Heatiator C40 - Manual (Page 14)

Page 14 Heatilator • Constitution EPA Fireplace • 480-1091D 4/20/11
NOTICE: Fireplace should be run full open for a minimum
of 30 minutes a day during heating season to keep air pas-
sages clean.
WARNING! Risk of Fire! Keep combustible materials,
gasoline and other flammable vapors and liquids clear of
the fireplace.
DO NOT:
• store flammable materials close to the fireplace
• use gasoline, lantern fuel, kerosene, charcoal lighter
fluid or similar liquids to start or “freshen up” a fire in this
fireplace.
Keep all flammable liquids well away from the fireplace while
it is in use. Combustible materials may ignite.
WARNING! For use with solid wood fuel only.
Other fuels may overfire and generate poisonous gases
(i.e. carbon monoxide).
N. Burning Process
Fire requires 3 things to burn: fuel, air and heat. If heat is
robbed from the fireplace during the drying stage, the new
load of wood has reduced the chances for a good clean burn.
For this reason, it is always best to burn dry, seasoned fire-
wood. We do not advise burning unseasoned wood, however
if it happens, you must open the Combustion Air Control and
burn the fireplace at a high burn setting for a longer time to
start it burning.
Kindling or 1st stage:
The first stage of burning is called the kindling stage. In this
stage, the wood is heated to a temperature highenough to
evaporate the moisture which is present in all wood. The
wood will reach the boiling point of water (212°F) and will not
get any hotter until the water is evaporated. This process takes
heat from coals and tends to cool the fireplace.
2nd stage:
The next stage of burning, the secondary stage, is the period
when the wood gives off flammable gases which burn above
the fuel with bright flames. During this stage of burning it is
very important that the flames be maintained and not allowed
to go out. This will ensure the cleanest possible fire. If you
are adjusting your fireplace for a low burn rate, you should
close down the air to the point where you can still maintain
some flame. If the flames tend to go out, the fireplace is set
too low for your burning conditions.
Before lighting your first fire in the fireplace, make certain that
the baffle and the ceramic blanket are correctly positioned. It
should be resting against the rear support. Also refer to care
and cleaning of plated surfaces on Section 5 before light-
ing your first fire.
NOTICE- The first three or four fires should be of moderate
size to allow the oils and binders to be burned from the
fireplace and the refractory and paint to cure. You may
notice an industrial odor the first few fires. This is considered
normal.
NOTICE: REMOvE ALL LABELS FROM gLASS
BEFORE LIgHTINg THE FIRST FIRE IN YOUR
APPLIANCE.
There are many ways to build a fire. The basic principle is to
light easily-ignitable tinder or paper, which ignites the fast burning
kindling, which in turn ignites the slow-burning firewood. Here
is one method that works well:
1. Open Outside Air by turning the knob counter clockwise.
2. Fully open the Combustion Air Control Handle by moving
it completely to the right.
3. Place serveral wads of crushed paper on the firebox floor.
Heating the flue with slightly crumpled newspaper before
adding kindling keeps smoke to a minimum.
4. Lay small dry sticks of kindling on top of the paper.
5. Make sure that no matches or other combustibles are in
the immediate area of the fireplace. Be sure the room is
adequately ventilated and the flue unobstructed.
6. Light the paper in the fireplace. NEVER light or rekindle
fireplace with kerosene, gasoline, or charcoal lighter
fluid; the results can be fatal.
7. Once the kindling is burning quickly, add several full-
length logs 3 in. (76mm) or 4 in. (102mm) in diameter.
Be careful not to smother the fire. Stack the pieces of
wood carefully; near enough to keep each other hot, but
far enough away from each other to allow adequate air
flow between them.
8. Adjust the Combustion Air Control; the more you close
down the control, (sliding left) the lower and slower the
fire will burn. The more you open the Air Control, (sliding
right) the more heat will be produced and the faster the
wood will burn.
As long as there are hot coals, repeating steps 7 and 8 will
maintain a continuous fire throughout the season.
NOTICE: The special high temperature paint that your fire-
place is finished with will cure as your fireplace heats. You
will notice an odor and perhaps see some vapor rise from the
fireplace surface; this is normal. We recommend that you
open a window until the odor dissipates and paint is cured.
M. Starting a Fire