FP16
– Saint-Laurent - Installation and Operation Manual
47
F.
Poor chimney draft
With no fire, there should be sufficient draft to exhaust candle smoke introduced at the bottom of the
throat. Chimneys installed against an outside wall without protection may generate back draft problems
which will cause start-up problems. To prevent this, when you light a fire make sure you use small pieces of
really dry wood and keep your glass door closed for the first 15 minutes. Reload your unit a few times with
kindling before putting large pieces of cordwood.
IMPORTANT NOTES
•
Do not burn coal. The sulphur in coal will corrode the firebox.
•
Do not allow the wood to smoulder or burn without flame, since this will produce excessive creosote in
the unit.
•
The chimney damper and air intake control should be always in the open position when the fireplace is
in use.
2.3
Maintaining Your FP16
–
SAINT-LAURENT Wood Fireplace
2.3.1
Creosote
–
Formation and Need for Removal
When wood is burned slowly without a flame, it produces tar and other organic vapours which combined
with expelled moisture will form creosote. The creosote vapours condense in the relatively cool chimney
flue of a slow-burning fire. As a result, creosote residue accumulates on the flue lining. When ignited this
creosote makes an extremely hot fire. The chimney should be inspected at least twice a year during the
heating season to determine if creosote build-up has occurred. When creosote has accumulated it must be
removed to reduce the risk of a chimney fire.
2.3.2
Chimney Maintenance
Regular chimney inspection and maintenance combined with proper operation will prevent chimney fires.
Keep your chimney clean. Do not allow more than 1/8
(3 mm) creosote build up in your chimney. The
amount of creosote will depend on variables such as frequency of use and type of fires. We recommend
that you:
A.
Initially inspect the chimney system weekly. From this, you will learn how often it will be necessary to
clean your chimney.
B.
Have your chimney cleaned by a qualified chimney sweeper. If you wish to clean it yourself, we
recommend using a stiff plastic or non-metallic brush. If a metal brush is used, its size should be slightly
smaller than the flue to avoid damaging the chimney. Do not use a brush that will scratch the stainless
steel interior of the chimney.
C.
Do not expect chemical cleaners to keep your chimney clean. The rain cap can be removed for
inspection and/or cleaning of the chimney.
