Combustion Cycles - Osburn INSPIRE 2000-I OB02045 Installation And Operation Manual

Place three or four small, split, dry logs in the firebox. Arrange the kindling wood on the logs in
two layers at right angles and place a dozen finely split kindling on the second row. It is possible
to use ragged paper but it may not hold in place since it tends to roll while it is burning. The best
is to wrap a sheet on itself, grab the ends of the roll and make a knot. Use four or five sheets of
paper tied together and put them on top and around the kindling.
Open the air intake control completely, ignite the paper and close the door.
The down fire method has two advantages over the traditional method: first, the fire does not
collapse on itself, and it is not necessary to add wood gradually since the combustion chamber
is full before the fire is lit.
5.2.3 Two Parallel Logs Method
Two spit logs are placed in the firebox with a few sheets of twisted newspapers in between the
logs. Fine kindling is added across the two logs and some larger kindling across those, log cabin
style. Newspaper is lit.
5.2.4 Using Fire Starters
Commercial fire starters can be used instead of a newspaper. Some of these starters are made
of sawdust and wax and others are made of specialized flammable solid chemicals. Always
follow the package directions when using.
Gel starters can also be used, but only to light a fire, in a cold combustion chamber without hot
embers inside.
5.3

Combustion Cycles

Wood heating with a space heater is very different than other forms of heating. There will be
temperature variations in different parts of the house and there will be temperature variations
throughout day and night. This is normal, and for experienced wood burners these are advantages
of zone heating woodburning.
Wood inserts don't have a steady heat output. It is normal for the temperature to rise after a new
load of wood is ignited and for its temperature to gradually decrease throughout the burning
cycle. This increasing and decreasing temperature can be matched with the household routines.
For example, the temperature in the area can be cooler when the household is active, and it can
be warmer when it is inactive.
Wood burns best in cycles. A cycle starts when a new load of wood is ignited by hot coals and
ends when that load has been consumed down to a bed of charcoal about the same size as it
was when the wood was loaded.
Trying to produce a steady heat output by placing a single log on the fire at regular intervals
is not recommended. Always place at least three, and preferably more pieces on the fire at a
time so that the heat radiated from one piece helps to ignite the pieces next to it. Each load of
wood should provide several hours of heating. The size of each load may vary depending on the
amount of heat required.
Page 18 Installation and Operation Manual - Inspire 2000 Insert