© 2007-2008 Broseley Fires Ltd 8
12 LIGHTING AND MAINTAINING A LOG FIRE
All chimneys and flues act differently. After a while, you will find out how your unit works best for starting. Ensure
that the draught measurement is correct at the time of installation.
•Use scrunched up paper and dry kindling or fire lighters to start the fire. Lay these on the grate.
•Open the primary and secondary air controls to the fully open position. The flue bypass control MUST be
pulled out to the open position and left in this position until there is a strong established fire in the firebox.
•When the fire is burning hot, add small pieces of very dry wood, preferably hardwood as these generate
better embers.
•Keep all the draft controls fully open till a bed of hot, glowing embers is established.
•Once you have some red hot burning embers, open the door and rake the embers evenly over the grate
before adding larger pieces of wood.
•We suggest that you do not fully load the appliance until you have become completely familiar with the
operation of ALL the controls.
•For best results, in an ideal situation, open the secondary air control and close the primary air control. The
output of the appliance can now be controlled using the secondary air control. This is when burning LOGS.
The secondary air control will help keep the glass clean as it incorporates ‘air wash’ technology.
•Do not open the loading door too quickly when reloading the appliance as this can cause flames to flash out
the door.
•Do not overload the appliance.
•Do not burn painted or varnished woods, MDF, oak bark or any wood with more than 20% humidity.
13 ASH REMOVAL – CLEANING OUT THE ASH
The removal of the ashes should be done when the appliance is cold. Whether you burn logs or coal, you will be left
with ashes. They must be removed periodically for the correct and efficient operation of your appliance.
Don’t wait till the ash pan's completely full. The frequency of this ash removal will depend on the type of fuel being
burned, ie. Softwood, hardwood, coal or brickets; all create differing amounts of ash.
Keep in mind that cleaning your appliance boosts its efficiency, as ash, soot or tar deposits will block the heat from
coming out of the appliance, the boiler and oven will become insulated by the deposits.
Excess ash in the pan will cause a coal fire to go out and may cause severe damage to the grate. It may also
prevent the ash door from being shut correctly. Periodical inspection of the ash chamber is recommended.
Take care when removing the ash, as small bits of hot embers can stay dormant for long periods when buried in
ashes. These will then flare up again when exposed to oxygen, some knowledge of proper ash removal is required
for safety. Here are the important points:
Remove ashes to a metal container using a small trowel. Never vacuum the ashes unless it is a genuine ‘Ash Vac’.
This is a vacuum that is specifically designed for ash removal.
Place the filled ash bucket on a non-combustible surface, fit a lid for extra safety. When cold enough, dispose.
For your own protection, a pair of heat proof gloves and a dust mask may be necessary.
14 ASH DISPOSAL
The best thing to do with your ashes is to put them in your garden. Wood ashes are high in potassium, calcium,
sodium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Wood ash will make your soil more alkaline.
If you have no garden, you can dispose of completely cold ash with your household trash.
Place it in a tightly closed bag to keep it contained. Dispose of coal ash in your trash also, as it is not beneficial to
your garden. As with all ash, ensure that there are no hot embers left buried in the ash before you transfer it into a
flammable bin bag.
15 OPERATING IN TRANSITION PERIODS (Summer)
When the outside temperature gets to be more than the temperature within the property, there is a strong possibility
of the flue working in reverse. If the appliance is not lit, this will cause the draught of the flue to travel in a downward
direction and the smell of smoke may be obvious in the room.
If you experience problems lighting the appliance, then it will be necessary to warm the flue before loading the
appliance with kindling. There are various methods for this procedure. Ask your local supplier or registered chimney
sweep for advice.
If the fire is lit, the heat output of the appliance is often reduced and the exhaust gases may not come out the
chimney completely. This can cause them to come back into the room.
In this case:
•shake the embers more frequently,
•increase the air for combustion
•only load a reduced quantity of fuel.
This will help to keep the chimney hot and working efficiently.
Check that all the seals of the appliance are in good order and that the connections to the chimney are also sound.
