Vogelzang International VG200, Owner'S Manual

19

CAUTION: Never alter the damper slide or the adjustment range to increase 

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 ring for any reason. Doing so could 

result in heater damage and will void your warranty.

RELOADING

Once you have obtained a good bed of embers, you should reload the unit. In order to do so, open the air 
controls to maximum a few seconds prior to opening the stove’s door.  Then proceed by opening the door 
very slowly; open it one or two inches for 5 to 10 seconds, before opening it completely to increase the draft 
and thus eliminate the smoke which is stagnant in a state of slow combustion in the stove. Then bring the red 
embers to the front of the stove and reload the unit.
For optimal operation of your wood stove, we recommend you to operate it with a wood load approximately 
equivalent to the height of 

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 re bricks.

It is important to note that wood combustion consumes ambient oxygen in the room .In the case of negative 
pressure, it is a good idea to allow fresh air in the room, either by opening a window slightly or by installing a 
fresh air intake system on an outside wall.
Creosote - Formation and Need for Removal - When wood is burned slowly, it produces tar and other organic 
vapors, which combine with expelled moisture to form creosote. The creosote vapors condense in the relatively 
cool chimney 

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 ue of a slow-burning 

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 re. As a result, creosote residue accumulates on the 

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 ue lining. When 

ignited this creosote makes an extremely hot 

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 re. The chimney connector and chimney should be inspected 

at least once every two months during the heating season to determine if a creosote build-up has occurred. 
If creosote has accumulated (3mm or more), it should be removed to reduce the risk of a chimney 

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 re.

We strongly recommend that you install a magnetic thermometer on your smoke exhaust pipe, approximately 
18” above the stove. This thermometer will indicate the temperature of your gas exhaust fumes within the 
smoke exhaust system. The ideal temperature for these gases is somewhere between 275°F and 500°F. 
Below these temperatures, the build-up of creosote is promoted. Above 500 degrees, heat is wasted since a 
too large quantity is lost into the atmosphere.

TO PREVENT CREOSOTE BUILD UP

•  Always burn dry wood. This allows clean burns and higher chimney temperatures, therefore less creosote 

deposit.

•  Leave the air control full open for about 5 min. every time you reload the stove to bring it back to proper 

operating temperatures. The secondary combustion can only take place if the 

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 rebox is hot enough.

•  Always check for creosote deposit once every two months and have your chimney cleaned at least once a 

year.

If a chimney or creosote 

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 re occurs, close all dampers immediately. Wait for the 

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 re to go out and the heater 

to cool, then inspect the chimney for damage. If no damage results, perform a chimney cleaning to ensure 
there is no more creosote deposits remaining in the chimney.

ASH DISPOSAL

Whenever ashes get 3 to 4 inches deep in your 

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 rebox or ash pan, and when the 

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 re has burned down and 

cooled, remove excess ashes. Leave an ash bed approximately 1 inch deep on the 

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 rebox bottom to help 

maintain a hot charcoal bed.
Ashes should be placed in a metal container with a tight-

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 tting lid. The closed container of ashes should be 

placed on a noncombustible 

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 oor or on the ground, away from all combustible materials, pending 

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 nal disposal. 

The ashes should be retained in the closed container until all cinders have thoroughly cooled.

SMOKE AND CO MONITORS

Burning wood naturally produces smoke and carbon monoxide(CO) emissions. CO is a poisonous gas when 
exposed to elevated concentrations for extended periods of time. While the modern combustion systems in 
heaters drastically reduce the amount of CO emitted out the chimney, exposure to the gases in closed or 
con

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 ned areas can be dangerous. Make sure you stove gaskets and chimney joints are in good working order 

and sealing properly to ensure unintended exposure. It is recommended that you use both smoke and CO 
monitors in areas having the potential to generate CO.