Troubleshooting Guide - Heatilator Wood Burning Fireplace A36CH Owner's Manual

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Troubleshooting Guide

Start Fire Problems
Can't get fi re started
Excessive smoke or spillage
Burns too slowly
Smolders, sizzles
Fire burns too fast
Possible Cause
Not enough kindling/paper or no
kindling/paper
Damper closed/not fully open
Not enough air for fi re to ignite
Wood condition is too wet, too
large
Bed of coals not established
before adding wood
Flue blockage such as birds'
nests or leaves in termination
cap
Down draft or negative pressure
Competition with exhaust
devices
Extremely dry or soft wood
No glass doors
Overdrafting
Heatilator • A36C & A42C • 28396 • Rev AG • 11/08
Solution
Use dry kindling, more paper. Arrange kindling &
wood for air movement.
Open damper.
Check for restricted cap/shroud.
Open air kit (if installed).
Check for fl ue blockage.
Pre-warm fl ue before starting fi re (refer to starting
fi re section).
Check for adequate vent height (refer to chimney
assembly section).
Open window below the fi replace towards the
wind.
Use dry, seasoned wood (refer to wood fuel
section).
Start with paper & kindling to establish bed of
coals (refer to starting fi re section).
Have chimney inspected for creosote and cleaned
by a certifi ed chimney sweep.
Do not use exhaust fans during start-up (refer to
negative pressure section).
Open window below the fi replace towards the
wind.
Mix in hardwood.
Mix in less seasoned wood after fi re is established
(refer to wood fuel section).
Add glass doors to slow down air fl ow.
Check for correct vent height; too much vertical
height creates overdrafting.
Check location of vent termination (refer to
chimney assembly section).
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