Operating instructions, First fire, Safety guidelines – Regency FP90 User Manual
Page 34

FPI FP90 Wood Fireplace
34
OPERA
TION
OPERATING
INSTRUCTIONS
Draft Control
Both the primary and air wash drafts are 
controlled by the control rod located behind 
the bottom louver. To increase your draft, pull 
to the right for open, to decrease push to the 
left for closed. 
WARNING: Do not build the fi re too close 
to the glass.
FIRST FIRE
When your installation is completed and 
inspected you are ready for your fi rst fi re.
1) Open draft control fully to the right to open.
2) Open fi rebox doors and build a small fi re
using paper and dry kindling. Secure doors 
on the fi rebox and wait a few minutes for 
a good updraft in the fl ue to establish the 
fi re. Leaving the doors slightly open will help 
your fi re start more rapidly and keep glass 
clean. Add more kindling to establish a hot 
coal bed before adding larger cordwood.
CAUTION: Fireplace equipped with 
doors should be operated only with 
doors fully open or doors fully closed. 
If doors are left partly open, gas and 
fl ame may be drawn out of the fi replace 
opening, creating risks of both fi re and 
smoke.
3) With the draft still in the fully open position
add two or three seasoned logs to your fi re. 
Form a trench in the ash bed to allow air to 
reach the rear of the fi rebox prior to closing 
the doors.
4) During the fi rst few days it may be more
diffi cult to start the fi re. As you dry out 
your fi rebrick, your draft will increase.  
Due to the large quantity of fi rebrick, which 
has a high water content, it may take many 
fi res (20 or more) to thoroughly cure the 
fi rebrick. The fi rebrick will become lighter 
in colour as it dries out.
5) After about 15 to 20 minutes, when your
wood has begun to burn strongly, adjust 
your draft control down to keep the fi re at a 
moderate level.
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
WARNING: Never build a roaring fi re in 
a cold stove. Always warm your stove 
up slowly!
6) Once a bed of coals has been established, you
may adjust the draft control to a low setting to 
operate the unit at its most effi cient mode.
7) For the fi rst few days, the stove will give
off an odour from the paint and oil burn off. 
This is to be expected as the high tempera-
ture paint becomes seasoned. Windows 
and/or doors should be left open to provide 
adequate ventilation while this temporary 
condition exists. Burning the stove at a very 
high temperature the fi rst few times may 
damage the paint. Burn fi res at a moderate 
level the fi rst few days.
8) For those units installed at higher elevations
drafting problems may occur. Consult an 
experienced dealer on methods of increasing 
your draft. Follow the Flue Height Chart 
(Table 2, page 15).
9) Some cracking and popping noises may be
experienced during the heating up process. 
These noises will be minimal when your unit 
reaches temperature.
10) Before opening your door to reload, open
draft fully for approximately 10 to 15 seconds 
until fi re has been re-established. This will 
minimize any smoking.
11) All fuel burning appliances consume oxygen
during operation. It is important that you 
supply a source of fresh air to your unit 
while burning. Air drawn from the interior of 
the building will affect the performance of 
gas or oil furnaces, and exhaust fans and 
fan driven appliances. This may cause a 
negative pressure in the house allowing 
smoke to back into the home. The preferred 
source of combustion air is from outside the 
building. If possible, install the kit on the wind 
loading side of the building not the leeward 
or (negative pressure) side.
12) Green or wet wood is not recommended
for your unit since most of the energy will 
be used to drive off the moisture instead of 
heating your home. As well, green or wet 
wood can result in dirty glass.
13) Always maintain clean glass. Clean glass
means a clean fl ue; if you are experiencing 
dirty glass you may be operating a fi re that 
is set too low. Ask your dealer for details.
14) Keep your spark arrester on the fl ue clean. It
should be checked and maintained regularly, 
at least monthly.
SAFETY GUIDELINES
1) Never use gasoline, gasoline type lantern
fuels, kerosene, charcoal lighter fuel or 
similar liquids to start or ‘freshen up’ a fi re 
in your fi replace. Keep all such liquids well 
away from the unit while in use. 
2) Keep the doors closed during operation.
Doors can be fully open during operation
when optional fi re screen door is used. 
Maintain all seals in good condition. 
 
3) Do not burn large quantities of paper in your 
fi replace.
 
4) If you have smoke detectors, prevent smoke 
spillage as this may set off a false alarm.
5) Do not overfi re fi replace. If overfi ring takes
place, stop adding fuel and close the draft 
control. Overfi ring can cause extensive 
damage to your unit including warpage and 
premature steel corrosion. Overfi ring will 
void your warranty. 
 
6) Do not permit creosote or soot build-up in the 
chimney system. Check and clean chimney 
at regular intervals. 
 
7) The fi replace face can be very hot. You 
may be seriously burned if you touch the 
unit while in operation. Warn children of 
the burn hazard. 
 
8) Do not connect this unit to a chimney fl ue 
serving another appliance.
 
9) Do not use grates or andirons or other 
methods for supporting fuel. Burn directly 
on the bricks. 
10) When re-fuelling the fi re turn off blowers, open
draft prior to slowly opening the door. Failure 
to do so could result in smoke spillage. 
11) Your unit should burn dry, standard fi rewood
only. The use of “mill ends” is discouraged as 
this fuel can easily overheat your fi replace. 
Evidence of excessive overheating will void 
your warranty. As well, a large portion of 
sawmill waste is chemically treated lumber, 
which is illegal to burn in many areas. Salt 
drift wood, chemically treated fi re logs and 
pressure treated woods, green or wet wood, 
must not be burned in your woodstoves. 
 
12) Do not store any fuel closer than 3 feet from 
your unit.
13) Clearances from front of the fi replace to
combustible materials is 36" (i.e. from a 
sofa, table, etc.).
14) IMPORTANT: Do not obstruct the convection
louvers at any time. Blocking air into this area will 
cause excessively high fi rebox temperatures 
and a potentially dangerous situation.
15) Creosote: Formation and need for removal.
When wood is burned slowly, it produces tar 
and other organic vapors, which combine 
with expelled moisture to form creosote. The 
creosote vapors condense in the relatively 
cool chimney fl ue of a slow-burning fi re. As 
a result, creosote residue accumulates on 
the fl ue lining. When ignited, this creosote 
makes an extremely hot fi re. The chimney 
shall be inspected at least twice a year during 
the heating season to determine when a 
creosote buildup has occurred. If creosote 
has accumulated it shall be removed to 
reduce the risk of a chimney fi re.
