American Energy Systems Catalytic BBF - Manual (Page 38)

38
FIRST LARGE FIRE
1
Repeat the small fire building process, ensuring that the stove controls are in the proper position to start a fire. As
the firebox is filled with wood fuel, build on the size of wood that is put on top of the pile of kindling. The firebox can be
filled with any amount and size of logs that the stove will handle.
2
Once the firebox has been filled, the newspaper can be lit and the stove door closed.
3 It is important to monitor the fire as it grows in size. If the stove is left unattended with the combustion air wide
open and the catalyst bypassed, the stove can rapidly overheat, as there is nothing to control the rate of fuel burn with the
controls set in the “startup” position. DO NOT LEAVE THE STOVE UNATTENDED DURING FIRE STARTUP.
4
Depending on the type of seasoned fuel, the amount of fresh air, and the chimney system, the stove should rapidly
approach 500
O
F to 700
O
F. Country Flame recommends the catalyst bypass rod be closed around 700
O
F. By closing the
catalyst bypass rod, the flue gases will now be forced to pass through the catalytic combustor thus increasing the
temperature and slowing the burn rate. It is normal for the fire to diminish slightly as the catalyst will add a restriction to
the amount of gases going up the flue. If it looks like the fire is going to go out, it may be necessary to bypass the catalyst
and allow the stove gases to exhaust directly up the flue that again, should increase the size and rate of burn of the fire.
Once the fire has been re-established and the temperature is at 700ºF, the open flue should be closed through use of the
catalyst bypass rod.
5
Should the fire diminish to the point of going out, the operator will need to consult the Troubleshooting Guide,
contact the installer, or dealer for assistance if the problems persist.
6
Once a burn has been established and the catalyst is operating properly, the probe thermometer temperature can
rise anywhere from 900
O
F to 2,000
O
F. The temperature will be determined by the quality of draft, the amount of
combustion air available, the quality and volume of wood fuel available to the fire, and the setting of the controls.
7
After several large fires, the homeowner should feel comfortable in operating and monitoring the performance of
a specific catalytic stove. By monitoring the stove’s temperature and adjusting combustion air slides, the homeowner
should be able to achieve the burn time and heat output acceptable to them. The preceding statement assumes that all
other factors affecting the stove’s operation are correct. NOTE: The catalyst is unaffected by the room air blower’s
operation (optional on some units).
8
Surface thermometers are not accurate for monitoring interior stove temperatures. The probe thermometer is the
only temperature that is accurate for making decisions on stove operation. Maintain the probe thermometer in good
working condition to remove any stove operational guesswork. The outside portion of the slide (the last section to be
covered as the slide closes) is called the Air Wash. It channels preheated combustion air into the firebox through long
slots just inside the door opening on the top and sides.
9
Performance of a catalytic stove will vary according to many factors but draft is an important element. The
homeowner may want to experiment as to when to close the flue and engage the catalyst to determine the best settings for
desired performance. Country Flame recommends the homeowner experiment by engaging the catalyst at different
temperatures and at different combustion air control settings. The homeowner may determine that 1,000
O
F is the
optimum setting to close the combustion air control in their system. Bottom line: Do not be afraid to experiment but
monitor results closely and DO NOT OVER FIRE the stove. If over firing occurs, immediately close all combustion air
controls to reduce the air supply to the fire. Also, if not already operating, turn on the room air blower to pull heat away
from the stove and surrounding area.
10
During stove operation, hot air sweeps over the front door glass. This airflow is designed to help maintain clean
glass but continuous operation will result in regular glass cleaning issues. REMEMBER: Long slow burns will generate
some creosote formation. A hot fire will assist in keeping the glass clean. Sometimes a chemical cleaner or a razor blade
is necessary to remove the creosote from the glass. It the fire is hot before limiting the combustion air, the stove glass will
remain much cleaner than if it is a cool fire. The hotter the fire, the cleaner the glass.
11
An ash bed is helpful in maintaining a hot fire in a catalytic stove. For maximum efficiency, allow an ash build
up of 1 to 2 inches in the stove. CAUTION: Never remove ash from a stove with the room air blower operating. The
airflow from the room air blower could scatter hot ash or hot embers across the room sparking a house fire!
12
Country Flame catalytic stoves are not equipped with automated thermostatic controls. This means the
homeowner must gain the knowledge, confidence, and experience to adjust the combustion air slides on a specific stove in
order to maintain a comfortable home temperature range. If the combustion air slides are opened fully, significant
amounts of heat will be generated with increased fueling requirements and the stove will burn hotter and cleaner. If the
combustion air slides are operated fully closed, a stove will generate very low amounts of heat with very long periods
between refueling. This means the home will have lower average temperatures and the chimney system will build up
creosote at a much faster rate.