Vermont Casting 2550 - Manual (Page 27)

27
Encore Woodburning Stove
2000956
Back-puffing
Back-puffing results when the fire produces volatile
gases faster than the chimney draft pulls them out of
the firebox. The gases back up in the firebox till theyʼre
dense enough and hot enough to ignite. If your stove
back-puffs, you should open the damper to let the
smoke rise to the flue more quickly, let more air into the
firebox, and avoid big loads of firewood. You should
always see lively, dancing flames in the firebox; a lazy,
smoky fire is inefficient, can lead to back-puffing, and
can contribute to creosote buildup in the chimney.
Draft Testing
An easy way to test your chimney draft is to close the
stoveʼs damper, wait a few minutes to let the airflow
stabilize, then see whether you can vary the strength
of the fire by swinging the air control open and closed.
Results are not always instant; you may need to wait
a few minutes for a change in the air control setting to
have an effect on the fire. If thereʼs no change, then the
draft isnʼt strong enough yet to let you close the damper,
and youʼll need to open it for a while longer and manage
the fire with the air inlet until the draft strengthens. If you
keep track of your burning habits and relate them to their
effects on the stoveʼs operation, youʼll be rewarded with
good performance and a safe system.
Negative Pressure
Good draft also depends on a supply of air to the stove;
a chimney canʼt pull in more air than is available to it.
Sluggish draft results when a house is tight enough to
prevent the ready flow of air to the stove, or by competi-
tion between the stove and other equipment that sends
indoor air outside - especially power-driven equipment
like range hoods, clothes dryers, etc. If the chimney
draws well with all other equipment turned off (or
sealed, in the case of fireplaces and/or other stoves),
then you simply need to be careful with timing the use
of the other gear. If you need to crack a nearby window
or door to enable the chimney to pull well, thatʼs a sign
that you should install an outside-air intake to bring
combustion air directly to the stove. For most of our
stoves we carry adapters to attach to the stove to con-
nect an air duct for outdoor combustion air.
Conclusion
Wood-burning is an art rather than a science. Once the
stove and chimney system are in place, you can only
vary your technique, mostly your timing, to achieve
good results. If you keep track of your burning habits
and relate them to their effects on the stoveʼs operation,
youʼll be rewarded with good performance and a safe
system.
Maintenance
Keep Your Stove Looking New
and Working Its Best
Let the fire in the stove go out and allow the stove to
cool completely before beginning any maintenance
procedure.
Care of the Cast Iron Surface
An occasional dusting with a dry rag will keep the painted
cast iron of your Encore looking new.
The stoveʼs paint can be touched up as needed. First,
mask the areas, such as enamelled parts, glass, or
handles, around the spot to be painted. Clean the spot
with a wire brush. Remove the griddle and set it aside.
Then, touch up the stove with Vermont Castingsʼ high
temperature stove paint. Apply the paint sparingly; two
light coats of paint are better than a single heavy one.
Care of the Porcelain Enamel Surface
Use a dry or slightly damp rag or soft brush to remove
spills or stains. For difficult jobs that require a cleaning
agent, use only a kitchen appliance cleaner or polish
recommended for use on enamel surfaces.
Cleaning the Glass
Most of the carbon deposits on the glass will burn off
during hot fires.
However, the ash residue that accumulates on the
glass surface should be removed regularly to prevent
etching. To clean the glass, follow this procedure:
• Be sure the glass is completely cool.
• Clean the glass with water or a cleaner made espe-
cially for this purpose. Do not use abrasive cleaners.
• Rinse the glass thoroughly.
• Dry the glass completely.
Replace Broken Glass Immediately
Do not operate your stove if the glass in the doors is
damaged.
If you need to replace the glass, use only the high tem-
perature ceramic glass supplied by Vermont Castings.
Do not use substitutes. Be sure to specify left or right
glass; the panels are not interchangeable.