American Energy Systems Catalytic BBF - Manual (Page 52)

52
PROBLEM CAUSE SOLUTION
FIREPLACE/STOVE/CHIMNEY
SMOKES
Chimney cap restricted
Clean the chimney cap and remove any debris
that may have accumulated in the screen.
Damper not set correct.
Open damper until 700
O
F achieved, then close
damper to activate catalytic combustor.
Downdraft
Add a chimney cap designed to prevent
downdrafts.
Obstruction
Remove any obstruction at least 10 feet from top
of chimney or increase chimney height.
Atmospheric conditions
Atmospheric conditions may cause smoke if the
chimney pipe is not straight, has too many
elbows, or is leaking. Consult with professional.
Chimney obstruction
Check the flue system for obstructions and clean
as needed.
Too many flues to a
chimney
Consult Certified Chimney Expert.
House too tight
Crack window by stove, close upper floor
windows or provide combustion air to stove.
Paint curing
Country Flame cures all new stoves at plant so
this should not last more than 10 to 15 minutes.
Leaky chimney
Chimney joint leaks or mortar leaks cause
chimney draft to be weak. Consult with
professional.
GLASS GETS DIRTY Wet wood
Dry wood produces much less creosote than wet
wood.
Normal buildup
A damp cloth dipped in wood ashes used to wipe
glass clean. Household glass cleaners are not
effective in cleaning glass. DO NOT USE
abrasives, as permanent glass damage will occur.
Use fireplace glass cleaners, like Stove Bright.
Position of fire
Hot fires help keep glass clean. Burning logs,
close to the glass, will tend to dirty the glass.
HEAT OUTPUT POOR Wet wood
Dry wood can produces at least twice the BTU’s.
Use properly seasoned hardwoods.
Load Fire Differently or
Increase Amount of Wood
Wood loaded front to back may improve
performance versus loaded side to side.
Alternatively, increase the load of wood but when
starting a fire allow it to burn rapidly for several
minutes to establish good burn. A well-built fire
is much more efficient and heats better than a few
sticks.
Too high a speed on
blower
Always adjust the speed of the blower to the size
of the fire. If air moves to quickly across small
fire, little heat will be transferred.
Severely cold weather
Depending on house insulation package, ceiling
height, stove insulation (leaking insert) or air
infiltration, fuel consumption may increase.
Overdraft
Control with stove combustion air damper or
chimney damper to reduce excessive draft.
Consult with professional.
Draft controls not adjusted
Combustion is restricted when the air is restricted.
Adjust combustion air properly for fire size and
burn rate.
HEAT OUTPUT POOR (Continued)
Bad wood
Hardwood has higher Btu rating than softwood.
Dry rotted wood has low Btu and lots of ash.