Use dry wood
Some types of wood are easier to light than others. The
best fire wood, and easiest to light, is always dry wood.
Using dry wood will minimise creosote build-up. Damp
wood has far less heating power. This lowers the
combustion temperature of the fire, and therefore the
output. It is difficult to light, burns badly and gives off
smoke. Above all, the use of damp wood causes the
formation of deposits (tarring and soot staining) in the
chimney flue and on the glass door.
Flue gas temperature
The most important aspect of stove operation is
maintaining a high combustion temperature. If the
combustion of the fuel is at the correct temperature,
most of the soot and tars (hydrocarbons) are burned.
These hydrocarbons, when not burned, can be seen as
tar and creosote deposits on the internal surfaces of
the stove, glass and chimney surfaces.
Running your stove at maximum for prolonged periods
will chill the stove as the airs passage through the
combustion chamber will be too fast to heat up and
maintain the temperature within the stove. The
operator will soon become acquainted with the
optimum settinng for the maximum heat production
from their stove without the use of any surface or flue
thermometer.
High combustion temperatures are the secret to clean
glass operation. When loading wood, add one or two
logs at a time, depending on size. Loading the appliance
full of damp wood on a low fire is certain to cause poor
combustion efficiency, resulting in tar and dirty glass.
It is recommended that you heat your stove to at least
205°C (400°F) before reducing the air controls. This
procedure should always be carried out after
reloading. A simple guide to this is when the new
charge of fuel is burning vigorously.
Storage time for wood
Wood
supplied
in
immediately under a ventilated shelter dries quicker
than wood stocked in high piles. Quarters (split wood)
dry quicker than round logs. Wood which is too small
to split must be drained, by removing some of the bark.
Round logs left in the open for more than a year end
up rotten. The drying time for the fire wood should be
at least 18 months to 2 years. This period can be
shortened (12 to 15 months) if the wood is cut to the
right length and immediately stored under a ventilated
shelter.
ready-cut
lengths
4. SAFETY
Notify the elderly, as well as children of the high
surface temperature of the stove in order to avoid
burns. Supervise children when they are in the room
where the stove is placed and use a suitable fire guard
for it. It is essential that the controls of the stove, as
well as the chimney pipes are always clean and in good
condition. The stove must be checked before use, as
well as the chimney cleaned at least once a year. You
should do this operation more often if the stove does
not turn on regularly, the installation is poor or low
quality fuel is used.
ATENTION: The stove is very hot during operation. Do
not touch the surface. Furniture and other
combustible materials must keep the necessary safety
distance (Fig. 24).
Do not overload the stove. If any part of the stove or
chimney begins to glow or change color, it means that
you are overheating the stove. If you detect
overheating of the stove, turn it off to avoid damaging
the cast iron parts.
Please, follow these recommendations:
• Do not load more fuel.
• Open the door of your stove slightly so that more air
enters. This will initially cause the flames to grow and
consume the fuel more quickly, but it will also cool the
chimney and reduce the draft, cooling the stove.
stored
57
Fig. 24. Measures en cm.