American Energy Systems Universal Doors - Manual (Page 20)

Version 1.0c 10
FIREPLACE & DOOR TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
PROBLEM CAUSE SOLUTION
Fireplace smokes Chimney cap restricted
Clean chimney cap. Remove debris that may
have accumulated in the screen or that is
clogging the chimney or chimney cap.
Damper not adjusted
Adjust the damper to better control draft.
Downdraft
Add a chimney cap designed to prevent
downdrafts.
Door Combustion Air
Control Adjustment Adjust door combustion air control for proper
airflow into firebox.
Atmospheric conditions
Occasional atmospheric conditions cause
smoking condition if the chimney pipe is not
straight up. Wait for conditions to change
before burning with fireplace doors open.
Chimney obstruction
Check entire flue system for obstructions and
clean chimney flue system as necessary.
Too many flues to a
chimney Consult with Certified Chimney Expert.
Only one chimney per flue.
House too tight
Open windows at first floor and close upper
floor windows.
Paint curing
New heaters always smoke on start up as the
paint is heated. Open windows and doors for
ventilation on first fire.
Leaky chimney
Joint leaks or flue mortar leaks will cause
weak draft. Use cement or mortar to correct
these leaks.
Glass gets dirty (optional doors) Wet wood
Dry wood produces creosote buildup than
wet wood. Ensure air wash is not blocked by
dust or debris or that combustion air control
is not adjusted properly.
Improper Cleaning of Ceramic Glass for
Creosote Buildup
Normal buildup
A damp cloth dipped in wood ashes works
well to clean glass. Regular household glass
cleaners are not effective in cleaning glass.
Using abrasives such as steel wool or powder
abrasives permanently damages glass. Use
Hearth Approved Fireplace glass cleaners.
Position of fire
Burning logs, close to the glass, will tend to
dirty the glass.
Lack of Heat Wet wood
Dry wood produces almost twice the BTU’s
and burns at the same rate as wet wood.
Proper seasoned wood will give excellent
results for the fall season.
Too small a fire
When starting a fire, allow it to burn rapidly
for several minutes to burn off excess
creosote. A well-built fire is much more
efficient and heats better than a few sticks. A
fire built next to the sides of the heater
provides much better heat transfer.
Blower speed too high
Adjust speed of blowers to match fire size.
Blower can cool firebox causing poor burn.
Door (optional) Door does not seal Adjust hinges or Door Frame not square to
face of fireplace opening.