Monessen Hearth BWBC500MHB - Manual (Page 28)

28 61D0087
WOOD VS. FOSSIL FUELS
Compared to fossil fuels, a full cord of dry hickory weighs
about two tons and is approximately equal in heating value
to a ton of hard coal. On a per pound basis, heavy hardwoods
have about half the heating value of coal. The table below
shows the relative densities and heat values of a variety of
dry woods. Varieties at the top of the list (Dogwood) burn
longer and those near the bottom (White Pine) ignite and
burn quicker. A combination of both light and heavy wood
is desired.
SPECIES VALUE DENSITY HEAT
Dogwood .70-.79 100-107
Hickory .70-.74 100
Oak .60-.73 86-99
Black Locust .69-.70 95-98
Beech .64-.66 89-91
Hard Maple .58-.65 83-88
Birch .55-.64 79-86
Apple .58-.62 83-84
Ash .57-.61 81-82
Southern Pine .51-.60 73-81
Elm .50-.59 71-80
Cherry .50-.52 70
Douglas Fir .45-.51 64-69
Spruce .41-.44 59
Redwood .33-.40 47-54
White Pine .35-.37 50
BUILDING AND TENDING A FIRE
The first three fires should be of moderate size to allow the
fireplace to adjust and cure before being subjected to larger
fires.
First, make sure your room is well ventilated, your damper
open and the flue is unobstructed. Then make sure your wood
is dry and seasoned. Unseasoned wood burns poorly. If you
use unseasoned wood with poor ventilation or an obstructed
chimney, smoking could occur.
Open the outside combustion air damper by pushing upward
on its control lever located above the firebrick on the left side
of the firebox. This damper should be open while the fireplace
is in use. See Figure 5, page 7.
The flue damper control lever is located just below the upper
grille of the fireplace. You can reach the control lever through
the front opening of the fireplace. The damper is operated by
simply unlocking up to open or pulling and locking down
to close.
The flue damper is counterweighted
to maintain the fully open position.
The flue damper must be fully pen
while the fireplace is in use. The flue
damper must be open unless the fire
is completely out and all smoking has
stopped.
W
ARNING
Never use gasoline, gasoline-type
lantern fuel, kerosene, charcoal lighter
fluid, or similar liquids to start or
“freshen up” a fire in this fireplace.
Keep all such liquids well away from
the fireplace while it is in use. Use
of this fuel can cause a serious
explosion.
W
ARNING
FIREPLACE OPERATION