20
08/23
7038-227L
With proper installation, operation, and maintenance your wood appliance will provide years of trouble-free service. If
you do experience a problem, this troubleshooting guide will assist you or a qualified service person in the diagnosis of a
problem and the corrective action to be taken.
Start Fire Problems
Possible Cause
Solution
Can not get fire started
Excessive smoke or spillage
Burns too slowly
Not enough heat output
Not enough kindling/paper or no
kindling/paper
Use dry kindling, more paper. Arrange kindling &
wood for air movement.
Not enough air for fire to ignite
Check for restricted termination cap
Check for blockage of outside air kit (if installed).
Check for flue blockage.
Pre-warm flue before starting fire (refer to
Building a Fire Section).
Check for adequate vent height (refer to Chimney
Height Section).
Open window below the appliance towards the
wind.
Wood condition is too wet, too
large
Use dry, seasoned wood (refer to Seasoned
Wood Section).
Bed of coals not established before
adding wood
Start with paper & kindling to establish bed of
coals (refer to Building a 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 appliance 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).
Over drafting
Check for correct vent height; too much vertical
height creates over drafting.
Check location of vent termination (refer to
Chimney Termination Requirement Section).
4
Troubleshooting Guide
Table 20.1
