Vermont Castings Stratton
30004508
If this is your initial break-in fire, let the fire burn brightly,
but not to excess. Control the fire’s intensity by adjust-
ing the air control lever. After an hour or so stop adding
wood so that the fire dies out gradually.
For ongoing operation after the initial break-in, continue
to add a few sticks at a time of a progressively larger
size. Be sure to keep the fuel load behind the front
grate bar at all times. Continue until you have a live
ember bed at least 3-4” (76 - 10 mm) deep. This may
take an hour or longer, particularly when the Stratton
is vented to an exterior chimney or when the system is
very cold.
You’ll soon find that the insert is
hoT while iN opeR-
aTioN! keep chilDReN, cloThiNg, aND FURNi-
TURe away. coNTacT May caUSe SkiN bURNS.
NoTe:
Some chimneys need to be “primed,” or
warmed up, before they will draw sufficiently to start
a fire. To correct this situation, roll up a couple pieces
of newspaper, place them on top of the kindling and
toward the back of the stove, light them, and close the
doors. This should heat the chimney enough to initiate
a draft.
Once the draft is established, open the front door and
light the rest of the fuel from the bottom. Do not light the
main bed of fuel until the chimney begins drawing, and
repeat the procedure as often as necessary if the initial
attempt is unsuccessful.
4. Once a good ember bed of at least 3-4” (76 - 10
mm) has formed, add the desired amount of wood
and close the primary air control to a medium-low
setting. The fire volume will diminish immediately,
but the Stratton will continue to heat up. Maintain
control of the fire using the primary air control, and
remember: reduce the setting for less heat, increase
the setting for more heat. Refer to the air control set-
tings chart on Page 18 for recommended settings at
different burn rates.
caUTioN: when loading the Stratton, open the
door slowly to prevent flame from rolling out of the
front of the unit.
Do not over-fire this heater.
overfiring may cause a house fire, or can result in
permanent damage to the fireplace. if an exterior
part of the Stratton glows, you are overfiring.
Reloading and Reviving a wood Fire
Set the air control on “High,” and wait at least fifteen
seconds for the draft to increase. Turn the convection
blower off. Open the door slowly.
iMpoRTaNT: while the stove is hot, toss and sift
the coals with each stove loading. This loosens and
helps burn coals that become buried in the ash.
push coals away from the three bottom air jets. cre-
ating this “void” helps maintain a reliable fire.
check the ash level, and remove excess ash. Three
(3) primary air holes located under the front brick
provide air to the coal bed. (Fig. 38) These holes
should be cleared of ash for proper performance.
Add the fuel, smaller pieces first. If it is necessary to
use wood smaller than the 18” (460 mm) optimum size,
be sure to fill the firebox as completely as possible by
loading the wood pieces alternately on the left and right.
Split wood will fill the firebox more completely and re-
duce the frequency of reloading. If possible, stack wood
diagonally to maximize air spaces between fired pieces.
If you have an ember bed of at least -3” (51 - 76 mm),
the air setting may not need to be adjusted. If the em-
ber bed is less than -3” (51 - 76 mm), you may have
to leave the air setting on high for a few minutes until
flames appear.
FP1872
primary air holes
6/08
Primary
Air Holes
Bottom Brick
Andiron
FP187
Fig. 38
Keep primary air holes free of ash for proper perfor-
mance.
Finally, adjust the air control and optional fan speed for
your desired heat level.
NoTe:
If the charcoal bed is relatively thick and your
fuel is well-seasoned, it is possible to add fresh fuel
(smaller pieces first), close the door, and reset the air
control immediately.
Special Tactics for cold-climate heating
The Stratton is capable of producing up to 40,000 BTU/
hour and heating an area of up to 1,500 sq. ft. How-
ever, many factors affect heating performance and can
influence the extent to which the Stratton Medium Insert
can heat a given area.
A well-insulated home, located in a moderate climate
and with the Stratton located centrally in an open floor
plan, will be easier to heat than a drafty home in the far
north in which a Stratton is installed on an exterior wall
at the end of a long house.
Different results may be experienced even in the same
installation if you switch from burning good, dry wood to
