16
5
Troubleshooting
Start Fire Problems
Possible Cause
Solution
Can’t get fire started
Excessive smoke or spillage
Burns too slowly
Smolders, sizzles
Not enough kindling/paper or no
kindling/paper
Use dry kindling, more paper. Arrange kindling &
wood for air movement.
Damper closed/not fully open
Open damper.
Not enough air for fire to ignite
Check for restricted cap/shroud.
Open air kit (if installed).
Check for flue blockage.
Pre-warm flue before starting fire (refer to starting
fire section).
Check for adequate vent height (refer to chimney
assembly section).
Open window below the fireplace towards the
wind.
Wood condition is too wet, too
large
Use dry, seasoned wood (refer to wood fuel
section).
Bed of coals not established
before adding wood
Start with paper & kindling to establish bed of
coals (refer to starting 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 fireplace 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).
No glass doors
Add glass doors to slow down air flow.
Overdrafting
Check for correct vent height; too much vertical
height creates overdrafting.
Check location of vent termination (refer to
chimney assembly section).
VCG Sovereign Series • SA36/42C Owners Manual • 4010-263 • Rev A • 02/18/15
