Osburn Stratford Operating instructions

READ AND KEEP THIS MANUAL FOR REFERENCE

45703A

Printed in Canada 05-03-2014

INSTALLATIONANDOPERATIONMANUAL

Stratford

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 USENVIRONMENTALPROTECTION

AGENCYPHASEIICERTIFIEDWOOD

FIREPLACE

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ListedtostandardsULC‐S610andUL127

byIntertekTestingServices

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www.osburn‐mfg.com

StoveBuilderInternationalInc.

250,ruedeCopenhague,St‐Augustin‐de‐Desmaures(Quebec)CanadaG3A2H3

Tel:(418)878‐3040Fax:(418)878‐3001

This manual is available for free download on the manufacturer’s web site. It is a

copyrighted document. Re-sale is strictly prohibited. The manufacturer may update this

manual from time to time and cannot be responsible for problems, injuries, or damages

arising out of the use of information contained in any manual obtained from unauthorized

sources.

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2 _______________________________________________________________________

THANKYOUFORCHOOSINGTHISOSBURNWOODFIREPLACE

AsoneofNorthAmerica’slargestandmostrespectedwoodstoveandfireplacemanufacturers,

StoveBuilderInternationaltakesprideinthequalityandperformanceofallitsproducts.Wewant

tohelpyougetmaximumsatisfactionasyouusethisproduct.

Inthepagesthatfollowyouwillfindgeneraladviceonwoodheating,detailedinstructionsforsafe

andeffectiveinstallation,andguidanceonhowtogetthebestperformancefromthisfireplaceas

youbuildandmaintainfires,andmaintainyourwoodheatingsystem.

Werecommendthatourwoodburninghearthproductsbeinstalledandservicedbyprofessionals

whoarecertifiedintheUnitedStatesbyNFI(NationalFireplaceInstitute®)orinCanadabyWETT

(WoodEnergyTechnologyTransfer)orinQuebecbyAPC(AssociationdesProfessionnelsdu

Chauffage).

Congratulationsonmakingawisepurchase.

Ifthisfireplaceisnotproperlyinstalled,combustiblematerialsnearitmayoverheat.Toreduce

theriskoffire,followtheinstallationinstructionsinthismanualexactly.Contactlocalbuilding

orfireofficialsaboutrestrictionsandinstallationinspectionrequirementsinyourarea.

Pleasereadthisentiremanualbeforeyouinstallanduseyournewfireplace.Youmayneedto

getabuildingpermitfortheinstallationofthisfireplaceandthechimneythatitisconnectedto.

Consultyourmunicipalbuildingdepartmentorfiredepartmentbeforeinstallation.We

recommendthatyoualsoinformyourhomeinsurancecompanytofindoutiftheinstallation

willaffectyourpolicy.

Thisheatingunitisdesignedtoserveasasupplementaryheatsource.Werecommendthata

primaryheatsourcealsobeavailableinthehome.Themanufacturercannotberesponsiblefor

costsassociatedwiththeuseofanotherheatingsystem.

CAUTION:Donotattempttomodifyoraltertheconstructionofthefireplaceoritscomponents.

Anymodificationoralterationofconstructionmayvoidthewarranty,listingsandapprovalsofthis

system.Inthatcase,StoveBuilderInternational(SBI)willnotberesponsiblefordamages.Install

thefireplaceonlyasdescribedintheseinstructions.

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Tableofcontent

PART A - OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE ............................... 6

1Safety Information ..................................................................... 6

1.1Summary of Operation and Maintenance Cautions and Warnings ......................... 6

2General Information................................................................... 9

2.1Stratford Specifications .......................................................................................... 9

2.2Zone Heating and How to Make it Work for You .................................................. 12

2.3The Benefits of Low Emissions and High Efficiency ............................................. 13

2.4The SBI Commitment to You and the Environment .............................................. 13

2.4.1What is Your New Fireplace Made Of? ............................................................. 13

3Fuel ........................................................................................... 14

3.1Materials That Should Not be Burned .................................................................. 14

3.2How to Prepare or Buy Good Firewood ............................................................... 14

3.2.1What is Good Firewood? .................................................................................. 14

3.2.2Tree Species ..................................................................................................... 14

3.2.3Log Length ........................................................................................................ 15

3.2.4Piece Size ......................................................................................................... 16

3.2.5How to Dry Firewood ........................................................................................ 16

3.2.6Judging Firewood Moisture Content ................................................................. 17

3.3Manufactured Logs .............................................................................................. 17

4Operating Your Fireplace ........................................................ 18

4.1The use of a fire screen ....................................................................................... 18

4.2Your First Fires ..................................................................................................... 18

4.3Lighting Fires ........................................................................................................ 18

4.3.1Conventional Fire Starting ................................................................................ 19

4.3.2The Top Down Fire ........................................................................................... 19

4.3.3Two Parallel Logs ............................................................................................. 20

4.3.4Using Fire Starters ............................................................................................ 20

4.4Maintaining Wood Fires ....................................................................................... 20

4.4.1General Advice ................................................................................................. 20

4.4.2Ash Removal .................................................................................................... 21

4.4.3Raking Charcoal ............................................................................................... 21

4.4.4Firing Each New Load Hot ................................................................................ 22

4.4.5Turning Down the Air Supply ............................................................................ 22

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4.4.6Building Different Fires for Different Needs ....................................................... 23

5Maintaining Your Wood Heating System .............................. 25

5.1Fireplace Maintenance ......................................................................................... 25

5.1.1Plated Finish Maintenance ................................................................................ 25

5.1.2Glass Door Cleaning ......................................................................................... 25

5.1.3Door Adjustment ............................................................................................... 26

5.1.4Door Alignment ................................................................................................. 27

5.1.5Replacing the Door Gasket ............................................................................... 29

5.1.6Replacing the Glass Gasket and/or the Glass .................................................. 30

5.1.7Cleaning and Painting the Fireplace ................................................................. 31

5.2Chimney and Chimney Liner Maintenance........................................................... 31

5.2.1Why Chimney Cleaning is Necessary ............................................................... 31

5.2.2How Often Should You Clean the Chimney? .................................................... 31

5.2.3Cleaning the Chimney ....................................................................................... 32

5.2.4Fire Baffle Removal Prior to Cleaning the Chimney .......................................... 33

5.2.5Chimney Fire .................................................................................................... 33

PART B – INSTALLATION ............................................................ 34

6Safety Information ................................................................... 34

6.1Summary of Installation Cautions and Warnings .................................................. 34

6.2Regulations Covering Fireplace Installation ......................................................... 35

6.3Fireplace Installation ............................................................................................ 36

6.3.1Locating the STRATFORD ............................................................................... 36

6.3.2Minimum Heart Extension Requirements .......................................................... 42

6.3.3Framing, Facing, Mantel, and Combustible Shelf ............................................. 43

7Clearances to Combustible Material ...................................... 51

7.1Locating the Certification Label ............................................................................ 51

8The Venting System ................................................................ 52

8.1General ................................................................................................................ 52

8.2Suitable Chimneys ............................................................................................... 52

8.3Minimum Chimney Height .................................................................................... 52

8.4The Relationship Between the Chimney and the House ...................................... 52

8.4.1Why the chimney should penetrate the highest heated space .......................... 52

8.5Chimney Installation Notes ................................................................................... 53

8.6Chimney Installation Instructions .......................................................................... 56

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8.6.1Examples of Typical Chimney Installation ......................................................... 56

8.6.2Offset Chimney Installation ............................................................................... 61

8.7Angled Wall Radiation Shield ............................................................................... 65

8.8Chimney Support Installation ............................................................................... 65

8.8.1Universal Roof Support ..................................................................................... 65

8.8.2Universal Offset Support ................................................................................... 66

8.9Installation Instructions for Masonry Application .................................................. 66

8.10Supply of Combustion Air ..................................................................................... 67

8.10.1Air Supply in Conventional Houses ................................................................... 67

Appendix 1: Hot Air Ducting Installation .................................... 69

Appendix 2: Blower Maintenance or Replacement ................... 74

Appendix 3: Installing the Door Overlay .................................... 78

Appendix 4: Installing the Adapter for Fresh Air Kit ................. 79

Appendix 5: Installing the Fire Screen (AC01560) ..................... 83

Appendix 6: Installation of Secondary Air Tubes and Baffle ... 84

Appendix 7: Exploded Diagram and Parts List .......................... 89

OSBURN LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY ................................. 94



Toreceivefullwarrantycoverage,youwillneedtoshowevidenceof

thedateyoupurchasedyourstove.Keepyoursalesinvoice.Wealso

recommendthatyouregisteryourwarrantyonlineat:

http://www.osburn‐mfg.com/warranty‐registration.aspx

Registeringyourwarrantyonlinewillhelpustoquicklytrackthe

informationweneedaboutyourstove.



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PARTA‐OPERATIONANDMAINTENANCE

PleaseseePartBforinstallationinstructions.

1 SAFETYINFORMATION

1.1 SUMMARYOFOPERATIONANDMAINTENANCECAUTIONSANDWARNINGS

• HOTWHILEINOPERATION,KEEPCHILDREN,CLOTHINGANDFURNITUREAWAY.CONTACT

MAYCAUSESKINBURNS.GLOVESMAYBENEEDEDFORFIREPLACEOPERATION.

• USINGAFIREPLACEWITHCRACKEDORBROKENCOMPONENTS,SUCHASGLASSOR

FIREBRICKSORBAFFLESMAYPRODUCEANUNSAFECONDITIONANDMAYDAMAGETHE

FIREPLACE.

• OPERATEONLYWITHDOORFULLYCLOSEDORFULLYOPENWITHFIRESCREENINPLACE.IF

DOORISLEFTPARTLYOPEN,GASANDFLAMEMAYBEDRAWNOUTOFTHEOPENING,

CREATINGRISKSFROMBOTHFIREANDSMOKE.

• OPENTHEAIRCONTROLFULLYBEFOREOPENINGTHELOADINGDOOR.

• THISFIREPLACEHASBEENTESTEDFORUSEWITHANOPENDOORINCONJUNCTIONWITHA

FIRESCREEN(AC01560,SOLDSEPARATELY).THEDOORMAYBEOPENORFIRESCREEN

REMOVEDONLYDURINGLIGHTINGPROCEDURESORRELOADING.ALWAYSCLOSETHEDOOR

ORPUTBACKTHEFIRESCREENAFTERIGNITION.DONOTLEAVETHEFIREPLACE

UNATTENDEDWHENTHEDOORISOPENEDWITHORWITHOUTFIRESCREEN.

• DONOTINSTALLTHEFIREPLACEOUTDOORS.

• THEFIREPLACEANDCHIMNEYMUSTBEINANENCLOSUREUPTOTHEATTIC.

• NEVERUSEGASOLINE,LANTERNFUEL(NAPHTHA),FUELOIL,MOTOROIL,KEROSENE,

CHARCOALLIGHTERFLUID,ORSIMILARLIQUIDSORAEROSOLSTOSTARTAFIREINTHIS

FIREPLACE.KEEPALLSUCHLIQUIDSORAEROSOLSWELLAWAYFROMTHEFIREPLACEWHILE

ITISINUSE.

• DONOTSTOREFUELWITHINHEATERMINIMUMINSTALLATIONCLEARANCES.

• BURNONLYSEASONEDNATURALFIREWOOD.

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• DONOTBURN:

o GARBAGEOFANYKIND,

o COALORCHARCOAL,

o TREATED,PAINTEDORCOATEDWOOD,

o PLYWOODORPARTICLEBOARD,

o FINEPAPER,COLOREDPAPERORCARDBOARD,

o SALTWATERDRIFTWOOD,

o MANUFACTUREDLOGSCONTAININGWAXORCHEMICALADDITIVES,

o RAILROADTIESOR

o LIQUIDSSUCHASKEROSCENEORDIESELFUELTOSTARTAFIRE.



• THISAPPLIANCESHOULDBEMAINTAINEDANDOPERATEDATALLTIMESINACCORDANCE

WITHTHESEINSTRUCTIONS.

• DONOTELEVATETHEFIREBYMEANSOFGRATES,ANDIRONSOROTHERMEANS.

• THISFIREPLACEMUSTALWAYSBEUSEDWITHTHEORIGINALANDIRONS(SEEAPPENDIX7:

EXPLODEDDIAGRAMANDPARTSLISTFORREPLACEMENTPARTS).

• SOMEJURISDICTIONSINTHEUSAREQUIREASUPPLYOFOUTDOORCOMBUSTIONAIRFOR

THEFIREPLACE.INCANADA,ANOUTDOORAIRSUPPLYISNOTREQUIRED,IFACARBON

MONOXIDE(CO)DETECTOR/ALARMISLOCATEDINTHEROOMINWHICHTHEFIREPLACEIS

INSTALLED.THECODETECTORWILLPROVIDEWARNINGIFFORANYREASONTHEWOOD

FIREPLACEFAILSTOFUNCTIONCORRECTLY.IFYOUAREREQUIREDTOINSTALLAN

OUTDOORAIRSUPPLY,WERECOMMENDTHATYOUALSOINSTALLACODETECTOR/ALARM

TOPROVIDEWARNINGIFSMOKESPILLAGEFROMTHEFIREPLACEOCCURS.



CAUTION:KEEPCOMBUSTIBLEMATERIALSATLEAST48INCHESAWAYFROMTHEFRONTOF

THEFIREPLACEOPENING.

CAUTION:DONOTUSEAFIREPLACEINSERTANDOTHERPRODUCTSNOTSPECIFIEDFORUSE

WITHTHISFIREPLACE.

CAUTION: DONOTOBSTRUCTAIRINTLETS.THISFIREPLACENEEDSAIRFORITSGOOD

OPERATION.

CAUTION: DONOTBLOCKTHEHOTAIRVENTSTOTHEFIREPLACEASTHISWILLCAUSETHE

FIREPLACETOOVERHEAT.

WARNING:DONOTUSEMATERIALSOTHERTHANTHOSELISTEDINTHEREPLACEMENT

PARTSSECTIONDURINGINSTALLATIONASTHEYMAYBESAFETYHAZARDSANDA

FIRECOULDRESULT.

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WARNING:THISFIREPLACEHASNOTBEENTESTEDWITHANUNVENTEDORVENTEDGASLOG

SET.TOREDUCERISKOFFIREORINJURY,DONOTINSTALLANUNVENTEDGAS

LOGSETINTOTHISFIREPLACE.

CAUTION:DONOTINSTALLINAMOBILEHOME(CANADA)ORMANUFACTUREDHOME*

(USA).

* The US department of Housing and Urban Development describes

“manufactured homes” better known as “mobile home” as followed;

Buildings built on fixed wheels and those transported on temporary

wheels/axles and set on a permanent foundation.



PLEASENOTETHATTHEPICTURESSHOWNINTHISMANUAL

AREGENERICANDMAYNOTMATCHEXACTLYTHELOOKOF

YOURFIREPLACE.



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2 GENERALINFORMATION

2.1 STRATFORDSPECIFICATIONS

FuelTypeCordwood

TestStandards(safety)ULC‐S610andUL127

TestStandard(emissions)EPAMethod28(40CFRPart60)

Heatingcapacityrange*500to2100sq.ft.(46.5to195m2)

Maximumheatoutput**

(EPAtestfuel)30,450BTU/h(8.9kW/h)

Maximumheatoutput**

(naturalhardwoodfuel)75,000BTU/h(22kW/h)

Optimumefficiency77%

ParticulateEmissions4.4g/h

ApproximateBurnTime*8to9hours

ShippingWeight417lb(189kg)

FireboxVolume2.5cu.ft.(0.071m3)

MaximumLogLength21"east‐west***

FlueOutletDiameter6"(150mm)diameter(vertical)

BaffleMaterialC‐Cast

MobilehomeapprovedNo



*Burntimeandheatingcapacitymayvarysubjecttolocationinhome,chimneydraft,chimney

diameter,locality,heatlossfactors,climate,fuelsandothervariables.

**TheEPAtestfuelisdimensionalDouglasfirpiecesstapledtogetherintocribswithairspaces

between.Wealsotestusingthesameprocedureexceptusingsplithardwoodfirewoodtoreflect

real‐worldheatoutput.Thisfireplaceisnotintendedtooperateatitspeakheatoutput

continuously.

***East‐west:throughthedooryouseethesidesofthelogs.

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



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

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

2.2 ZONEHEATINGANDHOWTOMAKEITWORKFORYOU

YournewStratfordwoodfireplaceisaspaceheater,whichmeansitisintendedtoheattheareait

isinstalledin,aswellasspacesthatconnecttothatarea,althoughtoalowertemperature.Thisis

calledzoneheatinganditisanincreasinglypopularwaytoheathomesorspaceswithinhomes.

Zoneheatingcanbeusedtosupplementanotherheatingsystembyheatingaparticularspace

withinahome,suchasabasementfamilyroomoranadditionthatlacksanotherheatsource.

Housesofmoderatesizeandrelativelynewconstructioncanbeheatedwithaproperlysizedand

locatedwoodfireplace.Wholehousezoneheatingworksbestwhenthefireplaceislocatedinthe

partofthehousewherethefamilyspendsmostofitstime.Thisisnormallythemainlivingarea

wherethekitchen,diningandlivingroomsarelocated.Bylocatingthefireplaceinthisarea,you

willgetthemaximumbenefitoftheheatitproducesandwillachievethehighestpossibleheating

efficiencyandcomfort.Thespacewhereyouspendmostofyourtimewillbewarmest,while

bedroomsandbasement(ifthereisone)willstaycooler.Inthisway,youwillburnlesswoodthan

withotherformsofheating.

Althoughthefireplacemaybeabletoheatthemainlivingareasofyourhousetoanadequate

temperature,westronglyrecommendthatyoualsohaveaconventionaloil,gasorelectricheating

systemtoprovidebackupheating.

Yoursuccesswithzoneheatingwilldependonseveralfactors,includingthecorrectsizingand

locationofthefireplace,thesize,layoutandageofyourhomeandyourclimatezone.Three‐

seasonvacationhomescanusuallybeheatedwithsmallerfireplacesthanhousesthatareheated

allwinter.

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2.3 THEBENEFITSOFLOWEMISSIONSANDHIGHEFFICIENCY

ThelowsmokeemissionsproducedbythespecialfeaturesinsidetheStratfordfireboxmeanthat

yourhouseholdwillreleaseupto90percentlesssmokeintotheoutsideenvironmentthanifyou

usedanolderconventionalstove.Butthereismoretotheemissioncontroltechnologiesthan

protectingtheenvironment.

Thesmokereleasedfromwoodwhenitisheatedcontainsabouthalfoftheenergycontentofthe

fuel.Byburningthewoodcompletely,yourfireplacereleasesalltheheatenergyfromthewood

insteadofwastingitassmokeupthechimney.Also,thefeaturesinsidethefireboxallowyouto

reducetheairsupplytocontrolheatoutput,whilemaintainingcleanandefficientflaming

combustion,whichbooststheefficientdeliveryofheattoyourhome.

Theemissioncontrolandadvancedcombustionfeaturesofyourfireplacecanonlyworkproperly

ifyourfuelisinthecorrectmoisturecontentrangeof15to20percent.SeeSection3:Fuelofthis

manualforsuggestionsonpreparingfuelwoodandjudgingitsmoisture.

2.4 THESBICOMMITMENTTOYOUANDTHEENVIRONMENT

TheSBIteamiscommittedtoprotectingtheenvironment,sowedoeverythingwecantouseonly

materialsinourproductsthatwillhavenolastingnegativeimpactontheenvironment.

2.4.1 WHATISYOURNEWFIREPLACEMADEOF?

Thebodyofyourfireplace,whichismostofitsweight,iscarbonsteel.Shoulditeverbecome

necessarymanyyearsinthefuture,almosttheentirefireplacecanberecycledintonewproducts,

thuseliminatingtheneedtominenewmaterials.

Thepaintcoatingonyourfireplaceisverythin.ItsVOCcontent(VolatileOrganicCompounds)is

verylow.VOCscanberesponsibleforsmog,soallthepaintusedduringthemanufacturing

processmeetsthelatestairqualityrequirementsregardingVOCreductionorelimination.

Theairtubesarestainlesssteel,whichcanalsoberecycled.

TheC‐Castbaffleismadeofanaluminosilicatefibrematerialthatiscompressedwithabinderto

formarigidboard.C‐Castcanwithstandtemperaturesabove2,000°F.Itisnotconsidered

hazardouswaste.Disposalatalandfillisrecommended.

Mouldedrefractorybricksaremainlycomposedofsilicondioxide,alsoknownassilica,aproduct

processedfromaminedmineral.Itismostcommonlyfoundinnatureintheformofsandand

clay.Disposalatalandfillisrecommended.Thesteelmeshcontainedinsomerefractorybrickscan

berecycled.

Thedoorandglassgasketsarefibreglasswhichisspunfrommeltedsand.Blackgasketshavebeen

dippedintoasolvent‐freesolution.Disposalatalandfillisrecommended.

Thedoorglassisa5mmthickceramicmaterialthatcontainsnotoxicchemicals.Itismadeof

naturalrawmaterialssuchassandandquartzthatarecombinedinsuchawaytoformahigh

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temperatureglass.Ceramicglasscannotberecycledinthesamewayasnormalglass,soitshould

notbedisposedofwithyourregularhouseholdproducts.Disposalatalandfillisrecommended.



3 FUEL

3.1 MATERIALSTHATSHOULDNOTBEBURNED

• GARBAGEOFANYKIND,

• COALORCHARCOAL,

• TREATED,PAINTEDORCOATEDWOOD,

• PLYWOODORPARTICLEBOARD,

• FINEPAPER,COLOREDPAPERORCARDBOARD,

• SALTWATERDRIFTWOOD

• MANUFACTUREDLOGSCONTAININGWAXORCHEMICALADDITIVES

• RAILROADTIES

• LIQUIDSSUCHASKEROSENEORDIESELFUELTOSTARTAFIRE

WARNING:DONOTPOKEORSTIRTHELOGSWHILETHEYAREBURNING.USEONLYFIRELOGS

THATHAVEBEENTESTEDFORUSEINFIREPLACES(SEEULC/ORD‐C127,

COMPOSITEFIRELOGS)ANDPRIORTOUSE,REFERTOFIRELOGWARNINGSAND

CAUTIONSMARKINGSONPACKAGING.

3.2 HOWTOPREPAREORBUYGOODFIREWOOD

3.2.1 WHATISGOODFIREWOOD?

Goodfirewoodhasbeencuttothecorrectlengthforthefireplace,splittoarangeofsizesand

stackedintheopenuntilitsmoisturecontentisreducedto15to20percent.

3.2.2 TREESPECIES

Thetreespeciesthefirewoodisproducedfromislessimportantthanitsmoisturecontent.The

maindifferenceinfirewoodfromvarioustreespeciesisthedensityofthewood.Hardwoodsare

denserthansoftwoods.PeoplewholiveinthecoldestregionsofNorthAmericausuallyhaveonly

spruce,birchandpoplar,otherlow‐densityspeciestoburnandyettheycanheattheirhomes

successfully.

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Homeownerswithaccesstobothhardwoodandsoftwoodfuelsometimesusebothtypesfor

differentpurposes.Forexample,softerwoodsmakegoodfuelforrelativelymildweatherinspring

andfallbecausetheylightquicklyandproducelessheatSoftwoodsarenotasdenseas

hardwoodssoagivenvolumeofwoodcontainslessenergy.Usingsoftwoodsavoidsoverheating

thehouse,whichcanbeacommonproblemwithwoodheatinginmoderateweather.Harder

woodsarebestforcolderwinterweatherwhenmoreheatandlongerburncyclesaredesirable.

Notethathardwoodtreeslikeoak,maple,ashandbeechareslowergrowingandlongerlivedthan

softerwoodslikepoplarandbirch.Thatmakeshardwoodtreesmorevaluable.Theadvicethat

onlyhardwoodsaregoodtoburnisoutdated.Old,leakycastironstoveswouldn’tholdafire

overnightunlesstheywerefedlargepiecesofhardwood.Thatisnolongertrue.Youcan

successfullyheatyourhomebyusingthelessdesirabletreespeciesandgivetheforestabreakat

thesametime.

3.2.3 LOGLENGTH

Logsshouldbecutatleast1”(25mm)shorterthanthefireboxsotheyfitineasily.Piecesthatare

evenslightlytoolongmakeloadingthefireplaceverydifficult.Themostcommonstandardlength

offirewoodis16”(400mm).

Thepiecesshouldbeaconsistentlength,withamaximumof1”(25mm)variationfrompieceto

piece.



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3.2.4 PIECESIZE

Firewooddriesmorequicklywhenitissplit.Largeunsplitroundscantakeyearstodryenoughto

burn.Evenwhendried,unsplitlogsaredifficulttoignitebecausetheydon’thavethesharpedges

wheretheflamesfirstcatch.Logsassmallas3”(75mm)shouldbesplittoencouragedrying.

 

Woodshouldbesplittoarangeofsizes,fromabout3”to6”(75mmto150mm)incrosssection.

Havingarangeofsizesmakesstartingandrekindlingfiresmucheasier.Often,thefirewood

purchasedfromcommercialsuppliersisnotsplitfinelyenoughforconvenientstoking.Itis

sometimesadvisabletoresplitthewoodbeforestackingtodry.

3.2.5 HOWTODRYFIREWOOD

Firewoodthatisnotdryenoughtoburnisthecauseofmostcomplaintsaboutwoodfireplaces.

Continuallyburninggreenorunseasonedwoodproducesmorecreosoteandinvolveslackofheat

anddirtyglassdoor.SeeSection5:Maintainingyourwoodheatingsystemforconcernsabout

creosote.



Herearesomethingstoconsiderinestimatingdryingtime:

• firewoodtakesalongtimetodry

• firewoodboughtfromadealerisrarelydryenoughtoburn,soitisadvisabletobuythewood

inspringanddryityourself

• dryinghappensfasterindryweatherthanindamp,maritimeclimates

• dryinghappensfasterinwarmsummerweatherthaninwinterweather

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• smallpiecesdrymorequicklythanlargepieces

• splitpiecesdrymorequicklythanunsplitrounds

• softwoodstakelesstimetodrythanhardwoods

• softwoodslikepine,spruce,andpoplar/aspencanbedryenoughtoburnafterbeingstacked

intheopenforonlythesummermonths

• hardwoodslikeoak,mapleandashcantakeone,oreventwoyearstodryfully,especiallyif

thepiecesarebig

• firewooddriesmorequicklywhenstackedintheopenwhereitisexposedtosunandwind;it

takesmuchlongertodrywhenstackedinawoodshed

• firewoodthatisreadytoburnhasamoisturecontentbetween15and20%byweightandwill

allowyourfireplacetoproduceitshighestpossibleefficiency

3.2.6 JUDGINGFIREWOODMOISTURECONTENT

Youcanfindoutifsomefirewoodisdryenoughtoburnbyusingtheseguidelines:

• cracksformattheendsoflogsastheydry

• asitdriesinthesun,thewoodturnsfromwhiteorcreamcoloredtogreyoryellow,

• bangtwopiecesofwoodtogether;seasonedwoodsoundshollowandwetwoodsoundsdull,

• drywoodismuchlighterinweightthanwetwood,

• splitapiece,andifthefreshfacefeelswarmanddryitisdryenoughtoburn;ifitfeelsdamp,

itistoowet,

• burnapiece;wetwoodhissesandsizzlesinthefireanddrywooddoesnot.



Youcouldbuyawoodmoisturemetertotest

yourfirewood.



3.3 MANUFACTUREDLOGS

Donotburnmanufacturedlogsmadeofwax

impregnatedsawdustorlogswithanychemical

additives.Manufacturedlogsmadeof100%

compressedsawdustcanbeburned,butbe

carefulburningtoomuchoftheselogsatthe

sametime.Startwithonemanufacturedlog

andseehowthefireplacereacts.Neveruse

morethantwomanufacturedlogsatatime.



Stratford Fireplace Installation and Operation Manual

18 ______________________________________________________________________

4 OPERATINGYOURFIREPLACE

4.1 THEUSEOFAFIRESCREEN

Thisfireplacehasbeentestedforusewithanopendoorinconjunctionwithafirescreen

(AC01560,soldseparately).Makesurethefirescreenisproperlysecuredonthefireplacetoavoid

anyriskofsparksdamagingyourflooring.Whenthefirescreenisinuse,donotleavethe

fireplaceunattendedsothatyoucanrespondpromptlyintheeventofsmokespillageintothe

room.PotentialcausesofsmokespillagearedescribedinSection8:TheVentingSystemofthis

manual.SeeAppendix5:InstallingtheFireScreen(AC01560)forinstallationinstructions.

OPERATINGWITHTHEFIRESCREENINCREASESTHEPOSSIBILITYOFGENERATINGCARBON

MONOXIDE.CARBONMONOXIDEISANODOURLESSGASTHATISHIGHLYTOXICANDWHICH

CANCAUSEDEATHATHIGHCONCENTRATIONINAIR.

4.2 YOURFIRSTFIRES

Twothingswillhappenasyouburnyourfirstfewfires;thepaintcuresandtheinternal

componentsofthefireplaceareconditioned.

Asthepaintcures,someofthechemicalsvaporize.Thevaporsarenotpoisonous,buttheydo

smellbad.Freshpaintfumescanalsocausefalsealarmsinsmokedetectors.So,whenyoufirst

lightyourfireplace,bepreparedbyopeningdoorsand/orwindowstoventilatethehouse.Asyou

burnhotterandhotterfires,moreofthepaintedsurfacesreachthecuringtemperatureofthe

paint.Thesmellofcuringpaintdoesnotdisappearuntilyouhaveburnedoneortwoveryhot

fires.

Burnoneortwosmallfirestobeginthecuringandconditioningprocess.Thenbuildbiggerand

hotterfiresuntilthereisnolongeranypaintsmellfromthefireplace.Oncethepaintsmell

disappears,yourfireplaceisreadyforseriousheating.

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.

Stratford Fireplace Installation and Operation Manual

______________________________________________________________________ 19

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.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FIREPLACEUNATTENDEDWHENTHEDOORISSLIGHTLYOPENED.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.

CAUTION:PLACETHEWOODLOGSFARENOUGHFROMTHEGLASSTOALLOWPROPERPRIMARY

AIRFLOW

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

Stratford Fireplace Installation and Operation Manual

20 ______________________________________________________________________

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.

4.3.3 TWOPARALLELLOGS

Placetwospitlogsinthefirebox.Placeafewsheetsoftwistednewspaperbetweenthelogs.Now

placesomefinekindlingacrossthetwologsandsomelargerkindlingacrossthose,logcabinstyle.

Lightthenewspaper.

4.3.4 USINGFIRESTARTERS

Manypeopleliketousecommercialfirestartersinsteadofnewspaper.Someofthesestartersare

madeofsawdustandwaxandothersarespecializedflammablesolidchemicals.Followthe

packagedirectionsforuse.

Gelstartermaybeusedbutonlyiftherearenohotemberspresent.Useonlyinacoldfireboxto

startafire.

DONOTUSEFLAMMABLELIQUIDSSUCHASGASOLINE,NAPHTHA,FUELOIL,MOTOROIL,OR

AEROSOLSTOSTARTORREKINDLETHEFIRE.

4.4 MAINTAININGWOODFIRES

4.4.1 GENERALADVICE

Woodheatingwithaspaceheaterisverydifferentthanotherformsofheating.Therewillbe

variationsinthetemperatureindifferentpartsofthehouseandtherewillbevariationsin

temperaturethroughoutthedayandnight.Thisisnormal,andforexperiencedwoodburners

theseareadvantagesofzoneheatingwithwood.

Donotexpectsteadyheatoutputfromyourfireplace.Itisnormalforitssurfacetemperatureto

riseafteranewloadofwoodisignitedandforitstemperaturetograduallydeclineasthefire

progresses.Thisrisingandfallingoftemperaturecanbematchedtoyourhouseholdroutines.For

example,theareatemperaturecanbecoolerwhenyouareactive,suchaswhendoinghousework

orcooking,anditcanbewarmerwhenyouareinactive,suchaswhenreadingorwatching

television.

Woodburnsbestincycles.Acyclestartswhenanewloadofwoodisignitedbyhotcoalsandends

whenthatloadhasbeenconsumeddowntoabedofcharcoalaboutthesamesizeasitwaswhen

thewoodwasloaded.Donotattempttoproduceasteadyheatoutputbyplacingasinglelogon

thefireatregularintervals.Alwaysplaceatleastthree,andpreferablymore,piecesonthefireat

atimesothattheheatradiatedfromonepiecehelpstoignitethepiecesnexttoit.Eachloadof

woodshouldprovideseveralhoursofheating.Thesizeofeachloadcanbematchedtothe

amountofheatneeded.

Osburn Stratford Operating instructions

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