Before Your First Burn - Drolet 5135 ML Manual

It is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that you use DRY WOOD only in your woodstove. The
wood must have dried for 9 to 15 months, such that the humidity content (in weight) is
reduced below 20% of the weight of the log. It is very important to keep in mind that even
if the wood has been cut for one, two or even more years, it is not necessarily dry, if it has
been stored in poor conditions; under extreme conditions, it may even rot instead of
drying. This point cannot be overstressed; the vast majority of the problems related to the
operation of a woodstove is caused by the fact that the wood used was too damp or had
dried in poor conditions. These problems can be:
• Ignition problems.
• Creosote build-up causing chimney fires.
• Low energy yield.
• Blackened windows.
• Incomplete log combustion.
Smaller pieces of wood will dry faster. All logs exceeding 6" (152 mm) should be split.
The wood should be stored in a place where the grass is not too long, in such a way that
prevailing winds may circulate through the fire logs. A 24" to 48" (610 mm to 1219 mm)
air space should be left between each row of fire logs, which should be placed in the
sunniest location possible. If the wood must be stored outside, the upper layer of wood
should be protected from rain and bad weather but not the sides.

Before your first burn

• Check if firebricks are lined properly.
• If necessary, take off plastic protector from moldings.
• Make sure that the chimney and flue pipe are well installed according to
specifications.
• Respect all clearances to combustibles and floor protection according to the unit you
have chosen.
• If your not sure about the proper installation, do not hesitate to contact your Drolet
dealer.
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