12
Wood Burning
Wood burns best on a bed of ash and it is therefore only necessary to remove
surplus ash from the grate occasionally. Burn only kiln dried or well-seasoned
wood, which should have been cut, split and stacked under cover for at least 36
months, with free air movement around the sides of the stack to enable it to dry
out. Burning wet or unseasoned wood will create tar deposits in the stove and
chimney and will reduce heat output. Tar deposits, if allowed to build up, are a
major cause of chimney fires. This tar also is the main cause of blackened stove
windows. A Gallery wood moisture meter is a handy device to have.
Once established and for the best results from your stove, load about 1.3kg of
good quality dry wood per hour with the primary air control fully closed and the
secondary air control 37mm open (86% fully open). Logs can be up to 300mm
(12”) long. Do not overload.
Of course, best burning depends on the quality of wood, draft and stove
settings, so please do experiment to find your own best settings and the best
position on your Stove Thermometer.
Other Solid Fuel Burning
Always clean out the ash pan before refuelling and do not let the ash build up to
the underside of the grate bars – this will severely reduce the life of the grate
and prevent efficient burning. Solid fuel produces ash, which if allowed to build
up, will stifle the air flow through the grate and eventually cause the fire to die.
Caution
– only empty the ash pan when the stove is cool.
With some solid fuels a residue of burnt fuel or clinker will accumulate on the
grate, allow the fire to go out periodically to remove this.
Once established and for the best results, load 0.55 kg of anthracite or
equivalent per hour with the primary air control about 50-75% open and the
secondary air control fully closed. Do not overload.
When loading fuel, ensure that the series of tertiary air holes on the rear
chamber brick are not covered by the fuel.
Of course best burning depends on the type of fuel being burnt, draft and stove
settings, so please do experiment to find your own best settings.
