FAQs

Learn more about wood, pellet and gas stoves. Our Frequently Asked Questions may have the answer for you !

GENERAL

What is a BTU ?

What is a clean-burning EPA stove or fireplace ?

When installing a wood stove, what’s the first thing I should consider ?

How can I tell if I am operating my wood stove properly ?

Do I operate my stove differently in cold vs. warm weather conditions ?

What is a flue ?

What is draft ?

What can cause a poor draft ?

Why is there always a large quantity of thick black smoke present in the firebox ?

What does an outside air kit do and do I need one ?

What is a floor protector (aka hearth pad) and why do I need it ?

What is the difference between a free standing stove and a fireplace insert ?

WOOD

What's the best wood to burn in a wood burning stove ?

How can I tell if a wood stove is a new clean burning, high efficiency model ?

What are the installation clearances for a woodstove ?

Tips on starting or rekindling the fire.

How often do I need to clean my chimney ?

How can I reduce creosote buildup ?

What is a Chimney liner ?

Why do I need a stainless liner in the chimney when I already have a clay liner ?

PELLET

What are pellets made of ?

How do I start a fire ?

What if the stove doesn't start properly ?

What do I do after the stove starts ?

What are signs of performance problems ?

How do I shut the stove down ?

What happens in an unexpected shutdown such as a power outage or component failure ?

What professional maintenance and repair services will I need ?

GAS

What is the difference between B-Vent and Direct-Vent ?

Do gas stoves and fireplaces require electricity ?

Can I switch my gas appliance from natural gas to propane or vice versa?

What is a BTU ?

BTUs - British Thermal Unit, the primary heat measurement unit used by the hearth industry. It is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 lb. of water by 1 degree F.

What is a clean-burning EPA stove or fireplace ?

EPA Regulations are government regulations of wood burning appliances mandating that products sold after July 1, 1992, emit no more than 4.1 grams of particulate matter per hour for catalytic-equipped units and no more than 7.5 grams for non-catalytic-equipped units.

When installing a wood stove, what’s the first thing I should consider ?

That the wood stove and chimney work as a system. It is important for the stove’s chimney system be sized properly, according to manufacturer’s instructions. Whether venting into a masonry or metal system, make sure the diameter of the chimney matches closely, but never smaller than, the size of the stove’s flue outlet. Doing anything else adversely impacts emissions and safety.

How can I tell if I am operating my wood stove properly ?

Check the exhaust coming out of your wood stove chimney; the smoke is your operational barometer. If your fire is burning properly, you should only see the white transparent steam of evaporating water, darker and opaque smoke will only be slightly visible. The darker the color of the exhaust, the less efficiently you are operating the appliance. It may be necessary to adjust the operation of your wood stove to decrease the opacity of the exhaust (that is, the density of the smoke). A 15% opacity level indicates efficient operations, while a 90% level reflects unacceptable polluting conditions; some state regulate opacity levels from wood stove chimneys.

Do I operate my stove differently in cold vs. warm weather conditions ?

Yes. During the warmer seasons of spring and fall, control the total heat output by limiting the amount of fuel (wood) rather than by closing down the air supply. Make shorter, hot fires using more finely split wood. The actual air supply setting will vary according to your stove instruction, but the fuel loading will be consistently smaller. Let the fire burn out rather than smolder at low air supply setting. When your home requires more heat, restart the fire with kindling as always, but add smaller fuel loads. This allows your stove to operate at maximum efficiency and with minimum emissions. Avoid the temptation of building a big fire and then starving it for air.

What is a flue ?

A flue is another name for the fireplace chimney or venting system.

What is draft ?

Draft is the ability of the chimney to exhaust or draw by-products produced during the normal combustion process.

What can cause a poor draft ?

The most common factors for poor draft are:

a) Atmospheric Pressure and Air Supply

Atmospheric pressure affecting the draft from a chimney can be either outside the home, inside the home, or both. Outside the home, a high-pressure day (clear and cool) generally creates a better draft in the chimney than a low-pressure day (overcast and damp). Inside the home, normal household appliances, such as clothes dryers and forced-air furnaces compete for air resulting in inadequate amounts of air available to fuel a fire and create a condition known as negative pressure. Under extreme conditions of negative pressure, the combustion by-products can be drawn from the chimney and into the house. This condition is commonly refered to as down-drafting.There are several factors that impact the amount of air available in the home. Increased amounts of insulation vinyl windows, extra caulking in various places and door seals can all keep heat in but may also make a home too airtight. If you are in doubt about whether or not there is sufficient air in your home for your stove, curtail from using those appliances known to consume the air where possible, or open a window or door to allow air to enter the home.

b) Environmental Conditions

High trees, low lying house location such as in a valley, tall buildings or structures surrounding your house and windy conditions can cause pool draft or down drafting.

c) Cold Chimney Temperature

Avoid cold chimney temperatures by burning a hot fire for the first fifteen to forty minutes, being careful not to over fire. If any part of the chimney or parts of the stove start to glow, you are over-firing the stove. Where possible, install a temperature gauge on the chimney so temperature drops can be seen.

d) Chimney Installation and Maintenance

Avoid using too many elbows or long horizontal runs. If in doubt, contact a chimney expert and/orchimney manufacturer for help. Clean chimney, rain caps and especially spark arrester regularly, to prevent creosote build-up, which will significantly reduce chimney draw and possibly a chimney fire.

Why is there always a large quantity of thick black smoke present in the firebox ?

A large quantity of thick black smoke in the firebox is a good indication that the draft is poor.

What does an outside air kit do and do I need one ?

For wood burning fireplaces, you should consider installation of an outside air kit. It provides additional combustion air to the fireplace that feeds the fire with oxygen from outside your home. This will help the performance on any fireplace installed in tightly-constructed or well-insulated homes.

What is a floor protector (aka hearth pad) and why do I need it ?

Floor protection requirements are different for each stove. Basically, it is to protect combustible flooring from hot sparks and embers. Others it protects from heat transfer by means of conduction or radiation.

What is the difference between a free standing stove and a fireplace insert ?

An insert is only approved for installation into an existing fireplace. A freestanding stove is just that. It can be placed anywhere in the home as long as it meets all installation criteria.

What's the best wood to burn in a wood burning stove?

Dry, seasoned wood is best. The type of tree is not as important as moisture content. Wood must be allowed to dry for a minimum of 12 months, under cover, after being split and stacked. Popular firewood in the Northwest are: maple, alder, Douglas fir, spruce, apple and cherry. Another good fuel source is pressed fire logs, manufactured by pressurizing sawdust, as opposed to wax-based decorative logs, which have limited heating value.

How can I tell if a wood stove is a new clean burning, high efficiency model?

Regulations enacted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) require all wood stoves and fireplace inserts manufactured and sold after July 1, 1992 to pass stringent emission tests. An EPA label identifies a stove as a new clean burning, high efficiency model, and is found on every certified stove or insert.

What are the installation clearances for a woodstove?

Each stove's installation requirements are different. Every manufacturer tests and lists each model. Clearances to combustible walls and hearth (underlayment) dimensions are critical safety considerations. Local building officials will rely on these specifications when inspecting an installation. Every stove's requirements are included in the owner’s manual and in less detail on the identification plate on the back of each stove.

Tips on starting or rekindling the fire.

When starting a fire, use plenty of crumpled newspaper and kindling. As a guide, fill the firebox completely with loosely crumpled newspaper and hold it down with at least ten pieces of finely-split dry kindling. Softwoods make the best kindling. Find out where the combustion air enters the firebox of your stove and light the fire there so that the fire gets plenty of air. Open the air inlets fully.

• Use dry, split kindling and newspaper to set the fire
• Use a separate piece of newspaper formed into a torch and lit at one end to warm the flue, once the damper is opened
• When draft is established, light the kindling
• Once the kindling is burning, add pieces of larger wood. Be careful not to smother the fire with pieces that are too large
• Do not overload the firebox
• Burn fires of reasonable size
• Do not burn garbage or waste materials, especially highly flammable materials such as gift wrappings or evergreen boughs
• Never use flammable liquids to start a fire.

How often do I need to clean my chimney?

A chimney fire occurs when a build-up of soot and creosote ignites inside the venting system of a fireplace or woodstove. Wood-burning chimneys should be cleaned when a quarter inch or more of soot is present. Build-up can be more rapid in a woodstove than in a fireplace. In a woodstove vent, dangerous build-up may occur in less a month or may take much longer, depending on burn habits, fuel and other variables. New woodstove users should inspect their systems during the first season to learn their rate of soot build-up and determine cleaning frequency. Newer certified "clean-burning" stoves generate much less creosote than older non-certified stoves. Fireplaces do not need to be cleaned as often as wood-stoves.

How can I reduce creosote buildup?

First make sure your chimney is properly sized for both flue area and termination height. Try to avoid offset angles and keep the chimney as straight as possible. Try to size your woodstove correctly for the area you want to heat. This will ensure that you are able to burn it hot (efficiently) and avoid creosote build-up. Always warm-up your chimney by burning vigorously for the first 45-60 minutes before you reduce the air supply and burn slowly.

What is a Chimney liner?

Today's building code requires liners in all new chimneys. These smooth metal or hard clay liners allow for a smooth flow of exhaust, and a more efficient operation of the fireplace. It is also easier to clean a lined chimney.

Before 1954 or so, fireplaces were typically constructed of stone or bricks and mortar, and were generally not lined. If you have an old fireplace, the mortar may have broken down into its original state - sand. That means you might have small holes in the chimney that could lead to fire in the walls.

The absence of a liner also increases the build-up of creosote, a tar-like substance. Creosote can be ignited by heat. The resulting flash fire could be intense enough to crack your masonry, or generate enough sparks to start a roof fire.

Why do I need a stainless liner in the chimney when I already have a clay liner?

1. The chimney flue should be the same size as the appliance flue collar. In the past, many chimneys were too large for the appliance they served. But bigger is not better when it comes to chimney size. Flue gas flows faster and has less time to lose heat in a smaller chimney flue. In planning wood-heating systems, some experienced installers even choose a chimney that has a smaller inside diameter than the appliance flue collar. They usually do this when the chimney runs inside the house and is fairly tall. Chimneys taller than 8 m (about 26 ft.) sometimes produce more draft than the appliance needs, so a smaller-diameter chimney doesn't reduce performance. Only an experienced technician should decide whether the flue should be smaller than the appliance flue collar.

2. Taller chimneys produce stronger draft. A rule of thumb is that the entire system (from the floor on which the appliance is mounted to the top of the chimney) must be at least 4.6 m (15 ft.) high. Most installations are taller than this, but those in cottages with shallow-pitch roofs or in single-storey buildings with flat roofs may not. If you experience draft problems with a short system, consider adding to the chimney's height. However, if your chimney runs up the outside wall of the house, making it taller may not improve draft, because the extra heat loss cancels out any benefit.

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What are pellets made of?

Wood pellets are made from sawdust and/or other wood waste. The raw material is pressed and then dried to a consistent moisture level, usually below 5%. There is no glue or adhesives used it is simply dried to hold shape.

How do I start a fire?

Small dry fuel (pellets) and combustion air (provided by a fan on most designs) make startup easy. Operating instructions accompanying the stove give the specific steps to follow. Manual ignition stoves call for the owner to apply an approved gel or solid starter material (no liquids), light the pellets, and monitor the fire to see that the fire catches and the flame gradually grows. On automatic ignition stoves, pushing the start button feeds pellets to the burn pot and heats the self-igniter device.

What if the stove doesn't start properly?

A safety device monitors startup and stops fuel feed if operating temperatures are not reached within a specified time period. If startup fails, the operator should first make sure that the hopper has fuel and that fuel is feeding into the burn pot, and then attempt to restart the stove. Repeated failed lighting cycles indicate the need for maintenance or professional service.

What do I do after the stove starts?

After control panel or air inlet adjustments and a quick performance check, the stove is set to provide hours of even, comfortable heat. Stoves equipped with a remote wall thermostat respond to a set room air temperature by cycling on and off or by cycling from a low to high burn, depending on stove startup design.

What are signs of performance problems?

Properly operated and maintained pellet stoves experience few, if any, problems. Most of pellet stove operation is automatic, but sometimes combustion air adjustment is needed. A lazy, orange, sooty flame or dark smoke coming out of the vent (after startup and before shutdown) may indicate the need for more air. An overactive, "blow torch" flame calls for less air. Performance problems are more likely to be caused by neglected maintenance than by regular operation. Lazy flame, dark smoke, unusual sooting of glass, unexplained smoke spillage and reduced heat output all point to the need for maintenance of appliance components and/or the venting system, or for remedies for house depressurization. Problems related to mechanical failure usually results in safety switches shutting the appliance down. Appliance shutdowns may, however, indicate nothing more than owner forgetfulness (empty hopper) or hurry (improper startup), or intermittent power failure. Unexplained, repeated appliance shutdowns call for professional advice and service.

How do I shut the stove down?

Shutting the stove down is typically a matter of simply setting the control to the “Off” position according to operating instructions. The fuel feed stops delivering fuel right away, and after the stove cools sufficiently, all motors and blowers cease operation. The stove should NOT be shut down by unplugging the power cord.

What happens in an unexpected shutdown such as a power outage or component failure?

Although fuel feed stops in a power outage, the pellets in the burn pot may continue to burn or smolder. The duration of this condition can vary with appliance design from a few minutes to an hour or more. The resulting smoke and hot gases rise, seeking the path of least resistance. If the exhaust vent does not have vertical sections to provide natural draft, smoke may spill into the home.

What professional maintenance and repair services will I need?

Most pellet stove owners depend on professional service for cleaning and preventive maintenance on at least an annual basis. Many dealers offer service plans that offer reduced costs and convenient scheduling. Cleaning and maintenance services usually performed include:

• Emptying ash traps and cleaning exhaust passages behind the fire chamber.
• Cleaning and lubricating fans and motors.
• Cleaning the hopper and fuel feed system.
• Cleaning the heat exchanger system.
• Cleaning exhaust pipes and resealing the venting system if needed.
• Verifying and adjusting the stove settings with proper gauges and meters.
• Mechanical and electric components may eventually wear out and need repair or replacement.

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What is the difference between B-Vent and Direct-Vent?

B-vent appliances use a single exhaust pipe and draw combustion air from the room into the combustion chamber and up through the chimney. These devices are sometimes referred to as "natural-vent". Direct vent appliances are sealed to the room. They draw their combustion air from outside and exhaust through a collinear or coaxial pipe. In either case, efficiencies on new appliances don't vary much between the two configurations. Most new gas stoves and fireplaces use very small 3" or 4" diameter exhaust systems.

Do gas stoves and fireplaces require electricity?

Most gas stoves and fireplaces operate with a standing pilot. This means that all the switches and controls that turn the appliance on or off, up or down do not use house current. They function very well during power outages. Many gas appliances do have heat circulating fans…these fans do need electricity (house current). However, some gas stoves and inserts, with or without the fan operating, can still heat effectively.

Can I switch my gas appliance from natural gas to propane or vice versa?

Some manufacturers use valve configurations that allow burners to be field converted from one fuel to the other. Others will require that any conversions occur at their factory. Some will simply not allow conversions at all. Please check with your local hearth dealer to see what is required for conversion. In most cases, a trained technician should complete this work. The characteristics and pressure levels of propane and natural gas are different and as such require careful attention.

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