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Encore woodburning stove – Vermont Casting 2550 User Manual

Page 25

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Encore Woodburning Stove

2000956

Remove the ash pan, making sure to keep it level.

To keep the cover from sliding off and to keep ash

from falling on the floor, do not tilt the ash pan for-

ward.

If the stove is in operation, close the ash door while

disposing of the ash.

Properly dispose of the ash in a metal container with

a tight-fitting lid. Store the container outdoors away

from all combustible material.

Return the ash pan to its original position in the

stove, and close and latch the ash door.

Do not operate the stove with the ash door open.

This will result in over-firing, and could cause dam-

age to the stove, void the warranty, or even lead to a

house fire.

Empty the ash pan regularly, typically every one to

three days. The frequency will vary depending on how

you operate your Encore: ash will accumulate faster at

higher heat outputs.
Remove ash frequently and place it outdoors in a

metal container with a tight-fitting lid. Place the closed

container of ash on a noncombustible floor or on the

ground, well away from all combustible materials, pend-

ing final disposal. If the ash is disposed of by burial in

soil or otherwise locally dispersed, it should be kept in

the closed container until all cinders have thoroughly

cooled.
You can use wood ash as a garden fertilizer.
CAUTION: Never use your household or shop vacuum

cleaner to remove ash from the stove; always remove

and dispose of the ash properly.

Draft Management

A stove is part of a system, which includes the chimney,

the operator, the fuel, and the home. The other parts of

the system will affect how well the stove works. When

there is a good match between all the parts, the system

works well.

Wood stove or insert operation depends on natural

(unforced) draft. Natural draft occurs when the smoke

is hotter (and therefore lighter) than the outdoor air at

the top of the chimney. The bigger the temperature

difference, the stronger the draft. As the smoke rises

from the chimney it provides suction or ʻdrawʼ that pulls

air into the stove for combustion. A slow, lazy fire with

the stoveʼs air inlets fully open indicates a weak draft.

A brisk fire, supported only by air entering the stove

through the normal inlets, indicates a good draft. The

stoveʼs air inlets are passive; they regulate how much

air can enter the stove, but they donʼt move air into it.

Depending on the features of your installation - steel or

masonry chimney, inside or outside the house, matched

to the stoveʼs outlet or oversized - your system may

warm up quickly, or it may take a while to warm up and

operate well. With an ʻairtightʼ stove or insert, one which

restricts the amount of air getting into the firebox, the

chimney must keep the smoke warm all the way to the

outdoors. Some chimneys do this better than others.
Hereʼs a list of features and their effects.

Masonry Chimney

Masonry is a traditional material for chimneys, but it

can perform poorly when it serves an ʻairtightʼ stove.

Masonry is a very effective ʻheat sinkʼ - it absorbs a lot

of heat. It can cool the smoke enough to diminish draft.

The bigger the chimney, the longer it takes to warm up.

Itʼs often very difficult to warm up an outdoor masonry

chimney, especially an oversized one, and keep it warm
enough to maintain an adequate draft.

Steel Chimney

Most factory-made steel chimneys have a layer of

insulation around the inner flue. This insulation keeps

the smoke warm. The insulation is less dense than ma-

sonry, so a steel chimney warms up more quickly than

a masonry chimney. Steel doesnʼt have the good looks
of masonry, but it performs much better.

Indoor / Outdoor location

Because the chimney must keep the smoke warm, itʼs

best to locate it inside the house. This uses the house

as insulation for the flue and allows some heat release

into the home. An indoor chimney wonʼt lose its heat

to the outdoors, so it takes less heat from the stove to
heat it up and keep it warm.