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5) Stove Installation:
A wood stove by itself is not a
hazard, but an unsafe installation is. Following the spe-
cific guidelines for clearances and venting materials is
critical. Your stove installation needs to conform to cer-
tain clearances for safety, not just around it, but under it
as well.
Clearance is the open space between your stove, or
stovepipe, and a combustible surface. A combustible sur-
face is a surface that burns (like wood, sheetrock, fabric,
etc.). Framed or sheet rock walls simply covered by
brick or stone are still considered combustible because
heat will transfer through those materials and dry out
the combustible wall behind.
Both your stove and your chimney pipe need to conform
to the required distances to combustible materials for the
safety of your home and your family. Clearance specifi-
cations and information is in your manual. Read it care-
fully and make sure your installation meets all require-
ments.
Please note that installation of any wood stove in a
mobile home has some additional special requirements
that must be met. Because mobile homes can be airtight,
an outside air adapter connection from the stove down
and out to an outside air source is necessary for good air
supply to your stove. This manual has additional infor-
mation on connecting an outside air adapter. A pipe
shield is necessary for the connection from the stove to
the stainless chimney and there must be a spark guard
screen on the chimney cap. Wood stoves cannot be
installed in bedroom areas of a mobile home.
6) Stove Operator
- The last part of a happy relation-
ship with your stove is in the day- to- day use. Learning
to use a catalytic stove means a little more participation
on the owners end, but the result is rewarding. Like
learning to drive a car, or ride a bicycle, it becomes sec-
ond nature.
The catalyst will work when the firebox is at 500
degrees- this translates into roughly 250 degrees on the
top of the stove. After you have burned dry kindling for
about 10 minutes, engage the catalyst. Smoke will then
filter through the honeycomb of the stainless catalytic
combustor. The catalyst will activate and cause the gas
vapors in the smoke to burn, creating more heat inside
your stove and eliminating smoke.
EFFICIENCY & EMISSIONS
EPA TEST DATA
Your Survival Hybrid Wood Stove is a small wood stove, but
is also:
• One of the cleanest woodburning stoves approved by EPA;
• One of the most efficient wood stoves approved by EPA;
AVERAGE WOOD EMISSIONS:
1.13 g/hr
AVERAGE WOOD EFFICIENCY: 79.5%
HEAT OUTPUT WOOD
15,332-27,294 BTU/hr
FACTORS EFFECTING
EFFICIENCY & EMISSIONS
1.
Burn Rate:
The Survival Steel Hybrid is able to
attain its highest efficiency and lowest emissions
burning wood at a low-medium burn rate. A lower
burn rate gives the combustor more time to effictively
burn the volatile gases as they enter into the catalytic
combustor (see discussion in the Catalytic Combustor
Section of the Manual). When operating your stove at
a lower burn rate you will achieve a cleaner burn over
a longer period of time. Low burn rates are also how
you achieve desirable long burn times of 6-8+ hours.
2.
Wood Quality:
Cord wood with a moisture content
between 15-22% is ideal for burning. The Survival
Hybrid will still burn wood with a higher moisture
content with great effectiveness, however, the energy
loss at start up and reloading is significant. During the
first stage of wood burning the moisture content
within the wood is expelled creating steam. The higher
the moisture content the lesser the available heat
value.
Kiln Dried Wood:
Approximately 8600 BTU Available/per pound
20% Moisture Content:
Approximately 6,200 BTU Available/per pound
50% Moisture Content:
Approximately 4,000 BTU Available/per pound
3. Effective Wood Fire Starting:
The most effective
method for an emissions free start is a top down fire. A
top down fire is built with the larger splits on the
bottom of the firebox, the second layer should be
medium sized splits, and if possible running
perpendicular to the large splits on the bottom, and the
third layer should be small splits. On top of the small
splits a generous amount of small very dry kindling
and newspaper will be placed at the top. The
newspaper and kindling will produce enough heat
very quickly allow in the secondary air and catalytic
combustor to ignite within minutes. You may need to
leave the loading door cracked open to allow enough
oxygen in for a quick start. Within a few minutes you
should be able to engage the combustor and start the
clean burn cycle.
