Thank you for choosing one of our Survival Stoves! Our
Survival Hybrid Wood Stove is designed to heat a small
house. Here are some important things to know before using
your stove for the first time.
THERE SHOULD BE NO SMOKE INSIDE
With a good stove and chimney system, there should be no
smoke or odor inside your home, and very little smoke out-
side the house. If you have smoke or odors inside the house,
please let us know right away so we can help you!
THE STOVE IS ONE PART OF A SYSTEM
The stove is part of a system. All parts of that system need to
work together to ensure your wood stove is a safe and effi-
cient heat source that you and your family will enjoy for
years to come.
The system includes the 1) chimney, 2) stove, 3) hearth, 4)
tools and ash bucket, 5) a safe installation, and 6) a trained
operator (you!)
1) The Chimney:
The chimney serves a critical function. It is
the “engine” that drives the stove. As hot air rises in the
chimney, “draft” is created which pulls combustion air into
the firebox. It is essential to have a good draft in your chim-
ney system for optimum stove performance.
A good draft in your chimney provides the oxygen needed
for the fire to burn. A stove with a strong draft creates more
heat. A sluggish or weak chimney draft will cause your stove
to smolder, produce less heat, and potentially spill smoke
and/or odors inside the home. These are all indications of a
stove that isn’t burning as it should.
Common reasons for poor draft include: a chimney that is
too short or too tall, flue of the wrong size, and high winds.
High efficiency stoves, like your Survival Hybrid, maximize
the heating potential of your wood and send cleaner exhaust
into the air by burning the gas vapors in the smoke. The
additional heat generated inside your stove is then radiated
in your home. The smoke going up your chimney is cooler
and cleaner. This makes a highly efficient stove more draft
sensitive. A chimney that meets all requirements for your
stove will ensure peak performance for heating..
2) The Stove:
The Survival Hybrid is designed to burn wood
efficiently and cleanly. It will produce more heat with less
wood, resulting in clean air both inside and outside of the
home. With basic maintenance and proper operation, this
stove will keep you and your family warm for years to come.
Plus, the Survival Stove has an added bonus of a cook sur-
face on top for skillets, saucepans or kettles.
3) The Hearth:
The stove is the heart of the home, and the
hearth that the stove sits on creates a focal point that serves
an important safety function. The stove must be placed on a
non-combustible surface so that the floor is protected from
falling embers or ashes. The dimensions required for the
hearth area are based on providing this protection, particu-
larly from the loading door and ash pan.
Not having enough thermal protection to any combustible
flooring under the stove (wood, carpet, vinyl, laminate, etc)
can cause hidden scorching and can be a fire hazard. If the
thermal protection is adequate but the size of the pad is not,
there is danger of heat, ashes, or embers starting a fire on the
combustible floor surface.
The manual has specific minimum dimensions for a hearth
pad for your stove (pg. 3-4). If possible, we prefer larger
hearth areas to allow plenty of room, if possible, for storing
wood, hearth tools, or drying boots. A larger hearth also pro-
vides a visual cue so children, elders, and other members of
the household give it a wide berth when passing by.
4) Tools
: Having the right tool for the right job is a key to
success. Your stove and your safety will benefit from the
proper use of tools such as – an ash rake, an ash shovel,
poker, a stove top thermometer, and an ash bucket.
Woodstock Soapstone makes tools and ash buckets and has
them available for purchase.
Ash Rake -
Use the rake to help move ash down to the ash
pan below.
Ash Shovel -
Handy to remove coal “klinkers” and ash from
the firebox. Be sure to use an appropriate ash bucket.
Poker -
Use this to reposition wood inside the stove. You will
also find the poker handy to adjust the air damper - just
“poke” it to adjust the heat output. A very small adjustment
can make a big difference.
Magnetic Thermometer -
One is provided with your stove
to help you monitor the firebox and stove top temperatures
and catalyst operation.
Ash Bucket -
The safe removal and disposal of ashes is of
utmost importance. An ash removal container should be
metal, have legs that lift it off the floor, and have a top that
closes securely and will not fall or blow off.
Ashes should NEVER be dumped into a combustible con-
tainer, such as a cardboard box. An ash container should
never be set on a combustible floor. Hot embers in the
ashes can often stay viable for 36 hours or longer after
removal from your stove. A galvanized ash can, set away
from the home, on a non-combustible surface or up on
bricks or cinder blocks is advisable.
5) Stove Installation:
A wood stove by itself is not a hazard,
but an unsafe installation is. Following the specific guide-
lines for clearances and venting materials is critical. Your
stove installation needs to conform to certain clearances for
safety, not just around it, but under and over it as well.
INTRODUCTION
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