Operation; Before You Start Firing - Morso 1410 Squirrel Installation And Operating Instructions Manual

2.0 Operation

2.1 Before you start firing

For use with solid wood fuel only. Do not overfire, if heater or chimney connector glows
you are overfiring. Inspect and clean chimney frequently. Under certain conditions of use
creosote buildup may occur rapidly. Because of risk of smoke and flame spillage, operate
only with door fully closed.
Caution:
Hot while in operation. Keep children, clothing and furniture away. Contact may cause
skin burns.
Do not use chemicals or fluids to start the fire.
Do not burn garbage or flammable fluids.
Do not use gasoline, gasoline-type lantern fuel, kerosene, charcoal lighter or fluid or simi-
lar liquids to start or freshen up a fire in this heater. Keep all such liquids away from the
heater while it is in use.
Choosing your fuel
All types of natural wood can be burned on your stove, but they must be well-seasoned and
dry. Once the wood is cut to length, it should be split down middle - to suit the dimensions
given below - to allow moisture to evaporate.
Cut the wood to a length of max 10 inches (25 cm) and approx. 3 to 3.5 inches (7-8 cm) in
section. If you can weigh your wood, aim for around 2 lbs. For correct combustion and heat
output, wood fuel should contain no more than 20% moisture; this can easily be checked by
using the Morsø Moisture Meter (part # 62929900)
To naturally season wood fuel, stack and store it under cover in an airy location where fresh
air can move through each piece. Some soft woods may take as little as one good summer to
season whereas harder woods such as oak, maple, and elm may require seasoning up to 18
months. Avoid overly dry wood that is gray in color as under certain conditions it can cause
performance problems, such as back-puffing and sluggishness. Well seasoned wood will be
light to hold and will show signs of cracking from the center-out in the ends. If your wood
spits or sizzles when burnt, and your stove's door glass persistently mists up, your wood is
not properly seasoned. Never use drift wood (from the sea), whose salt content may cause
corrosion, nor construction wood that may have been impregnated with chemicals.
Starting the first fire
The initial fire should be small, so that the stove paint can cure and the main plates of
the stove can settle into position. Some fumes will be given off by the paint. Ventilate
the room during this phase.
The setting of the valve, lighting techniques and loading intervals will depend on chim-
ney draft, the fuel used, the heat required and so on. Some basic techniques are out-
lined below.
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