Maintaining The Fire - Osburn 2000-I Owner's Manual

4.5. 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.
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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