over burning,” you
can permanently and unalterably damage the unit.
Under no circumstances should you be burning
household trash, including chemicals and combustibles,
cardboard boxes, your office papers, scrap lumber
or stray branches from your yard, particularly pine.
WARNING:
Burning of above mentioned materials will
cause an unsafe condition and will void your warranty!
Starting a Fire and Basic Operation
Before starting a fire in your fireplace, open the damper to
its’ fully open position. Crumple some paper and place it on
the log grate. Use some soft, dry wood as kindling and put it
on top of the paper. Place some small logs or split logs atop
the paper and kindling.
Finish off the fuel load with a couple of hardwood logs or
split logs
– oak or hickory. Check to see that you’re stacking
the logs so that they will fall inside the grate as they burn.
To get the most out of your wood, it is recommended
that you let it set and completely dry out for nine months to a
year.
When you are satisfied with the arrangement of your wood
load, light the paper which in turn will ignite the kindling, then
the softer wood and finally, the harder wood logs. As the fire
burns, you can carefully lay additional logs on the flame, but
make sure you place them gently without forcing them into the
opening.
