Vermont Casting 2550 - Manual (Page 21)

21
Encore Woodburning Stove
2000956
Infrared Reflective Glass Panels
for Clear Fire Viewing
The inner surfaces of the infrared reflective glass
panels are kept at a higher temperature than the outer
surface. This design, along with a preheated ʻairwash,ʼ
makes clear fire viewing possible at most levels of
operation.
Andirons Help Protect the Glass
Your stove has andirons to keep logs away from the
glass panels. The andirons are essential to maintain
clear fireviewing, and should be left permanently in
place. Since the andirons may slightly hinder refueling
through the front doors, most stove owners will prefer
the convenience of top loading through the griddle.
Burn Only High-Quality Wood
The Encore is designed to burn natural wood only; do
not burn fuels other than that for which it was designed.
Youʼll enjoy the best results when burning wood that
has been adequately air-dried. Avoid burning “green”
wood that has not been properly seasoned, or cord-
wood dried more than two years. Do not burn con-
struction materials; they often contain chemicals and
metals that can damage the catalytic combustor. The
wood should be 18-20” (400-500mm) in length.
The best hardwood fuels include oak, maple, beech,
ash, and hickory that has been split, stacked, and air-
dried outside under cover for at least one year.
If hardwood is not available, you can burn softwoods
which include tamarack, yellow pine, white pine, East-
ern red cedar, fir, and redwood. These too should be
properly dried.
Store wood under cover to keep it dry. The longer it is
stored, the better heating and fireviewing performance
you will enjoy. Even for short-term storage, however,
keep wood a safe distance from the heater and keep
it out of the areas around the heater used for refueling
and ash removal.
A Surface Thermometer is a Valuable
Guide to Operation
An optional surface thermometer lets you know when
to adjust the air control, when to refuel, and when your
catalyst is operating properly.
For example, when the thermometer registers at least
450°F (230°C) after start-up you know the stove is hot
enough to begin catalytic combustion and it may be
time to close the damper. Note that the stove will warm
up much sooner than the chimney, though; a warm
chimney is the key to easy, effective stove operation.
Please review the draft management information on
ST523
Intrepid
temp readings
11/00
ST523
Fig. 38 Take temperature readings with the thermometer
located in the middle of the griddle.
Pages 25-27 to see how the size, type, and location
of your chimney will affect your stove operation. When
thermometer readings drop below 350°F (175°C) itʼs
time to adjust the air control for a higher burn rate or
to reload the stove. A temperature reading over 750°F
(385°C) is a sign to cut back on the air supply to slow
the burn rate.
Use the following temperature ranges as a guide to
operation:
• Readings in the 350-500°F (175-260°C) range
indicate low to medium heat output.
• 500-600°F (260-315°C) readings indicate me-
dium heat output.
• Readings of 600-750°F (315-400°C) indicate
high heat output. Operating your Encore continuously
at griddle temperatures of 750°F (385°C) or higher may
damage the cast iron or enamel finish.
Use the Air Control Settings
that Work Best for You
No single air control setting will fit every situation. Each
installation will differ depending on the quality of the
fuel, the amount of heat desired, and how long you wish
the fire to burn; outdoor air temperature and pressure
also affect draft.
The control setting also depends on your particular
installationʼs “draft,” or the force that moves air from the
stove up through the chimney. Draft is affected by such
things as the length, type, and location of the chimney,
local geography, nearby obstructions, and other factors.
Refer to Pages 25-27 for details on how the installation
affects performance.
Too much draft may cause excessive temperatures in
the Encore, and could even damage the combustor.
On the other hand, too little draft can cause backpuffing
into the room and/or the “plugging” of the chimney or
combustor.
How do you know if your draft is excessively high or
low? Symptoms of too much draft include an uncontrol-
lable burn or a glowing-red stove part. A sign of inad-
equate draft is smoke leaking into the room through the
stove or chimney connector joints, low heat, and dirty
glass.