Wood Selection And Storage; Overfiring; Building A Fire - Quadra-Fire 2700-I Instruction Manual

2700-I WOOD INSERT (ACT)
OpERATION

WOOD SELECTION AND STORAGE

Burn only dry seasoned wood. Dry, well-seasoned wood will
not only minimize the chance of creosote formation but will
give you the most efficient heat output. Even dry wood con-
tains at least 15% moisture by weight and should be burned
hot enough to keep the chimney hot enough to maintain par-
ticulate (smoke) burning. Burning unseasoned wood of any
variety defeats the stoves' efficiency.
Dead wood lying on the forest floor should be considered
wet, and requires full seasoning time. Standing wood can
be considered to be about two-thirds seasoned. Wood is dry
enough to burn if the ends of the logs have cracks radiating in
all directions from the center. If your wood sizzles in the fire,
even though the surface is dry, it may not be fully cured.
Drying time can be reduced by splitting wood prior to stor-
age. Since the majority of drying occurs through the cut ends
rather than the sides, stack the wood so both ends of each
piece are exposed to air. Store wood under cover, such as
in a shed, or covered with a tarp, plastic, tar paper, sheets of
scrap plywood, etc.

OVERFIRING

Do not overfire. Overfiring can result in crazing, an effect
causing a white, non-removable film to be deposited on the
inside of the glass. Using flammable liquids or too much
wood, or burning trash in the insert, may result in overfiring.
If the chimney connector or insert glows red, or worse, white,
the insert is overfired. This condition may ignite creosote in
the chimney, possibly causing a house fire. If any part of the
insert starts to glow, you are in an overfire situation. If you
overfire, immediately close the insert dampers and door, if
open, to reduce the air supply to the fire. Overfiring your
insert voids your warranty.
WARNING
Fire Risk.
• Do NOT burn with insert door open.
Embers may fall out and start a fire.

BUILDING A FIRE

NOTE: Remove all labels from glass front prior to lighting
the first fire and refer to plated surfaces care on page 19 .
Before lighting your first fire in the insert, make certain that
the baffle is correctly positioned. It should be resting against
the rear support.
There are many ways to build a fire. The basic principle
is to light easily-ignitable tinder or paper, which ignites the
fast burning kindling, which in turn ignites the slow-burning
firewood. Here is one method that works well:
1. Place several wads of crushed paper on the firebox floor.
Heating flue with slightly crumpled newspaper before
adding kindling keeps smoke to a minimum.
Page 16
2. Place several wads of crushed paper on the firebox floor.
. Open Start-Up Air Control (right control) and Primary Air
Control (center control under ashlip) fully. Figure 18.1
on page 18.
4. Ensure that no matches or other combustibles are in the
immediate area of the insert, that the room is adequately
ventilated, and the flue is unobstructed.
5. Light the paper in the insert. NEVER light or rekindle insert
with kerosene, gasoline, or charcoal lighter fluid; the results
can be fatal.
6. Once the kindling is burning quickly, add several full-length
logs  inches (76mm) or 4 inches (102mm) in diameter. Be
careful not to smother the fire. Stack the pieces of wood
carefully: near enough to keep each other hot, but far
enough away from each other to allow adequate air flow
between them.
7. When ready to reload the insert, add more logs. Large logs
burn slowly, holding a fire longer. Small logs burn fast and
hot, giving quick heat.
8. Adjust the Start-Up Air Control and Primary Air Control,
maintaining flames above the fuel. The more you close
down the Primary Control, the lower and slower the fire
will burn. The more you open the Primary Control the
more heat will be produced. The Start-Up Air Control
(right control) is only used for the first 5 to 15 minutes.
As long as there are hot coals, repeating steps 7 and 8 will
maintain a continuous fire.
Fire Risk.
Keep combustible materials, gasoline and other
flammable vapors and liquids clear of appliance.
• Do NOT store flammable materials in the
appliance's vicinity.
• Do NOT use gasoline, 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.
• Combustible materials may ignite.
Fire Risk.
• Do NOT burn garbage or flammable fluids
such as gasoline, naptha or engine oil.
• Do NOT burn treated wood or wood with salt (driftwood).
• May generate carbon monoxide if burn material other
than wood.
May result in illness or possible death.
7007-161H
WARNING
WARNING
September 1, 2008
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