Once your wood stove fireplace insert has been installed properly, burning the right wood and amount of wood will make the unit burn effectively.
Season wood outdoors through
the summer for at least 6 months before burning.
- Seasoned wood is darker
- Has cracks in the end grain
- Sounds hollow when smacked against the wall
Wood burning fireplace inserts should be started by using newspaper and dry kindling.
To maintain proper airflow, regularly remove ashes from your wood fireplace insert into
a metal container with a cover and store outdoors. When starting a fire, keep the damper
and other inlets open for 20 to 30 minutes to allow in enough air to fuel the hot fire.
Establish a bed of coals before putting large logs into the stove.
If you burn wood in your home, the EPA recommends for safety precautions to have a fire extinguisher handy.
Install smoke alarm to alert you and your family in the event of a fire. A properly installed, correctly used wood burning appliance should be smoke free. If you see of smell smoke that means you may have a problem.
Inspection and maintenance is essential for continued safe and clean burning. It is recommended to clean chimneys to remove creosote buildup and identify potential problems. Make sure the chimney cap is free of debris and the stovepipe angles and bolts are not corroded.
Replace the catalytic combustor and baffles every one to four years depending on use, as they are exposed to a very high heat and deteriorate with time. Replace gaskets on airtight stove doors every four years. Gaskets and seals control the location and flow of air into the appliance.
