Operating instructions
35 Date Printed: 4/7/11
File: G:/pubdata/Manuals\english manuals\OM-KE/PE.pub OM KE/PE 1006 Version 1.10 Revised: December 2010
Disposal Of Ashes
********************WARNING********************
NEVER STORE HOT ASHES IN A GARAGE OR BASEMENT. HOT ASHES WILL GENERATE CARBON MONOXIDE
AND/OR FLAMMABLE GASES. THESE GASES MAY CAUSE SUFFOCATION
Ashes should be placed in a metal container with a tight fitting lid. The closed container of ashes should be placed on a
noncombustible floor or on the ground, well away from all combustible materials, pending final disposal. If the ashes are
disposed of by burial in soil or otherwise locally dispersed, they should be retained in the closed container until all
cinders leave thoroughly cooled.
RELOADING & Maintaining an efficient fire.
A bed of hot coals is the most important requirement for keeping an efficient fire. A bed of hot coals will help the stove
maintain a more even temperature as well as getting the new load of wood started easily. Many new woodstove users
hesitate to load enough wood to sustain a fire, fearing that a full woodstove automatically means a hot fire. The
combustion air control, set at the lowest air control setting, permits a low fire even with the firebox full. At each reloading,
load the stove fully. It is neither necessary nor desirable to open the door often. Every time the door is opened, more
creosote is deposited in the chimney. Let each load burn down to a coal bed. Frequent reloading may cause major
fluctuations in temperature and fuel/air mix, thereby reducing efficiency. A full load of fuel may burn for 24 hours or more.
This will change considerably with the variables of stove model, type of wood, whether the wood is "seasoned", the
thermostat setting, the position of the stove in the house, and how well the house is insulated. The stove can be FULLY
loaded without increasing the heat output. The fire will simply burn longer.
RELOADING SEQUENCE
1. As much as possible, let each load of fuel burn down to a few coals before reloading.
2. Open the bypass by rotating the bypass handle fully counter clockwise to the stop. Set the thermostat to high.
3. Open the loading door gently. Pulling it open quickly could pull smoke or flames into the room. This stove is not
designed to be operated with the door open. Except for loading or reloading, operate only with the door closed.
WARNING
ALWAYS OPEN THE BYPASS AND THE LOADING DOOR TO ALLOW THE FIRE TO BUILD UP SLIGHTLY
BEFORE FULLY OPENING THE LOADING DOOR. IF THE LOADING DOOR IS OPENED TOO FAST, THE SUDDEN
INTRODUCTION OF AIR CAN CAUSE THE FIRE TO FLARE AND DISCHARGE SMOKE AND FLAME INTO THE
ROOM. SUCH A DISCHARGE MAY BURN PERSONS WHO ARE NEAR THE WOODSTOVE.
4. With a poker, pull the glowing coals to the front center of the firebox. Leave, as much as possible, an open channel
between pieces of wood in the center of the stove. (This channel makes a natural chimney and gets the fire started
quickly). Leave the door standing open long enough to know the new fuel will ignite.
5. When the new load has ignited, close and latch the door, but leave the by-pass open.
6. When the fuel is burning well, close the bypass, turn the thermostat to the desired setting, and turn the room air fans
to the proper speed. After the fire has been allowed to liven up and the door closed, DO NOT open the door for at
least 4-5 minutes. Hot gasses build up right after the door is closed and the addition of oxygen when the door opens
will cause a rapid combustion, sending smoke (and possibly flame) into the room. Always open the bypass door
BEFORE opening the loading door. Keep the by-pass door closed at all other times.
7. Thermostat Adjustment. Leave the air control in the fully open position (3) for 15 minutes, (or until the fire is well
established) before making further adjustments. Turning down the thermostat too soon may cause creosote
formation in the chimney. Once the fire is well established, adjustments may be made for a Low, medium or high fire,
depending on heat needs of the home. The glass will stay cleanest when the new load of fuel is burned on high for
up to 30 minutes. The moisture in a new load contributes a large part of the deposit on the glass. Burning that
moisture off, before turning the thermostat to low, helps keep the glass clean. For a low fire, (12,000 to 15,000 Btu/
hour) getting the fire well established is particularly critical. If the wood being used is not well seasoned, it may be
necessary to leave the air control setting in the fully open position for much Longer than 15 minutes to assure a
clean, low burn. When the fire is burning well on high, reset the air control in steps to medium, then lower, over a 5-
10 minute period.
For a medium burn (16,000 to 22,000 Btu/hour) leave the air control set at high (“3”) for 15 minutes, or until the fire is
well established. Then move the air control to the medium setting. For a high fire (30,000 to 40,000 Btu/hour) the air
control setting may be left on high at all times.
NOTE: Turning the thermostat down will often cause the catalyst temperature to go up, for a period of up to
several hours. This is due to the greater amount of smoke (catalyst fuel) produced by a lower fire.