Troubleshooting Guide - Heatilator EL36 Series Owner's Manual

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Troubleshooting Guide

Start Fire Problems
Can't get fire started
Excessive smoke or spillage
Burns too slowly
Smolders, sizzles
Fire burns too fast
Possible Cause
Not enough kindling/paper or no
kindling/paper
Not enough air for fire to ignite
Wood condition is too wet, too
large
Bed of coals not established
before adding wood
Flue blockage such as birds' nests
or leaves in termination cap
Extremely dry or soft wood
No glass doors
Overdrafting
Heatilator • EL36/EL42 • 4044-132 • Rev AD• 7/12
Solution
Use dry kindling, more paper. Arrange kindling &
wood for air movement.
Check for restricted cap/shroud.
Check for flue blockage.
Pre-warm flue before starting fire
Check for adequate vent height (refer to chimney
assembly section).
Use dry, seasoned wood
Start with paper & kindling to establish bed of
coals (refer to starting fire section).
Have chimney inspected for creosote and cleaned
by a certified chimney sweep.
Mix in hardwood.
Mix in less seasoned wood after fire is established
(refer to wood fuel section).
Add glass doors to slow down air flow.
Check for correct vent height; too much vertical
height creates overdrafting.
Check location of vent termination (refer to
chimney assembly section).
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