SAFETY FIRST
DO’S AND DON’TS
If this fireplace is not properly installed, a house fire
may result. For your safety, follow the installation
directions. Contact local building or fire officials about
restrictions and installation requirements in your area.
NOTE: We strongly recommend installers to be WETT or
WHERF certified.
To ANYONE using this fireplace:
These DO’s and DO NOTs are for your safety.
1.
DO
read this instruction manual before lighting your
first fire.
2.
DO
burn seasoned wood fuel or processed solid fuel
firelogs.
3.
To avoid glass breakage,
DO NOT
slam the fireplace
door.
4.
DO NOT
use gasoline-type lantern fuel, kerosene,
charcoal lighter fluid or similar liquids to start or fresh-
en up a fire in this fireplace. Keep all such liquids well
away from the fireplace.
5.
DO NOT overfire the fireplace. If the chimney con-
nector behind the top louver glows red, or if you
are unable to slow down the burning rate of the
fire, you are probably overfiring the fireplace.
6.
DO
operate the fireplace with doors fully open or fully
closed. If doors are left partly open, gas and flame may
be drawn out of the fireplace opening, creating risks of
both fire and smoke.
7.
DO
keep all combustible materials (furniture, shoes,
etc.) at least 4 feet away from the front of the fireplace.
8.
If the Opel AP is equipped with a catalyst it needs peri-
odic inspection for proper operation. If you have the
catalyst installed,
DO NOT
burn chemical chimney
cleaners. They contain contaminants that will render
the catalyst inoperative.
9.
DO NOT
use a fireplace insert or other products not
specified for use with this fireplace.
10. If you use the fireplace with the doors wide open,
install a firescreen (FDFS) to prevent logs and
sparks from burning your floor.
11. Always verify that your ash pan is in place before
igniting a fire.
CREOSOTE: Formation and removal
When wood is burned slowly, it produces tar and other
organic vapours which combine with expelled moisture to
form creosote. The creosote vapours condense in the rela-
tively cool chimney flue of a slow burning fire. When ignit-
ed, this creosote makes an extremely hot fire. The chimney
should be inspected periodically during the heating season
to see if a creosote build-up has occurred. If a significant
layer of creosote has accumulated (1/4” or more), it should
be removed to reduce the risk of chimney fire.
WARNING: Burn dry wood only!
DO NOT BURN:
- driftwood
- treated wood
- coal
- garbage
- plastic
Do not use construction scraps (e.g. 2x4 or plywood
scraps) as your only supply of fuel as you may over-
heat and seriously damage the fireplace.
Do not use
more than 3 densified fuel logs (e.g. Presto Logs) at a time.
Do not poke or stir the logs while they are burning. Use
only firelogs that have been evaluated for fireplace use and
refer to firelog warnings and caution markings prior to use.
GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
THE COMBUSTION CONTROL SYSTEM
Since the doors are sealed, all combustion air must come
through a draft control. This control has a bimetal coil to
allow more air when the unit is cold, and less air when the
unit is hot, guarding against overheating. It can be con-
trolled either manually through the lever below the door
handles, or automatically through the optional electric wall
thermostat. For the first few days, it is best to operate the
fireplace with the manual control fully on (moved to the
right as far as possible). Just control the fire as you would
any normal fireplace using two or three large logs at a time
for a smaller fire, or more logs for more heat. Once you
become familiar with operating the fireplace with the con-
trol open, you can start experimenting with lower settings.
Remember: when the fireplace is hot, the control will not
need as much movement to reduce the fire as when it is
cold. The bimetal coil will already have shut the damper
part way.
THE ASH PAN
The Opel AP is equipped with an ash pan to easily remove
ashes from the firebox. To remove the ashes, open the
doors and, with a poker, remove the ash pan plug from its
hole. Push the ashes through the hole (making sure that
the ash pan is in proper position). When the ash pan is full,
open the bottom louvers of the fireplace. The louvers can
be easily opened by pulling the right hand side of the lou-
vers. It is held in place by a magnet. Remove ash pan and
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OPEL AP
