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Long burn times are not necessarily an indication of efficient wood fire operation. When you are
home during the day and able to tend the fire, it is preferable to build a smaller fire that might provide
three or four hours of heating than to fully load the firebox for a much longer burn. Shorter burn
cycles make it easier to match the heat output of the wood fire to the heat demand of the space.
4.7.5
North-South Fires Versus East-West Fires
In fireboxes that are roughly square, wood can be loaded so that looking through the glass door
you see the ends of the logs (north-south) or the sides of the logs (east-west).
East-west loads that are built compactly break down slowly when heated, but the amount of
wood you can load is limited because if you put in too many pieces, one may fall against the
glass. Eastwest loads are excellent for long, low output fires for relatively mild weather.
North-south loads break down more quickly, but much more wood can be loaded at a time. This
makes north-south loading good for high output, long lasting fires for cold weather.
5. Maintaining your wood heating system
5.1
Wood fire maintenance
Your new wood fire will give many years of reliable service if you use and maintain it correctly. Some
of the internal components of the firebox, such as firebricks, baffles and air tubes, will wear over
time under intense heat. You should always replace defective parts with original parts (see
Exploded Diagram and Parts
not cause premature deterioration of the wood fire. However, letting the wood fire run with the air
control fully open for entire cycles can cause damage over time. The hotter you run the wood fire
throughout burn cycles, the more quickly its components will deteriorate. For that reason, never
leave the wood fire unattended while a new load is being fired hot.
5.1.1
Plated finish maintenance
If your appliance has a plated finish, use a metal polish and a soft cloth to clean it. Do not use
abrasives such as steel wool, steel pads or an abrasive cleaner for they may scratch the finish.
5.2
Glass Door
5.2.1
Cleaning
Under normal conditions, the door glass should stay relatively clear. If the firewood is dry
enough and the operating instructions in this manual are followed, a whitish, dusty deposit will
form on the inner surface of the glass after a week or so of use. This is normal and can be easily
removed when the wood fire is cold by wiping with a damp cloth or paper towel and then drying.
Never try to clean the glass when the wood fire is hot.
When the wood fire runs at lower temperatures, light brown stains may form, especially in the
lower corners of the glass. This indicates that the fire has been smoky and some of the smoke has
condensed on the glass. It also indicates incomplete combustion of the wood, which also means
more smoke emissions and faster formation of creosote in the chimney. The deposits that form on
the glass are the best indication of the fuel quality and success in properly using the wood fire.
The goal should be clear glass with no brown stains. If brown stains appear regularly on the
glass, something about the fuel or the operating procedure needs to be changed.
Page 26
List»). For firing each load hot to begin a cycle as described above will
«Appendix 5:
Installation and Operation Manual - Bistro
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