Burning Process; Combustible/Non-Combustible Materials; Air Controls - Quadra-Fire YOSEMITE-MBK Owner's Manual

Yosemite Wood Stove
Moisture
The majority of the problems appliance owners experience
are caused by trying to burn wet, unseasoned wood.
• Wet, unseasoned wood requires energy to evaporate the
water instead of heating your home, and
• Causes evaporating moisture which cools your chimney,
accelerating formation of creosote.
WARNING
Fire Risk.
• Do NOT burn wet or green wood.
• Store wood in dry location.
• Stack wood so both ends are exposed to air.
Wet, unseasoned wood can cause accumulation of
creosote.
Seasoned Wood
• Cut logs to size
• Split to 6 inches (152 mm) or less in diameter
• Air dry to a moisture content of not more than 20%
- Soft wood - about nine months to dry
- Hard wood - about eighteen months to dry
NOTICE: Seasoning time may vary depending on drying
conditions.
Storing Wood
Steps to ensure properly seasoned wood:
• Stack wood to allow air to circulate freely around and
through woodpile.
• Elevate wood pile off ground to allow air circulation
underneath.
• Smaller pieces of wood dry faster. Any piece over 6 in.
(152 mm) in diameter should be split.
• Wood (whole or split) should be stacked so both ends of
each piece are exposed to air. More drying occurs through
the cut ends than the sides.
• Store wood under cover to prevent water absorption
from rain or snow. Avoid covering the sides and ends
completely.
WARNING
Fire Risk
Do NOT store wood:
• In front of the appliance.
• In space required for loading or ash
removal.
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C. Burning Process
In recent years there has been an increasing concern about
air quality. Much of the blame for poor air quality has been
placed on the burning of wood for home heating.
In order to improve the situation, we at Quadra-Fire have
developed cleaner-burning wood appliances that surpass
the requirements for emissions established by our governing
agencies.
These wood appliances must be properly operated in order
to ensure that they perform the way they are designed to
perform.
NOTICE: Improper operation can turn any wood appli-
ance into a smoldering environmental hazard.
1. Kindling or First Stage
It helps to know a little about the actual process of burning in
order to understand what goes on inside the appliance. The
first stage of burning is called the kindling stage.
In this stage:
• Wood is heated to a temperature high enough to evapo-
rate the moisture present in all wood.
• Wood will reach the boiling point of water (212°F) and will
not get any hotter until the water is evaporated.
This process takes heat from the coals and tends to cool the
appliance.
Fire requires three things to burn:
• Fuel
• Air
• Heat
If heat is robbed from the appliance during the drying stage,
the new load of wood has reduced the chances for a good
clean burn.
It is always best to burn dry, seasoned firewood. When the
wood isn't dry, you must open the air controls and burn at a
high burn setting for a longer time to start it burning.
The heat generated from the fire should be warming your
home and establishing the flue draft, not evaporating the mois-
ture out of wet, unseasoned wood, resulting in wasted heat.
2. Second Stage
In the secondary stage wood gives off flammable gases which
burn above the fuel with bright flames.
During this stage of burning:
• The flames must be maintained and not allowed to go out
to ensure the cleanest possible fire.
• If the flames tend to go out, it is set too low for your burn-
ing conditions.
7004-187H
R
The Primary Air Control located under the ashlip and adjusts
the burn rates. Figure 25.1.
3. Final Stage
The final stage of burning is the charcoal stage. This occurs
when the flammable gases have been mostly burned and
only charcoal remains. This is a naturally clean portion of
the burn. The coals burn with hot blue flames.
• It is very important to reload your appliance while enough
lively hot coals remain in order to provide the amount of
heat needed to dry and rekindle the next load of wood.
• It is best to open the Primary Air Control and the Start-Up
Air Controls before reloading. This livens up the coal-
bed and reduces excessive emissions (opacity/smoke).
• Open door slowly so that ash or smoke does not exit ap-
pliance through opening.
• Break up any large chunks and distribute the coals so
that the new wood is laid on hot coals.
Air quality is important to all of us, and if we choose to use
wood to heat our homes we should do so responsibly.
We need to learn to burn in the cleanest way possible al-
lowing us to continue using our wood appliances for many
years to come.
D. Combustible/Non-Combustible Materials
• Combustible Material
Material made of or surfaced with wood, compressed
paper, plant fibers, plastics, or any material capable
of igniting and burning, whether flame-proofed or not,
plastered or unplastered.
• Non-Combustible Material
Material which will not ignite and burn. Such materials are
those consisting entirely of steel, iron, brick, tile, slate,
glass or plasters, or any combination thereof.
Materials that are reported as passing ASTM E 136,
Standard Test Method for Behavior of Materials in a
Vertical Tube Furnance at 750
considered non-combustible materials.
• Non-Combustible Sealant Material
Sealants which will not ignite and burn: Rutland, Inc.
Fireplace Mortar #63, Rutland 76R, Nuflex 304, GE
RTV106 or GE RTB116 (or equivalent).
June 23, 2011 June 23, 2011
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E. Air Controls
Start-Up Air System
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. For more air push control IN, for less air pull control
OUT. See Figure 25.1.
Primary Air System
The primary air enters below the ash catcher and is directed
to the upper front of the firebox, near the top of the glass door
and to the lower front of firebox. This preheated air supplies
the necessary fresh oxygen to mix with the unburned gases,
helping to create second, third and fourth combustions. This
air is regulated by the Primary Air Control. For more primary
air push control IN, for less air pull control OUT.
Front
Primary Air Control
Figure 25.1
Fire Risk.
• ALWAYS OPERATE THIS APPLIANCE WITH
THE DOOR CLOSED AND LATCHED ExCEPT
DURING START-UP AND RE-FUELING OR
WHEN USING THE FIRESCREEN.
• OPERATING WITH THE DOOR PARTLY OPEN
CAN CAUSE:
o C and UL763 shall be
• HOT EMBERS OR SPARKS TO FALL OUT
• FLAMES AND SMOKE MAY BE DRAWN OUT
FROM FIREBOx OPENING
7004-187H
Yosemite Wood Stove
Rear
Start-Up Air Control
Operation of Controls
OPEN - PUSH IN
CLOSE - PULL OUT
WARNING
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