Specifications

63D4004 23

FAQS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1) What is the correct way to start a ﬁ re?

a) You will need small pieces of dry wood (kindling) and paper. Use only newspaper or paper that has not been

coated or had unknown materials glued or applied to it. Never use coated (typically advertising ﬂ yers) or colored

paper.

b) Open the door of the wood insert.

c) Crumple several pieces of paper and place them in the center of the ﬁ rebox and directly on to the ﬁ rebricks of the

wood insert (see page 6 of this manual). Never use a grate to elevate the ﬁ re.

d) Place small pieces of dry wood (kindling) over the paper in a “Teepee” manner. This allows for good air

circulation, which is critical for good combustion.

e) Light the crumpled paper in 2 or 3 locations. Note: It is important to heat the air in the insertpipe for draft to

start.

f) Fully open the air control of the wood insert (see page 17 of this manual) and close the door until it is slightly

open, allowing for much needed air to be introduced into the ﬁ rebox. Never leave the door fully open as sparks

from the kindling may occur causing injury. As the ﬁ re begins to burn the kindling, some additional kindling may

be needed to sustain the ﬁ re. DO NOT add more paper after the ﬁ re has started.

g) Once the kindling has started to burn, start by adding some of your smaller pieces of seasoned (dry) ﬁ rewood.

Note: Adding large pieces at the early stages will only serve to smother the ﬁ re. Continue adding small pieces

of seasoned (dry) ﬁ rewood, keeping the door slightly open until each piece starts to ignite. Remember to always

open the door slowly between placing wood into the ﬁ re.

h) Once the wood has started to ignite and the smoke has reduced, close the wood insert door fully. The reduction of

smoke, is a good indication that the draft in the chimney has started and good combustion is now possible. Larger

pieces of seasoned (dry) ﬁ rewood can now be added when there is sufﬁ cient space in the ﬁ rebox. Adjust the air

control setting to desired setting (see page 17).

i) Note: The lower the air control setting the longer the burn time of your ﬁ rewood.

2) What type of wood is best to use as ﬁ rewood?

Dry seasoned hardwood should be used. Avoid green unseasoned wood. Green wood, besides burning at only 60

percent of the fuel value of dry seasoned wood, will deposit creosote on the inside of your insert and along the inside

of your chimney.

3) What does dry seasoned wood mean, and what is considered hardwood?

Wood that has been dried for a period of one year in a well-ventilated and sheltered area would be considered dry

seasoned wood. Hardwoods are generally from slow growth trees (Example: Oak and Fir). Softwoods are generally

from fast growth trees (Example: Pine and Spruce).

4) Will following the above listed steps for starting a ﬁ re result in perfect results all the time?

The quick answer is most of the time. There are many variables that may affect your success rate when starting a

ﬁ re. Most of those variables and how to deal with them will be learned through experience. Your ability to start a

good ﬁ re will signiﬁ cantly increase with time and patience. Some of the reasons for poor insert performance will be

covered in the next section of these instructions

5) Why can’t I get the ﬁ re lit?

Damp or wet wood and poor draft are the main reasons for poor results in starting a ﬁ re. Always use dry seasoned

wood for your ﬁ re. Even wood dried for two years will be difﬁ cult to ignite if it has become wet.

6) Why is there always a large quantity of thick black smoke present in the ﬁ rebox?

A large quantity of thick black smoke in the ﬁ rebox is a good indication that the draft is poor.