Air Quality; Air Controls, Primary & Start-Up - Quadra-Fire 5100-I Manual

In recent years there has been an increasing concern about the quality of our air. Much of the blame for poor air quality has
been placed on the burning of wood for home heating. In order to improve this situation we at Quadra-Fire have developed
cleaner burning inserts that surpass the stringent requirements for emissions established by our governing agencies. Your
4100-I, like any other appliance, must be properly operated in order to ensure that they perform the way they are designed
to perform. Improper operation and maintenance may cause any wood burning unit to release more particulate, adversely
affecting the environment.
It helps to know a little about the actual burn process, which entails three discernible burning stages. The first stage is called
the kindling stage. During this stage the fuel reaches the boiling temperature of water, 212°F, evaporating the moisture
found to some degree in all wood.
Because the process takes heat from the insert during this initial drying stage, each new load of wood reduces the chances
for a good, clean burn. For this reason it is always best to burn dry, seasoned firewood, and operate the controls properly.
The bottom control on the right side of your insert is called the Start-Up Air Control and is used primarily during this first
kindling stage of burning.
During the secondary stage, the wood gives off flammable gases which burn above the fuel with bright flames. These
flames above the fuel must be maintained until the third stage to ensure proper burning. During this stage you may adjust
your insert for a low burn rate. To achieve a low burn rate it is necessary to close down the air while still maintaining some
flames. If the flames tend to go out, the setting is too low. The Primary Control will assist you in adjusting the insert for a
low burn rate.
The third stage of burning is the charcoal stage. This happens when the flammable gases have been burned and the
charcoal remains. The coals burning with hot blue flames is a naturally clean portion of the burn. It is very important to
reload your insert while enough lively hot coals remain in order to provide the amount of heat needed to dry and rekindle
the next load of wood. Open up both controls for a short while before reloading to liven up the coal bed. You should also
break up any large chunks and distribute the coals so the new wood is laid on hot coals. Leave both controls open until
the new wood load is burning well enough to maintain the secondary stage of burning and then set controls to your desired
heat output setting.
The combustion air enters at the rear of the firebox through the rear air tubes. This air supply is controlled by the Start-Up
Air Control. See Figure 19A.
The primary air enters at the upper front of the firebox near the top of the glass door. This preheated air supplies the neces-
sary fresh oxygen to mix with the unburned gases, helping to create secondary, tertiary and quaternary combustion. This
air is regulated by the Primary Air Control. For more primary air (more heat), push rod in. For less primary air (less heat),
pull rod out. See Figure 19A.
Pulling either control towards you closes off the air available to the insert in that area. Pushing either control opens it, allow-
ing air circulation to the area. A good analogy to remember for this procedure is the gas pedal on your car. Pushing in the
gas pedal makes the engine run faster. Letting off (pulling the control back) makes the car run slower.
Figure 19A
January 30, 2004
5100-I WOOD INSERT
AIR QUALITY AND YOUR QUADRA-FIRE INSERT
The story of the Three Burning Stages . . .
START-UP AIR SYSTEM
PRIMARY AIR SYSTEM
Primary Air Control
250-1960 Rev B
In other words . . .
Start-Up Air Control
OPEN - PUSH IN
CLOSE - PULL OUT
Page 19
R