Starting / Maintaining The Fire; Formation Of Creosote - Jøtul C450 Installation And Operating Instructions Manual

Starting and Maintaining a Fire
Burn only solid wood directly on the bottom grate
of the stove, do not elevate the fire in any way.
1. Set the Air Control Lever in the full open position.
2. Crumple several sheets of newspaper directly
on the grate.
2. Place several pieces of small dry kindling (approx.
1" in diameter) on top of the newspaper, with
two to three small logs (approx. 2" to 3" in
diameter) on top.
3. Light the fire and close the door. Gradually build
the fire by adding larger and larger logs as the
fire develops a bed of coals.
4. When you have added the final logs, adjust the
Air Control Lever to provide the desired fire
intensity.
Experiment with a variety of air control settings
to determine the best one for your individual
circumstances. Remember that fuel characteristics,
chimney system condition, building design, and
weather conditions all affect the performance of
your fireplace insert. In time, you will discover how
these elements combine and how you can work
with them to achieve satisfactory performance.
NEVER OVERFIRE THE STOVE. IF ANY PART OF
THE STOVE OR CHIMNEY GLOWS, YOU ARE
OVERFIRING. A HOUSE FIRE OR SERIOUS
DAMAGE TO THE STOVE OR CHIMNEY COULD
RESULT. IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS,
IMMEDIATELY CLOSE THE AIR CONTROL.
Adding Fuel to the Fire
When reloading the stove while a bed of hot
embers still exists, follow this reloading proce-
dure:
• Always wear stove gloves when tending to the
fire.
• Push the Air Control Lever to the full open
position (far right).
• Wait a few seconds before opening the door.
This allows the renewed air circulation to clear
unburned gases from the firebox.
• Use a stove tool or poker to distribute the hot
embers equally around the firebox.
• Load the fuel, usually with smaller logs first.
• Close the doors and secure the latch.
• Wait 5 – 10 minutes for the fire to re-establish
before adjusting the Air Control Lever for the
desired heat output. If a thick bed of live coals is
present, you may be able to add fuel and immedi-
ately set the air control without waiting for the
fire to be re-established.
Creosote Formation
The Jøtul C450 Kennebec is designed to burn wood
cleanly and efficiently when operated as described
in this manual. However, when wood is burned
slowly and at low temperatures, tar and other
organic vapors are produced which condense on the
relatively cooler chimney flue surfaces to form
creosote. Failure to keep the chimney system free of
creosote build up could result in a chimney fire.
The creosote that accumulates in the chimney
is highly flammable and is the fuel of chimney fires.
To prevent chimney fires, it is important to have the
chimney flue and connector pipe inspected at least
twice annually and cleaned whenever accumulation
of 1/4" or more is evident. A qualified chimney
sweep or other authorized service person can
provide this service.
It is also important to remember that chimney
size, temperature and height all affect draft which
in turn affects the formation of creosote. An
exterior chimney, whether masonry or prefabricated
steel, will be exposed to cold outside temperatures,
and consequently, will be more prone to creosote
accumulation than an interior flue.
A chimney flue located within the home interior
will benefit from the insulating characteristics of
the building itself. Consequently, the flue system
will be less conducive to condensation of unburned
gases and minimal creosote accumulation will
result.
As a general rule, try to avoid burning the insert
at the lowest air control settings. Although a low
setting will prolong burn time, it may also result in
incomplete combustion. In reducing the fire inten-
sity, draft is weakened and the chimney flue cools.
This, together with the increase in unburned gases,
leads to rapid creosote accumulation.
Break-in Period Ventilation
It is normal for a new stove to emit odor and
possibly smoke during the first few fires. This is
characteristic of the burn-off of residues from the
manufacturing process and the curing of painted
surfaces. Open a window near the fireplace insert
to provide plenty of fresh air to the room during this
"seasoning" period.
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