13
Charcoal: As the fire progresses
and most of the gases have vaporized,
charcoal remains. Charcoal is almost
100% carbon and burns with very
little flame or smoke. Charcoal is a
good fuel that burns easily and
cleanly when enough oxygen is
present. Of the total energy content
of the wood you burn, about half is in
the form of smoke, and half is
charcoal.
Water: Up to half the weight of
freshly cut logs is water. After proper
seasoning only about 20% of the
weight is water. As the wood is
heated in the firebox, this water
boils off, consuming heat energy in
the wood, the more heat energy is
consumed. That is why wet wood
hisses and sizzles while dry wood
ignites and burns easily.
Break-in Fires for New Stoves
If this is your first fire, OR you have installed a replacement set of brick, read the procedure for break-in fires.
Proper seasoning ensures longer stove life.
Fuel
Woodburning
The firewood you use will make an important contribution to successful operation. You will achieve the best performance and
overall efficiency by burning firewood that has been split, stacked and air-dried undercover from rain for at least one year. Burning
improperly seasoned or “green” wood can be a frustrating experience leading to poor performance, smoky fires and a build-up
of creosote. Do not burn saltwater driftwood refuse, rubber tires, etc. Use of improper fuels can cause a fire hazard and lead to
a premature deterioration of the stove components, voiding the warranty. (See Fig. 7 Understanding Combustion.)
Burn dry wood because:
•
it gives up to 25% higher efficiency;
•
it produces less creosote;
•
it ignites faster and smokes less;
•
valuable heat is lost in the fire as it dries out wet wood.
figure 7
Understanding Combustion
Smoke (or flame): As the wood heats
up above the boiling point of water, it
starts to smoke. The hydrocarbon
gases and tars that make up the
smoke are combustible if the
temperature is high enough and
oxygen is present. When the smoke
burns, it makes the bright flames that
are characteristic of a wood fire. If the
smoke does not burn, it will condense
in the chimney forming creosote or
exit the chimney as air pollution.
