Operating The Stove; Burning Wood Efficiently; First Use; Lighting Fires - Drolet CAPE TOWN 1800 Installation And Operation Manual

4. Operating the Stove

This wood heater has a manufacturer-set minimum low burn rate that
must not be altered. It is against federal regulations to alter this setting or
otherwise operate this wood heater in a manner inconsistent with operating
instructions in this manual.
The installation of the following items is optional and should be completed before using the
stove :
• Install the fresh air intake (see

5. Burning Wood Efficiently

5.1

First Use

Two things happen when burning the first few fires; the paint cures and the internal components are
conditioned. As the paint cures, some of the chemicals vaporize. The vapors are not poisonous,
but they smell bad. Fresh paint fumes can also trigger false alarms in smoke detectors. When
lighting the heater for the first few times, it may be wise to open doors and windows to ventilate
the house.
Burn two or three small fires to begin the curing and conditioning process. Then build bigger
and hotter fires until there is no longer paint smell from the stove. As hotter and hotter fires are
burned, more of the painted surfaces reach the curing temperature of the paint. The smell of
curing paint does not disappear until one or two very hot fires have been burned.
5.2

Lighting Fires

Each person heating with wood develops its own favorite way to light fires. Regardless of the
method chosen, the goal should be to have a hot fire burning, quickly. A fire that ignites fast
produces less smoke and deposits less creosote in the chimney.
Never use gasoline, gasoline-type lantern fuel (naphtha), fuel oil, motor oil,
kerosene, charcoal lighter fluid, or similar liquids or aerosols to start or
'freshen up' a fire in this wood stove. Keep all such liquids well away from
the stove while it is in use.
Here are three popular and effective ways to ignite wood fires.
5.2.1 Conventional Method
The conventional method to build a wood fire is to crumple 5 to 10 sheets
of newspaper and place them into the firebox and hold them in place with
ten pieces of kindling wood. The kindling should be placed on and behind
the newspaper.
Installation and Operation Manual - Cape Town 1800
«Appendix 1: Optional Fresh Air Intake Kit Installation»)
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