User's Manual

CAC 15

FIGURE 11 - CHIMNEY HEIGHT REQUIREMENTS

WHAT TO DO IF THE HEATER SMOKES OR BURNS POORLY OR EXCESSIVE CREOSOTE ACCUMULATES IN THE CHIMNEY

Open a window slightly to see if the conditions improve. If opening a window improved the performance of the heater or stops

the spillage of smoke into the room, the problem is caused by a slight vacuum in the room. The vacuum can be the result of the

room being so tightly constructed that the air removed from the room by the heater is not replaced by normal inﬁ ltration of air from

outside the room.

The vacuum can also be caused by the loss of air from the room through the kitchen or bathroom ventilating fans, other chimneys or

vents, etc. The only solution to this type problem is to reduce the air lost from the room or provide a source for air to enter the room.

Check the pipes connecting the heater to the chimney for loose or unsealed joints that may allow air to leak into the chimney system.

Examine your method of building and tending the ﬁ re in the heater. If you add too much fresh coal at each refueling, or attempt to

operate the heater at too low a combustion rate for the amount of coal present in the ﬁ rebox, your failure to follow proper practices

may be causing the problem. Also check for ash buildup in the ash pan. Ashes can restrict air ﬂ ow through the burning coal.

Check the height of the chimney. A chimney that is too short will not develop sufﬁ cient draft or allow wind to interfere with the

draft. See ﬁ gure 11 for correct chimney height.

Check the chimney for cracks or holes that might allow air to leak into the chimney. If the chimney is equipped with an ash clean

out, be sure the door is closed and ﬁ ts tightly. The door may have to be temporarily sealed with tape or furnace cement to be as

air tight as required. An excellent way to check an exterior chimney for leaks is to preform a smoke test building a small coal ﬁ re

in the heater, adding a small amount of coal to the ﬁ re to make it smoke heavily, momentarily blocking the top of the chimney, and

watching for smoke to leak out of any opening or cracks.

Check the entire system for obstructions that could be causing resistance to the ﬂ ow of smoke and gases up the chimney.

Check the size of the chimney ﬂ ue liner. If the chimney ﬂ ue liner’s inside dimension is smaller that 6 inches round or 8 inches

square, it will be too restrictive to the ﬂ ow of smoke and gases. A chimney ﬂ ue liner which has an inside cross-sectional area of

more that 85 square inches is too large, which will result in excess capacity, which means less draft and more creosote. If the

chimney ﬂ ue liner is too large, it may be improved by restricting the top opening of the ﬂ ue to a 6 inch round opening, or in more

extreme cases, the chimney may have to be relined with a smaller lining and a metal prefabricated chimney may have to be replaced.

WHAT TO DO IF THE HEATER BURNS TOO RAPIDLY OR OVERHEATS

If the room in which the heater is located becomes uncomfortably warm on moderately cool days, it may be because you are

placing too much fuel in the heater for the amount of heat required to heat your home. Although the thermostatically controlled

inlet air damper on the heater is intended to control the burning rate of the fuel, a certain amount of air must enter the heater at

all times to assure the ﬁ re does not go out and the fuel burns as cleanly as possible. Thus you should adjust the amount of fuel

you put in the heater to the outdoor temperature. Placing excessive fuel in the heater will cause excessive creosote formation in

the chimney, waste fuel, and make the room uncomfortably warm.

If the heater burns too rapidly or overheats, it may be because air is leaking around a loose door gasket or a fuel feed door or ash

door latching pawl and handle may need adjusting. Check thoroughly for leaks where air may be entering the heater’s ﬁ rebox.

If the heater burns too rapidly or overheats due to excessive draft as described earlier, you may wish to consider purchasing a

barometric damper top be installed in the heater’s chimney connector. The barometric damper should be set to regulate a .06

draft through the heater. Check with your heater dealer.