Burning Wood Efficiently; First Use; Lighting Fires - Osburn INSPIRE 2000-I OB02045 Installation And Operation Manual

5. Burning Wood Efficiently

5.1

First Use

Two things happen when burning the first few fires; the paint cures and the internal components
of the insert are conditioned. As the paint cures, some of the chemicals vaporize. The vapors are
not poisonous, but they smell bad. When lighting the insert for the first few times, be prepared
by opening doors or windows to ventilate the house.
Burn one or two small fires to begin the curing and conditioning process. Then build bigger
and hotter fires until there is no longer paint smell from the insert. As hotter and hotter fires are
burned, more of the painted surfaces reach the curing temperature of the paint. The smell of
curing paint does not disappear until one or two very hot fires have been burned.
5.2

Lighting Fires

Each person heating with wood develops its own favorite way to light fires. Regardless of the
method chosen, the goal should be to have a hot fire burning, quickly. A fire that ignites fast
produces less smoke and deposits less creosote in the chimney.
Here are three popular and effective ways to ignite wood fires.
5.2.1 Conventional Method
The conventional method to build a wood fire is to crumple
5 to 10 sheets of newspaper and place them in the firebox
and hold them in place with ten pieces of kindling wood. The
kindling should be placed on and behind the newspaper.
Then add two or three small pieces of firewood. Open the air
intake control completely and ignite the newspaper. Leave
the door slightly ajar.
Once the fire has ignited, the door can be closed with the air
control still fully open.
When the kindling is almost completely burned, standard
firewood pieces can be added.
Do not leave the insert unattended when the door is slightly open. Always close and latch the
door after the fire ignites.
5.2.2 The Top Down Method
This method is the opposite of the conventional method and only works properly if well-seasoned
wood is used.
Installation and Operation Manual - Inspire 2000 Insert
Never use gasoline, gasoline-type lantern fuel
(naphtha), fuel oil, motor oil, kerosene, charcoal
lighter fluid, or similar liquids or aerosols to start
or 'freshen up' a fire in this wood insert.
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