HeatPro Furnace Installation and Operation Manual
42
8.2 Lighting fires
Each person who heats with wood develops their own favourite method to light fires.
Whatever method you choose, your goal should be to get a hot fire burning quickly. A fire
that starts fast produces less smoke and deposits less creosote in the chimney. Here are
three popular and effective ways to start wood fires.
8.2.1 Conventional fire starting
The conventional way to build a wood fire is to
bunch up 5 to 10 sheets of plain newspaper and
place them in the firebox. Next, place 10 or so
pieces of fine kindling on the newspaper. This
kindling should be very thin; less than 1" (25 mm).
Next, place some larger kindling pieces on the fine
kindling. Open the air control and light the
newspaper. If you have a tall, straight venting
system you should be able to close the door
immediately and the fire will ignite. If your venting
system has elbows or an outside chimney, you
may need to leave the door closed but unlatched
for a few minutes as the newspaper ignites and
heat in the chimney produces some draft. Once
the fire has ignited, close the door and leave the
air control open.
A conventional kindling fire with
paper under finely split wood.
DO NOT LEAVE THE FURNACE UNATTENDED WHEN THE DOOR IS SLIGHTLY
OPEN DURING IGNITION. ALWAYS CLOSE THE DOOR AFTER IGNITION.
After the kindling fire has mostly burned, you can add firewood pieces until you have a fire
of the right size for the conditions.
8.2.2 The top down fire
The top down fire starting method solves two problems with the conventional method: first,
it does not collapse and smother itself as it burns; and second, it is not necessary to build
up the fire gradually because the firebox is loaded before the fire is lit. A top down fire can
provide up to two hours of heating or more. The top down method only works properly if
the wood is well-seasoned.
Start by placing three or four full-sized split pieces of dry firewood in the firebox. Next,
place 4 or 5 more finely split pieces of firewood (2" to 3" (51 mm to 76 mm) diameter) on
the base logs at right angles (log cabin style). Now place about 10 pieces of finely split
kindling on the second layer at right angles.
The fire is topped with about 5 sheets of newspaper. You can just bunch them up and stuff
them in between the kindling and the underside of the baffle. Or you can make newspaper
knots by rolling up single sheets corner to corner and tying a knot in them. The advantage
of knots is that they don’t roll off the fire as they burn. Light the newspaper and watch as
the fire burns from top to bottom.
Summary of Contents for HEATPRO DF03000
Page 30: ...HeatPro Furnace Installation and Operation Manual 30 ...
Page 62: ...HeatPro Furnace Installation and Operation Manual 62 11 Exploded diagram and parts list ...
Page 68: ...HeatPro Furnace Installation and Operation Manual 68 12 2 1 Technical data HeatPro ...
Page 69: ...HeatPro Furnace Installation and Operation Manual 69 ...
