Bryan Furnace THE BRYAN FURNACE User manual

THE
BRYAN FURNACE
RIK-MAR CORPORATION
400 Stone City Drive • Bryan, Texas
Phone [phone]
FAX [phone]
OWNERS MANUAL
Residential, Commercial Wood Burning Furnaces
All installations must be in accordance
with local and state codes which may
differ from this manual.
Save these instructions.
U.S. Patent 4,194,688
Canadian Patent 1,123,295
Shown With Optional Furnace Stand kit
P.N. 907-015
$10.00
400 Stone City Drive ●Bryan, Texas
Phone [phone]
FAX [phone]

Thank you for choosing the Bryan Furnace for your solid fuel heating needs.
Pride, craftsmanship, and a high grade of materials insure that you have chosen a
furnace of the highest quality. This quality construction, together with our patented
outdoor installation guarantees you the safest, cleanest solid fuel heating system
available. With a minimum of maintenance, your furnace should provide you with
many years of trouble free service.
Please read through these instructions before beginning installation of your
furnace. They contain many helpful tips on installing, maintaining, and operating
your Bryan Furnace. Check with your local building officials to be in conformance
with local building, plumbing, and electrical codes. These instructions can help you
now as well as in the future and should be retained for your reference.
TRANSPORTATION
DAMAGES
Before proceeding, please inspect your furnace for any damages which may have
occurred in shipping. If you find any damage, please notify your dealer immediately. He
will take action to correct the problem.

1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Operating Instructions Page
How It Works 2
Operation 2
Building a Fire 3
Temperature Adjustment 3
Creosote and Soot Formation and the Need for Removal 4
Ash Removal 5
Helpful Hints 5
Installation Instructions
General Notes 7
Window or Wall Installation 7
Separate Duct System 8
Heat Pump Connection 10
Central Heat Connection 10
Special Precautions for Indoor Installation 11
Trouble Shooting 13
Maintenance 15
Section 10 – Parts Breakdown
10 - 1 Firebox, Brick and Grates 16
10 - 2 Shelter Assemblies 17
10- 3 Door Assemblies 18
10 - 4 Damper Box Group 19
10 - 5 Electrical Components 20
10 - 6 Residential Model 350 Wiring Diagram 21
10 - 7 Commercial Model 300 Wiring Diagram 21
10 - 6 Mount Kit Group 22
10 - 7 Chimney Parts 22
10 - 8 Furnace Stand Kit 22
10 - 9 Supplies 23
Section 20 – General Inspection and Care
20 - 1 Periodic Inspections 24
20 - 1 Oiling Blower Motor 24
20 - 1 Adjusting Door Handles 24
20 - 1 Replacing Door Ropes 24
20 - 2 Re-Sealing Door Frame 24
Warranty Inside Back Cover

2
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
How It Works
Your Bryan Furnace is an airtight, natural draft furnace located inside an insulat-
ed metal shelter. The blower, located on top of the furnace, pulls cold (return) air from the
building, passes it through the shelter where it picks up heat from the combustion cham-
ber, and forces the air back into the building through the hot (supply) air duct.
Combustion air for the fire is pulled through the damper box on the door into the com-
bustion chamber and exhaust gases leave through the flue on the top of the furnace. The
two air systems are sealed from each other and combustion gases will not normally be
released into the building (See Trouble Shooting).
Operation
Please keep in mind when operating any solid fuel heater that unlike a gas, oil, or
electric heater, the fire cannot simply be turned on or off to control building temperature.
Once a solid fuel fire is established, it must be allowed to burn to conclusion.
Firewood
The Bryan Furnace will burn any type of wood up to 12” in diameter and 30” in
length. Wood can be burned either with or without grates. Store your fuel in a dry, cov-
ered area with good ventilation. Do not stack wood against the building as this invites an
insect infestation. Do not store fuel within the furnace installation clearances or within the
space required for charging and ash removal.
Firewood varies greatly in quality due to species and moisture content. Wood that
is seasoned and dry greatly improves the efficiency of the furnace. Wood of over 20%
moisture will not burn well. Pine and some other softwoods burn very quickly with high cre-
osote production and very few coals. If pine must be burned, it should be burned with an
open damper in very small quantities. These woods are best used to start hardwood fires.
CHART ON AVAILABLE HEAT IN WOOD PER CORD
(Based on 20% Moisture In Wood)
TYPE
Hickory
Maple (Hard)
Beech
Oak (White)
Oak (Red)
Birch (Yellow)
Elm
Tamarack
Maple (Sot)
Cherry
Ash
Spruce
Hemlock
Pine(White)
Aspen
Basswood
AVERAGE WEIGHT PER CORD
3,595 Ibs.
3,075 Ibs.
3,240 Ibs.
3,750 Ibs.
3,240 Ibs.
3,000 Ibs.
2,750 Ibs.
2,500 Ibs.
2,500 Ibs.
2,550 Ibs.
2,950 Ibs.
2,100 Ibs.
2,100 Ibs.
1,800 Ibs.
1,900 Ibs.
1,900 Ibs.
APPROXIMATE BTU AVAILABLE
IN AN AIR-DRIED CORD OF WOOD
30,600,000
29,000,000
27,800,000
27,700,000
26,300,000
26,200,000
24,500,000
24,010,000
24,000,000
35,500,000
22,600,000
18,100,000
17,910,000
17,900,000
17,700,000
17,101,000

3
Building a Fire
1. Place several pieces of crumpled newspaper on the grate, crisscross the newspaper
balls with a couple of handfuls of dry kindling wood 3/4” thickness or less, then several
small pieces of dry firewood. Be sure the smokepipe damper is open if one is installed.
2. Ignite the paper. It will take 5 to 10 minutes for the fire to establish itself. Once you have
some good red hot burning embers, add larger pieces of wood. All installations are dif-
ferent. You will quickly learn the best way to start your unit.
3. After 30-40 minutes you can adjust the intake damper according to your needs.
4. To reload the furnace containing existing hot coals, rake the coals evenly, add a few
smaller pieces over the coals. then load up. Do not use an automatic stoker with this fur-
nace.
5. Never leave the ash clean-out door open to allow more air to the fire as this allows
extreme heat to enter the automatic draft control located on the loading door causing
damage to the solenoid and thermostat.
Temperature Adjustment
A solid fuel fire burns cleanest in an environment with an unlimited supply of oxy-
gen. Allowing a fire to burn this way, however, produces a short, very hot fire with most
of the released heat going up the flue and the extreme temperatures causing a safety
hazard and possibly damaging the furnace. On the other hand, a smothered fire pro-
duces an extremely long, smoldering burn which is inefficient and produces large quan-
tities of soot or creosote with the danger of a clogged flue or stack fire.
The Bryan Furnace controls these factors by means of a thermostatically con-
trolled intake damper mounted on the furnace door. As the fire gets hotter, the thermo-
stat automatically decreases the amount of air to the fire to keep it under control.
Conversely, as the fire cools off, the damper begins opening to allow the fire more air.
Temperature adjustments are made by turning the knob on the door clockwise for
a hotter fire, and counter clockwise for a cooler fire. Make small adjustments with refer-
ence to the arrow on the knob and the hotter decal. Wait 15 to 30 minutes between
adjustments to allow the fire to reach equilibrium at the new setting.
CAUTION
Never use chemicals or fluids to start or
freshen-up a fire. Do not burn garbage,
gasoline, naphtha, engine oil or any
other fuel not approved with this unit.
CAUTION
The handle on the ash door can become extremely
hot, use care when handling. The ash door must be
securely closed whenever the furnace is unattend-
ed to prevent dangerous overheating.

4
*An additional safety system is built into your Bryan Furnace to control an
overtemperature condition. This system consists of a solenoid mounted in a separate
compartment above the damper box on the door. If electrical power to the furnace is
interrupted, the solenoid will automatically close the damper. Also, if air temperature in
the furnace reaches approximately 220° F, the solenoid will shut the damper and it will
not re-open until the furnace has cooled to approximately 160° F. Do not use the
overtemperature safety system to control the fire with a maximum damper setting.
This causes an extremely inefficient burn with the fire smothered about half of the
time. Maximum heat output is achieved by setting the damper so that tempera-
tures do not quite reach an overtemperature condition.
NOTE: The solenoid will produce a low buzzing sound and the cover will be warm as long
as it is receiving electrical power. The noise will cease if the solenoid is closing the
damper due to either a power failure or over-temperature. If the solenod produces a loud
chatter, unplug the furnace immediately and see the trouble shooting guide.
CAUTION
The damper control mechanism
must not be altered for any reason.
CAUTION
Never operate your furnace so that any
portion becomes red hot. This is dangerous
as well as damaging to the furnace.
Creosote and Soot Formation and the Need for Removal
When wood is burned slowly, it produces tar and other organic vapors, which com-
bine with expelled moisture to form creosote (soot with coal burning). The creosote
vapors condense in the relatively cool chimney flue of a slow-burning fire. As a result,
creosote residue accumulates on the flue lining. When ignited, this creosote makes an
extremely hot fire.
The chimney connector and chimney should be inspected at least twice monthly
during the heating season to determine if a creosote build-up has occurred.
If creosote has accumulated, it should be removed to reduce the risk of a chim-
ney fire. If you clean your own chimney and stove pipe, we recommend purchasing the
equipment professionals use. Wire brushes are available in enough sizes and shapes to
be a snug fit inside any common flue.
NOTE: Establish a routine for the storage of fuel, care of the unit and firing techniques.
Check daily for creosote build-up until experience shows how often cleaning is neces-
sary. Be aware that the hotter the fire, the less creosote is deposited and weekly clean-
ings may be necessary in mild weather even though monthly cleanings may be enough
in the coldest months. Have a clearly understood plan to handle a chimney fire.
* laboratory listed furnaces only

5
Ash Removal
The ash door can be opened slightly for a few seconds before servicing to allow
smoke to clear. Ashes should be removed frequently.
1. The ash door should not be opened with a full load of burning wood a this allows
excess combustion air to enter the chamber and can cause over heating .
2. After Unit has cooled down, open ash door, remove the ash pan using protective
gloves and place ashes in acceptable noncombustible container.
3. Do not leave the ash door open while emptying ashes as this allows uncontrolled com-
bustion air to enter fire chamber and can cause overheating.
CAUTION
In the event of a chimney fire:
1. Close all air inlets and doors on the furnace.
2. Call the fire department.
3. Leave the building safely.
CAUTION
Ashes should be placed in a metal container with a tight
fitting lid. The closed container of ashes should be placed
on a noncombustible floor or on the ground, well away
from all combustible materials, pending final disposal. If
the ashes are disposed, of by burial in soil or otherwise
locally dispersed, they should be retained in the closed
container until all cinders have thoroughly cooled.
Helpful Hints
A small hot fire is more efficient and safer than a large smoldering one. During rel-
atively warm weather, add only enough wood so that the fire will burn out in a desired
time. If the building becomes too hot, simply open a window. Do not unplug the furnace
or block the furnace air.
As your fire burns down, the fan will begin to cycle on and off as it moves the heat-
ed air out and the fan control thermostat is cooled. If you desire to run the fan below the
thermostat temperature range (+90° ), turn the thermostat override switch (on the bottom
of the fan box) to the “on” position. This will cause the fan to run continuously
whether there is heat in the furnace or not.
After 7 days of 8 to 10 hour burns, open the damper and allow the fire to burn hot
for 15 to 20 minutes while in attendance.This will help to minimize creosote or soot buildup.
Combustion air must be available above the fuel bed. Try to stack logs so that air
can circulate between them.
Loading and ash doors must be kept tightly closed and gaskets in good condition.
Inspect the furnace in the dark for light showing around the door. Door gaskets need to
be replaced every year or so.
A small portable generator of sufficient amperage can be used to operate the furnace
during an extended power outage. Do not operate this furnace without electrical power.

6

7
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
Please read completely before starting.
NOTICE TO OUR CUSTOMERS: Your Bryan Furnace is absolutely the safest, cleanest
solid fuel burning system available. Your furnace has been assembled from the finest
materials available by skilled craftsmen under the supervision of a strict quality control
program. Bryan Furnace Works, however, has no control over the handling of your fur-
nace during shipment or installation. The possibility does exist, however remote, that a
broken seal will allow some smoke or fumes into the home. If the possibility of smoke
or fumes in the home is absolutely unacceptable, do not install this furnace. Keep
in mind that smoke in the home is a certainty with a fireplace or indoor heater.
WARNING
The installation of this unit must comply with state
and local requirements and be inspected by the
state or local building inspector, if required. Only
laboratory listed units can be installed indoors.
General Notes
The air from a solid fuel appliance is considerably hotter than from gas, oil or elec-
tric furnaces. Do not connect this furnace to anything other than metal ductwork.
Both hot and cold air ducts should be insulated outdoors. In addition, the hot air
duct should be insulated for its entire length. There should be a minimum of 1 “ of
insulation between the hot air duct and any flammable surface.
Your furnace has been tested to determine the minimum safe clearances to com-
bustible materials. The clearances listed below should be adhered to strictly.
Sides of furnace 8”
Rear of furnace 16”
Top of furnace 24”
Front of furnace 48”
Flue pipe (single wall connector to
to chimney) if used 18”
Ducting 6” for first 16” from rear of unit, then 2”
Do not connect the Bryan Furnace to a chimney serving another appliance.
If the furnace is placed on a flammable surface, the floor must be protected by a
fireproof millboard or equivalent. The fireproofing must extend under the furnace and at
least 16” in front of and 8” either side of the fuel loading door.
Pull return air from the same area where supply air is being delivered. Do not pull
return air from a small or closed area where another heating appliance is located.
The resulting partial vacuum could cause the other appliance to malfunction.
Do not install the hot air inlet directly below a flammable or heat sensitive mater-
ial (drapes, blinds, plastic, etc.) or those objects can be damaged by rising heat.

8
Window or Wall Installation
Tools Needed: Drill with 1/8” bit, metal cutting shears, screwdriver, silicone caulking.
ALL parts for installation are provided except the exhaust stack and rain cap. Additional
sheet metal work for nonstandard installations can be done at any sheet metal shop.
1. After uncrating, remove all of the parts from inside the furnace, being careful not to
bend or damage the sheet metal.
2. Mount the furnace door with the attached pins.
3. If the face plate is to be painted, it is best to do this before installation. With the grill
off, mask the cord, wipe the metal with vinegar or other weak acid, and spray paint when
dry. Use a high temperature resistant paint to avoid a fire hazard.
4. Window Installation - Cut the face plate to size to completely fill the window. The plate
can be cut at one or both ends to center the grill as desired. Cutting must be done care-
fully and the plate should be left long enough so that it will slip into the window frame and
the window can then be closed against it to form a seal. Place the strips of insulation pro-
vided between the window frame and the face plate to seal and insulate. If the plate is
installed vertically, insure that the return air side (with the wire) is on the bottom.
Vertical Opening Horizontal Opening
5. Wall Installation - Cut a 14” x 28” opening through the wall (either vertically or horizon-
tally) and line it with 1” fiberglass insulation (provided). Cut the face plate 2” from the duct
box on either end (see drawing below). Push the duct box through the wall from the inside
and fasten the face plate to the wall. If the plate is installed vertically, insure that the return
air side (with the wire) is on the bottom. Slip the rectangular cover plate over the ducts from
the outside and fasten it to the wall. Caulk any openings. The face plate can reach tem-
peratures of over 200°F. If it is mounted on a surface which can be damaged by
these temperatures, place 1/4” ceramic spacers between the face plate and the wall.
6. Decide which way you want the door on the furnace to face. You can position the fur-
nace with the door facing left or right or away from the wall. Position the furnace on
bricks, a concrete base or optional furnace stand.