Loading ...
Loading ...
Loading ...
Escape 1800-I Insert Installation and Operation Manual
18
4.3 Lighting Fires
Each person who heats with wood develops their own favorite way to light fires. Whatever
method you choose, your goal should be to get a hot fire burning quickly. A fire that starts
fast produces less smoke and deposits less creosote in the chimney. Here are three popular
and effective ways to start wood fires.
4.3.1 Conventional Fire Starting
The conventional way to build a wood fire is to
bunch up 5 to 10 sheets of plain newspapers
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. 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 INSERT UNATTENDED WHEN THE DOOR IS SLIGHTLY OPEN.
ALWAYS CLOSE AND LATCH THE DOOR AFTER THE FIRE IGNITES.
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 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.
Loading ...
Loading ...
Loading ...