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10.8 Supply of Combustion Air
In Canada, wood inserts are not required to have a combustion air supply from outside. Research
has shown that outside air supply do not compensate for the depressurization of the house
and may not be sufficient to provide a supply of combustion air in windy weather. However,
to reduce the risks against smoke spillage due to house depressurization, a carbon monoxide
(CO) detector is required in the room where the insert is installed. The CO detector will provide
warning if for any reason the wood insert fails to function correctly.
The safest and most reliable supply of combustion air for a wood insert is from the room in which
it is installed. Room air is already preheated so it will not chill the fire, and its availability is not
affected by wind pressures on the house. Contrary to commonly expressed concerns, almost
all tightly sealed new houses have enough natural leakage to provide a small amount of air
needed by the insert. The only case in which the wood insert may not have adequate access to
combustion air is if the operation of a powerful exhaust device (such as a kitchen range exhaust)
causes the pressure in the house to become negative relative to outdoors.
Figure 35: Air supply in conventional houses
If an air intake is installed through the wall of the house, its pressure can vary during windy
weather. If there are changes in wood insert performance in windy weather, and in particular if
smoke puffs from the insert, the air duct should be disconnected from the insert to determine if
it is the cause of the problem. In some windy conditions, negative pressure at the duct weather
hood outside the house wall may draw hot exhaust gases from the insert backwards through the
duct to outdoors. Check the outdoor air duct for soot deposits when the full system is cleaned
and inspected at least once each year.
Page 40
Installation and Operation Manual - Inspire 2000 Insert
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