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Frequently Asked Questions
My stove is new and thin smoke is coming out of the surface of the unit. Is this normal?
This is normal when your stove is new and has never been used. The paint needs to be “cured”. You need to heat your stove two or three of times before the curing process is completed. Simply open a window in the room where the stove is located. The amount of smoke produced by the curing process should be very limited.
Excessive smoke is building up inside the stove when it is on. Why?
The chimney may simply be too cold. Light-up a small quantity of newspaper in the stove, as
close as possible to the flue outlet. Leave the door slightly ajar. This small fire will slowly heat-up the chimney, until it is hot enough to create a normal draft inside the exhaust system. If needed, slowly increase the quantity of newspaper. When you realize that smoke is being evacuated normally through the exhaust system, you can build a normal fire.
- Negative pressure may be caused by air-moving devices. Check if smoking problems occur when those devices are working. If so make sure you turn them off when you use your stove.
- Negative pressure may be caused by wind shear or downdrafts. Make sure your chimney is installed at a height appropriate to prevent interference from nearby obstructions.
When I colse the door on my stove the fire goes out. Why?
You have not established a good draft. A stronger fire must be built to heat up the flue. You may be using logs that are too big, try using smaller logs & kindling to establish your initial fire. Make sure your air shutter is open.
When & Why do I need to replace my firebricks?
The firebricks protect the steel of the stove from the heat. The stove should not be operated without firebricks as the heat will wear out the stove and could pose a fire hazard. Bricks that are disintegrated should be replaced right away. The frequency at which you have to replace your firebricks will depend on how often you use your stove. Inspect them regularly and order new bricks prior to replacement time so that you will have them ready when needed. Firebrick replacement is not under warranty.
Does it matter what kind of wood I use?
Your fuel supply should consist of a mixture of seasoned, dry hardwoods like maple or oak, and softwoods, such as fir and pine. When first starting your fire, use softwoods. They ignite easily and burn rapidly with a hot flame. Hardwoods provide a longer lasting fire and are best used after preheating the chimney. If hardwoods are unavailable, you can control your fire’s burn rate by using larger pieces of wood. The seasoning, or drying, process allows most of the natural moisture found in wood to evaporate, making it easier to burn. Never burn garbage, plastic, foil, or any kind of chemically treated or painted wood. They all produce noxious fumes; these are dangerous and highly polluting. They can also cause the stove to corrode or deteriorate.
Why should I install a blower?
A blower is helpful if you wish to distribute the heat produced by your stove. By forcing the hot air forward the blower enables you to extend the heating power of your stove. |
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