USING YOUR FIREPLACE
1. Open the firescreen by grasping the handles and pushing
them back to each side.
2. The flue damper rod is located behind the mesh screens.
To open the damper, slide the rod to the right. To close,
slide the rod to the left.
3. If the combustion air kit has been installed, the inlet air
damper should be in a fully open position before you start
a fire. Reach behind the screen and release the control
rod on the front of the left side of the firebox. To open,
turn the control until it is pointing down. To close the
damper, rotate the control rod counterclockwise until it is
pointing to the three o'clock position. The control rod will
lock in the closed position and swing free in the open position.
4. A TEMCO fireplace grate must be used in this fireplace. It is
pre-installed at the factory as an integral part of the fireplace.
5. Light a piece of crumpled paper and hold it high inside
the fireplace. This will warm the flue and start the chim-
ney "drawing".
6. Light the paper in the grate and add kindling. As the
kindling catches, add more or heavier wood until the fire
is well established. Be careful not to "smother" the fire.
7. WARNING: NEVER USE GASOLINE, GASOLINE-TYPE
LANTERN FUEL, KEROSENE, CHARCOAL LIGHTER
FLUID OR SIMILAR LIQUIDS TO START OR FRESHEN UP
A FIRE IN THIS FIREPLACE. KEEP ALL SUCH LIQUIDS
WELL AWAY FROM THE FIREPLACE WHILE IT IS IN USE.
8. Close the right firescreen first and then the left firescreen,
being sure that they overlap. Keep the firescreens closed
at all times except when adding fuel.
9. Ashes that build up from burning logs must be removed
periodically to allow space for air to move under and up
through the fuel for combustion. If these ashes are al-
lowed to accumulate until the air flow is blocked, the
grate may become badly warped from excessive heat.
10. A fireplace needs a steady supply of air in order to draw
properly. Many houses or apartments which are well
sealed lack sufficient air for normal operation. Ventilat-
ing fans, exhaust hoods or central heating systems often
cause fireplaces to smoke by stealing the fireplace's
combustion air. If the volume is enough, it can reverse
the flow of air in the fireplace and cause smoking.
11. Use solid wood for fuel. Use dry and well seasoned
wood. Do not burn scrap construction lumber; it pro-
duces excessive sparks. Never use woods dipped in
tar, pitch, creosote, etc. as this produces sputtering,
smoking fires with toxic fumes. Do not use wood prod-
ucts with synthetic binders like plywood or artificial
logs as these produce abnormally high temperatures
and may cause deterioration of chimney material.
12. DO NOT OVER-FIRE WITH EXCESSIVE FUEL LOADS
SUCH AS LUMBER, WRAPPING PAPER, CHRISTMAS
TREES, ETC. THE FIREPLACE IS OVER-FIRED IF THE
TOP OF THE FLAMES ARE GOING UP INTO THE CHIM-
NEY OR LICKING OUT OF THE FIREBOX.
OVER-FIRING WITH THE GLASS DOORS IN THE
CLOSED POSITION CAN CAUSE THE GLASS TO SHAT-
TER RESULTING IN PROPERTY DAMAGE AND/OR PER-
SONAL INJURY. TEMCO DOES NOT WARRANT THE
GLASS AND IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR CONSEQUEN-
TIAL PROPERTY DAMAGE AS STATED IN THE SEPA-
RATE GLASS DOOR WARRANTY.
13. Creosote Formation and Need for Removal: When
wood is burned slowly, it produces tar and other organic
vapors which combine with expelled moisture to form
creosote. The creosote vapors condense in the relatively
cool chimney flue of a slow-burning fire. As a result, cre-
osote residue accumulates on the flue lining. If ignited,
this creosote makes an extremely hot fire. The chimney
should be inspected at least twice a year during the heat-
ing season to determine if a creosote buildup has oc-
curred. If creosote has accumulated, it should be re-
moved to reduce the risk of a chimney fire.
14. CHARCOAL AND COAL MAY NOT BE BURNED IN
THIS FIREPLACE.
15. NEVER CLOSE ANY DAMPERS UNTIL YOU ARE
CERTAIN THAT THERE ARE NO WARM EMBERS.
16. When the fire has gone completely out, close all
dampers. This will prevent excessive heat loss up the
chimney and excessive water on the hearth. If a com-
bustion air kit is installed, close the inlet air damper.
17. The brick-like refractory on the floor, back and sides is rein-
forced with steel but can be cracked and broken. Don't drop
logs or build fires directly against refractories. A careful
"burn-in" of your fireplace is recommended during initial use.
For the first few fires, build modest fires. This will cure the
refractories properly. Hairline cracks may appear in the re-
fractories but do no harm to their performance.
18. It is important for the chimney to be high enough to draw
properly. The chimney should extend 3' above the highest
point where it passes through the roof and 2' above any por-
tion of the roof horizontally within 10'. See pages 9 and 10.
19. Disposal of Ashes: Ashes should be placed in a metal
container with a tight fitting lid. The closed container of
ashes should be placed on a noncombustible floor or on the
ground, well away from all combustible materials, pending
final disposal. If the ashes are disposed of by burial in soil
or otherwise locally dispersed, they should be retained in the
closed container until all cinders have thoroughly cooled.
20. WARNING: THIS FIREPLACE IS NOT INTENDED TO
BE USED WITH ANY COMPONENTS OTHER THAN
THOSE SPECIFIED IN THIS MANUAL (i.e.FIREPLACE
INSERTS, BLOWERS, GLASS DOOR EXTENSIONS,
HEAT CIRCULATORS). USE OF THESE ITEMS
COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD.
21. Access to chimney for cleaning: To remove the ter-
mination cap, remove the three #10A x 7 hex-head
screws from the termination brackets. Grasp the skirt
with one hand on each side and pull up. To replace the
cap, reposition the termination cap on the chimney pipe
and align the termination brackets with the holes in the
pipe. Securely attach the termination cap to the chimney
with the three screws removed earlier.
22. WARNING: FIREPLACES EQUIPPED WITH DOORS
SHOULD BE OPERATED ONLY WITH DOORS FULLY
OPEN OR DOORS FULLY CLOSED. IF DOORS ARE
LEFT PARTLY OPEN, GAS AND FLAME MAY BE
DRAWN OUT OF THE FIREPLACE OPENING, CREAT-
ING RISKS OF BOTH FIRE AND SMOKE.
