Conventional Fire Starting; The Top Down Fire - Enerzone Everzone Solution 1.3 Installation And Operation Manual

4.3.1 Conventional Fire Starting

The conventional way to build a wood fire
is to bunch up 5 to 10 sheets of plain
newspaper and place them in the firebox.
Next, place 10 or so pieces of fine kindling
on the newspaper. This kindling should be
very thin; less than 1" (25 mm). Next, place
some larger kindling pieces on the fine
kindling. Open the air control fully and light
the newspaper. If you have a tall, straight
venting system you should be able to close
the door immediately and the fire will
ignite. If your venting system has elbows or
an outside chimney, you may need to
leave the door closed but unlatched for a
few minutes as the newspaper ignites and
heat in the chimney produces some draft.
Once the fire has ignited, close the door
and leave the air control fully open.
A conventional kindling fire with paper
under finely split wood.
DO NOT LEAVE THE STOVE UNATTENDED WHEN THE DOOR IS SLIGHTLY OPENED
DURING IGNITION. ALWAYS CLOSE THE DOOR AFTER IGNITION.
After the kindling fire has mostly burned, you can add standard firewood pieces until you have a
fire of the right size for the conditions.

4.3.2 The Top Down Fire

The top down fire starting method solves two problems with the conventional method: first, it does
not collapse and smother itself as it burns; and second, it is not necessary to build up the fire
gradually because the firebox is loaded before the fire is lit. A top down fire can provide up to two
hours of heating or more. The top down method only works properly if the wood is well-seasoned.
Start by placing three or four full-sized split pieces of dry firewood in the firebox. Next, place 4 or 5
more finely split pieces of firewood (2" to 3" [50 mm to 75 mm] in dia.) on the base logs at right
angles (log cabin style). Now place about 10 pieces of finely split kindling on the second layer at
right angles.
The fire is topped with about 5 sheets of newspaper. You can just bunch them up and stuff them in
between the kindling and the underside of the baffle. Or you can make newspaper knots by rolling
up single sheets corner to corner and tying a knot in them. The advantage of knots is that they
don't roll off the fire as they burn. Light the newspaper and watch as the fire burns from top to
bottom.
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Solution 1.3 Installation and Operation Manual