Maintaining The Fire - Osburn 2200 Owner's Manual

3.5 Maintaining The Fire

Your Osburn insert will work best if a thick bed of hot embers is maintained in the bottom of the firebox,
and a minimum of two large pieces of seasoned fuel are added. Combustion efficiency is largely related to
establishing a hot ember bed, and hot firebox temperatures. The quicker the insert and fuel get up to
operating temperature, the better. A small intense fire is preferred to a large smouldering fire, both to
improve combustion efficiency and to reduce the amount of creosote emitted. The best performance will be
achieved by adding relatively small amounts of fuel to a well established ember bed, and then operating with
the air inlet control open long enough to achieve a hot fire. Cordwood should be placed with air in between
individual pieces. Use a poker to make an air channel in the embers below the wood, this will allow air to
flow under the wood for a more efficient burn.
Extended burn times can be accomplished by first operating the insert on a full load with the air inlet
controls wide open. Once the fire is well established, and the moisture has been driven out of the wood,
reduce the air control to a lower setting. The unit should then burn cleanly without smouldering. If the fire
smoulders without flame, re-establish a hotter fire before moving the air control to the lower setting. A
yellow flame burning in the top of the firebox is a good indication of a clean efficiently burning fire.
Refuelling technique is important for good performance. The best efficiency and performance from your
insert can be achieved by adding partial loads of fuel and allowing them to get up to operating temperature
before adding additional fuel. Adding a large amount of fuel at one time will increase the time required to
get the fuel up to its ignition temperature, and an extended time to reach optimal performance. When
refuelling, open the air control or hold the door partially open 1" (25 mm) or less, long enough (less than 5
minutes) so that the fire has well established flames. When refuelling, care is required to ensure that fuel or
embers do not fall out of the door opening. The unit will burn at about 2.0 to 2.5 lb/hr (.9 to 1.1kg/hr) at its
minimum setting; approximately 20 to 25 lbs (9 to 11.3kg) of wood are required for an extended burn.
In order to achieve an optimum efficiency from your unit, we suggest that you operate it with the air control
slightly open (approximately 10%). Make sure that you have a good fire going and an adequate ember bed
before you completely close the air control. Closing the air control too soon will lower combustion
efficiency and may cause the fire to die out. The addition of a blower (if not already included) is highly
recommended to maximize your unit's efficiency.
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