Hearth and Home Technologies CL36D - Manual (Page 27)

02-02 27 12538 Rev D
CL36D AND CR36D INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
CAUTION:
Never use gasoline, gasoline-type lantern fuel,
kerosene, charcoal lighter fluid, or similar liq-
uids to start or “freshen up” a fire in this fire-
place. Keep all such liquids well away from the
fireplace.
Note: When first lighting your fireplace, it may be
necessary to pre-warm the flue to establish a draft.
This is done by holding a rolled up piece of burning
newspaper under the flue damper for a few moments.
This will help reduce smoke spillage during start-
up.
WARNING!
Fireplaces equipped with doors should be oper-
ated only with the doors fully open or fully closed.
If doors are left partially open, gas and flame may
be drawn out of the fireplace opening, creating
the risk of both fire and smoke.
Note: The first three or four fires should be of mod-
erate 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.
As you use the fireplace, expansion and contraction
will cause minor cracking of the refractory. This is
normal, unavoidable, and will not affect the perfor-
mance of the fireplace. If the cracks become large
enough that the metal behind the refractory is ex-
posed or large pieces fall out, the panels should
be replaced.
SEASONING: Seasoned firewood is nothing more
than wood that is cut to size, split and air dried to a
moisture content of around 20%. The time it takes to
season wood varies from around nine months for soft
woods to as long as eighteen months for hardwoods.
The key to seasoning wood is to be sure it has been
split, exposing the wet interior and increasing the
surface area of each piece. A tree that was cut down
a year ago and not split is likely to have almost as
high a moisture content now as it did when it was cut.
The following guideline will ensure properly
seasoned wood:
a. Stack the wood to allow air to circulate freely
around and through the woodpile.
b. Elevate the woodpile off the ground to allow air
circulation underneath.
c. The smaller the pieces, the faster the drying
process. Any piece over six inches in diameter
should be split.
d. Cover the top of the woodpile for protection from
rain and snow. Avoid covering the sides and ends
completely. Doing so may trap moisture from the
ground and impede air circulation.
The problems with burning wet, unseasoned wood
are twofold: First, you will receive less heat output from
wet wood because it requires energy in the form of
heat to evaporate the water trapped inside. This is
wasted energy that should be used for heating your
home. Secondly, this moisture evaporates in the form
of steam which has a cooling effect in your fireplace
and chimney system. When combined with tar and
other organic vapors from burning wood it will form
creosote which condenses in the relatively cool
fireplace and chimney.
8. Starting a Fire
Check the flue damper to be certain it is in the full
open position. Place crumpled or twisted paper under
the fireplace grate. Loosely arrange kindling or small
pieces of wood to form a layer above the paper.
The fires must be built on the fireplace grate, without
danger of the burning fuel falling out of the fireplace
opening.
Light the paper and add small pieces of wood until a
hot bed of embers has been established.
After establishing the fire bed, and the small firewood
is burning briskly, add a minimum of three average
sized pieces of split firewood, place the wood in such
a manner to allow combustion air and flames
between them.
9. Draft Problems
This fireplace will operate correctly only if adequate
ventilation is provided to allow proper draft to the
fireplace system. Hearth Technologies Inc. assumes
no responsibility for the improper performance of the
fireplace system caused by inadequate draft due to
environmental conditions, down drafts, tight sealing
construction of the structure, or mechanical
exhausting devices which will create a negative air
pressure within the structure where the fireplace is
located.