Drolet Heat Commander Installation And Operating Instructions Manual page 60

CAUTION: IT IS RECOMMENDED TO CLEAN THE HEAT EXCHANGERS, FLUE PIPE AND
CHIMNEY THOROUGHLY AT THE END OF THE HEATING SEASON IN ORDER TO PREVENT
CORROSION DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, CAUSED BY ACCUMULATED ASH AND/OR
SOOT AND/OR CREOSOTE.
10.1.1 Ash removal
Ash should be removed from the firebox every week of full time heating. Do not let the ash
build up in the firebox because it will interfere with proper fire management.
The best time to remove ash is after an overnight fire when the furnace is relatively cool, but
there is still some chimney draft to draw the ash dust into the furnace and prevent it from
coming into the room.
After ashes have been removed from the furnace and placed in a tightly covered metal
container, they should be taken outside immediately. The closed container of ashes should
be placed on a non-combustible floor or on the ground well away from all combustible
materials pending final disposal. Ashes normally contain some live charcoal that can stay
hot for several days. If the ashes are disposed of by burial in soil or otherwise locally
dispersed, they should be retained in the closed container until all cinders have thoroughly
cooled. Other waste shall not be placed in this container.
NEVER STORE ASHES INDOORS OR IN A NON-METALIC CONTAINER OR ON A
WOODEN DECK. ALWAYS LEAVE THE CONTAINER ON A NON-COMBUSTIBLE
FLOOR.
10.1.2 Cleaning door glass
Under normal conditions, your door glass should stay relatively clear. If your firewood is dry
enough and you follow the operating instructions in this manual, a whitish, dusty deposit will
form on the inside of the glass after a week or so of use. This is normal and can be easily
removed when the furnace is cool by wiping with a damp cloth or paper towel and then
drying. Never attempt to clean the glass when the furnace is hot.
In spring and fall the furnace will cycle less often. You may see some light brown stains
forming, especially at the lower corners of the glass. This indicates that the combustion has
been incomplete and some of the smoke has condensed on the glass. When the weather is
mild, you may find that letting the fire go out is better than trying to maintain a continuous
fire. Use the technique described above for building a fire to take the chill off the house.
If you do get brown stains on the glass, you can remove them with special cleaners for wood
furnace glass doors. Do not use abrasives to clean your furnace's door glass.
The deposits that form on the glass are the best indication of the quality of your fuel and how
well you are doing in operating the furnace. Your goal should be clear glass with no brown
stains. If you continue to see brown stains on the glass, something about your fuel and
operating procedure needs to be changed. Stains on the glass indicate incomplete
combustion of the wood, which also means more smoke emissions and faster formation of
creosote in the chimney.
When brown streaks are coming from the edge of the glass, it is time to replace the gasket
around the glass. The glass gasket should be self-adhesive. Follow the instructions in