1
Vermont Castings Stratton
30004508
KT108b
Correct door position
6/08
KT108c
Fig. 37
Correct door position during operation.
correct
incorrect
For areas that do not have a supply of hardwood, com-
monly burned softwoods include tamarack, yellow pine,
white pine, Eastern red cedar, fir, and redwood. These
too should be properly dried. Your Stratton will accept
wood up to 0” (508 mm) in the front and 18” (457 mm)
in the back. Longer wood pieces work better than short
ones.
Wood should be stored under cover to maintain dry-
ness, and should be dried at least one year for optimum
heating and fire-viewing performance. Even for short-
term storage, however, keep wood a safe distance from
the heater and keep it out of areas around the heater
used for refueling and ash removal.
Use the air control Settings
that work best for you
No single air control setting will fit every situation. Each
installation will differ depending on the quality of the
fuel, the amount of heat desired, and how long you wish
the fire to burn.
The control setting also depends on your particular
installation’s “draft,” or the force that moves air from
the fireplace up through the chimney. Draft is affected
by such things as the length, type, and location of the
chimney, local geography, nearby obstructions, and
other factors.
Too much draft may cause excessive temperatures
in the fireplace. On the other hand, too little draft can
cause backpuffing into the room and/or the “plugging”
of the chimney.
How do you know if your draft is excessively high or
low? Symptoms of too much draft include an uncontrol-
lable burn or glowing internal parts of the Stratton. A
sign of inadequate draft is smoke leaking into the room
through the fireplace or chimney connector joints, low
heat, and dirty glass.
In some newer homes that are well-insulated and
weather-tight, poor draft may result from insufficient air
in the house. In such instances, an open window near
the fireplace on the windward side of the house will
provide the fresh air needed.
Another option for getting more combustion air to the
fireplace is to duct air directly from the outside to the
fireplace. In fact, in some areas provisions for outside
combustion air are required in all new construction.
Your Stratton is designed to incorporate outside air
for combustion. Directions for installing the optional
AK-MST outside air duct are included with the kit and
beginning on Page 11 of this instruction.
When first using the fireplace, keep track of the settings
of the air controls. You will quickly find that a specific
setting will give you a fixed amount of heat. It may take
a week or two to determine the amount of heat and the
length of burn you should expect from various settings.
Most installations do not require a large amount of
combustion air, especially if adequate draft is available.
Do not for any reason attempt to increase the firing
of your heater by altering the air control adjustment
range outlined in these directions.
Starting and Maintaining a wood Fire
burn solid wood fuel only in the Stratton, and burn
it directly on the hearth. Do not elevate the fuel. Do
not burn coal or other fuels.
Minimize thermal stress by allowing the plates to adjust
gradually during an initial break-in fire by following
Steps 1-3 below.
waRNiNg: operate your Stratton only with the
door fully closed. if the door is left partially open,
gas and flame may be drawn out of the fireplace
opening, creating risks of both fire and smoke.
Follow these guidelines as you start and maintain the
fire, and remove the ashes. Prior to starting a fire with
a cold fireplace, it is recommended to clear the lower
primary air holes located under the front brick. To do
this, remove the andiron and lift out the front refractory
brick. Sweep any ash accumulation out of the three (3)
air slots. Keeping these slots clear of ash will ensure
better performance.
1. Open the primary air control fully.
. Lay some crumpled newspapers in the bottom.
Place on the paper six or eight pieces of dry, finely-
split kindling. On the kindling lay two or three larger
sticks of split dry wood approximately 1-” (5-50
mm).
Do not use chemicals or fluids to start the fire. Do
not burn garbage or flammable fluids such as gaso-
line, naptha, or engine oil. also, never use gaso-
line-type lantern fuel, kerosene, charcoal lighter
fluid, or similar liquids to start or “freshen up” a fire
in this heater. keep all such liquids well away from
the heater while it is in use.
3. Light the newspaper and close the door. Gradually
build up the fire by adding a few 3-5” (76 -17 mm)
diameter splits.
