Creosote Formation And Removal; Adding Fuel - Jøtul F 500 Oslo Installation And Operating Instructions Manual

139681_R00 F 500 CB Oslo May, 2015
Creosote and Soot Formation and
the Need for Removal
When wood is burned slowly, it produces tar and other organic
vapors which combine with expelled moisture to form creosote.
These creosote vapors condense in the relatively cool chimney
flue of a slow burning fire. The creosote that accumulates in
the flue is highly flammable and is the fuel of chimney fires.
To prevent a chimney fire, the creosote needs to be removed
by sweeping the chimney and flue connector. The frequency
of sweeping will depend on how you operate your stove.
An accumulation of 1/4" or more on the sides of the flue or
connector is considered hazardous and should be removed.
In the event that creosote in your chimney or flue connector
ignites, the resulting fire is often accompanied by a roaring noise
and a crackling sound as flakes of burned creosote break loose. lf
you suspect you are having a chimney fire, immediately close the
primary air control and make sure the stove door is closed. Call
the fire department and get everyone safely out of the house.
Trying to extinguish the fire in the stove will not help. In fact it
can make the matter worse by allowing more oxygen through
the door, which then accellerates the fire in the chimney. When
the roaring and crackling has stopped, you should resist the
temptation to open the door and look at the fire. The fire may
have suffocated, but could rekindle when you open the door. After
a chimney fire, do not use your stove until the chimney and the
flue connector has been cleaned and inspected to ensure that
no damage has occured.

5.7 Adding Fuel

When reloading the stove while it is still hot and a bed of hot
embers still exists, follow this reloading procedure:
• Always wear gloves when tending to the stove.
• Push the air control lever to the full open position (far right).
• Wait a few seconds before opening the door.
• Use a stove tool or poker to distribute the hot embers equally
around the firebox and away from the air inlet ports at the
front center of the firebox floor.
• Load the fuel, usually with smaller logs first.
• Close the door, be sure to latch the door tightly.
• Wait 5 – 10 minutes before adjusting the primary air to the
desired heat output setting. (If you have at least a 2" thick
ember bed when reloading, it may be possible to close the
door and immediately adjust the air control setting).
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