United States Stove VOGELZANG VG900, Assembly, Installation, Operation & Maintenance Manual

-15-

FUEL RECOMMENDATIONS

Coal - Most sizes of bituminous coal will work in your heater; for best results we recommend large nut coal to 

small egg coal (1-3/4” diameter to 4” diameter). When burning anthracite, use egg or broken with sizes between 

2-5/16”  and  4-3/8”.  Note  that  it  is  important  to  the  life  of  your  stove  to  buy  coal  which  has  been  sized  and 

cleaned. Cleaning insures removal of rocks and other materials.

DO NOT burn coke, charcoal, high volatile bituminous coal, sub bituminous, lignite or cannel coal (sometimes 

called channel coal or candle coal). STORE COAL IN A DRY, WELL VENTILATED AREA.

LIGHTING

1.  Set the thermostat on “HIGH” and open both spin dampers on the feed and ash door for maximum draft.

2.  Open the feed door and place paper and wood kindling on the grate for starting the fire.

3.  Light the kindling and close the door.

4.  Once a fire is established and burning briskly, add approximately 15 pounds of coal, being careful not to 

smother out the kindling fire.

For the first few burns, build small fires to allow the cast iron components and painted cabinet parts to season 

or cure. Your new stove will emit some smoke and odors from the curing process but should only do so for a short 

period of time. We suggest opening a window in the room of which the unit is installed.

ADDING FUEL

When maintaining a fire, add small amounts of fuel periodically as required (enough to burn for 3 to 5 hours). As 

you become more familiar with the operation of your heater, it is possible to add coal to burn for longer durations 

of 8 to 10 hours. But doing so carelessly will promote incomplete combustion and considerable sooting along with 

a very dirty, inefficient fire.

1.  Always set the thermostat to high before opening the feed door to refuel or stoke the fire.

2.  When opening the feed door, turn handle and open door until it stops on the latch and leave it at that position 

for at least 10 seconds before  opening fully. This, along with step 1 above, will allow any accumulated gases 

or smoke to exit into the chimney, eliminating flame or smoke spillage into the room.

3.  If need be, shake the grate vigorously back and forth to dump the ashes into the ash pan. Do this at least 

once every 12 hours of operation.

4.  Never smother the fire when adding fuel.

5.  Add fresh kindling if the bed of coals has cooled.

6.  Never add fuel above the top of the firebrick.

7.  Be sure the new fuel is burning before you close the door and adjust combustion air.

8.  Refer to the Bulletine RC454 in this manual for more information on burning coal.

9.  Adjust dampers and air shutters to obtain the burn you desire. The air shutter on the thermostat control should 

never be closed complete when burning coal.

10.  Empty ash pan regularly. Do not allow the ashes to build up to the grate as the grate will warp and burnout 

will occur. Allowing ashes to build up may also result in ash spillage when removing the ash pan. Dispose of 

hot ashes properly (See Maintenance).

Operating Instructions

Caution!

•  Hot while in operation. Keep children, clothing, furniture away. Contact may cause skin burns. 

•  Never use gasoline, gasoline-type lantern fuel, kerosene, charcoal lighter fluid, or similar liquids to start or 

“freshen up” a fire in this heater. Keep all such liquids well away from the heater while it is in use. 

•  Do not operate this heater with the feed or ash door open. This heater is designed for thermostatic 

operation. Operating with either door open will overheat and damage the heater.

•  Always close the doors after the ignition.

•  Never overfire your stove. If any part of the stove starts to glow red, over firing is happening. Readjust the 

air intake control to a lower setting.

•  Build fires directly on the grate in the heater.

•  Do not burn garbage, flammable fluid such as gasoline, naphtha or motor oil.

•  Do not store fuel or other combustible materials within the minimum clearances specified in this manual or 

within the space required for charging and ash removal. Doing so could result in a house fire.

•  Never alter the adjustment range or air inlets to increase firing for any reason.

CAUTION! Never use the manufactured coal bricks that are made from coal dust and a wax type binder.