Drolet EE1200 Little Sawman Installation instructions manual

READ AND KEEP THIS MANUAL FOR REFERENCE
45109A.doc
INSTRUCTIONS & OPERATIONS MANUAL
DROLET EE1200 WOODSTOVES:
ML, RC, LITTLE SAWMAN AND COMPAK
US ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY 28A CERTIFIED
WOODSTOVES
Verified and tested following
UL 1482 Standards by:
Manufactured by : STOVE BUILDER INTERNATIONAL INC.
1700, Léon-Harmel, Québec (Québec) G1N 4R9
Tel : ( 418 ) 527-3060
Fax : ( 418 ) 527-4311
www.drolet.ca

1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................... 2
ASSEMBLY...................................................................ERREUR ! SIGNET NON DEFINI.
INSTALLATION................................................................................................................. 5
POSITIONING THE STOVE.......................................................................................... 5
CLEARANCES FROM COMBUSTIBLES...................................................................... 6
CHIMNEY...................................................................................................................... 7
CHIMNEY CONNECTOR (STOVE PIPE)...................................................................... 8
TYPICAL INSTALLATIONS........................................................................................... 9
WOODSTOVE UTILISATION.......................................................................................... 13
AVERAGE ENERGY YIELD OF ONE AIR DRIED CORD OF CUT WOOD................ 13
TESTING YOUR WOOD ............................................................................................. 14
THE FIRST FIRES....................................................................................................... 14
IGNITION..................................................................................................................... 14
ASH DISPOSAL .......................................................................................................... 15
AIR CIRCULATION SYSTEM ......................................................................................... 16
MAINTENANCE.............................................................................................................. 16
GLASS......................................................................................................................... 16
GASKETING................................................................................................................ 16
PAINT.......................................................................................................................... 17
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS............................................................................. 18
WHAT DO THE WORDS “DRAFT” AND “NEGATIVE PRESSURE” MEAN?.............. 18
CAN I MODIFY MY STOVE TO INSTALL A GLASS DOOR? ..................................... 25
WHEN DO IN NEED TO REPLACE THE FIREBRICKS?............................................ 25
LIMITED 3 YEARS WARRANTY..................................................................................... 26

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INTRODUCTION
STOVE BUILDER INTERNATIONAL INC., one of the most important wood stove and
fireplace manufacturers in Canada, congratulates you on your purchase and wishes to
help you get maximum satisfaction from your wood stove. In the pages that follow, we will
give you advice on wood heating and controlled combustion as well as technical
specifications regarding installation, operation and maintenance of the model you have
chosen.
The instructions pertaining to the installation of your wood stove comply with UL-1482
standards.
Read this entire manual before you install and use your new stove. If this stove is
not properly installed, a house fire may result. To reduce the risk of fire, follow the
installation instructions. Failure to follow instructions may result in property
damage, bodily injury, or even death.
Consult your municipal building department or fire officials about restrictions and
installations requirements in your area and the need to obtain a permit.
Make sure you keep this instruction manual. It will always be helpful. We also
suggest that you consult our web site at www.drolet.ca . It will provide you with a full
range of information, such as how to order replacement parts.
CAUTIONS:
• HOT WHILE IN OPERATION. KEEP CHILDREN, CLOTHING AND FURNITURE AWAY. CONTACT MAY
CAUSE SKIN BURNS.
• DO NOT USE CHEMICALS OR FLUIDS TO IGNITE THE FIRE.
• DO NOT LEAVE THE STOVE UNATTENDED WHEN THE DOOR IS SLIGHTLY OPENED.
• DO NOT BURN WASTES, FLAMMABLE FLUID SUCH AS GASOLINE, NAPHTHA OR MOTOR OIL.
• DO NOT CONNECT TO ANY AIR DISTRIBUTION DUCT OR SYSTEM.
• ALWAYS CLOSE THE DOOR AFTER THE IGNITION.

3
ASSEMBLY
Legs installation:
Position the stove on its back and
screw the legs in place with 8
screws, 8 bolts, and 8 washers;
Ash lip Installation:
Screw in place with 2 bolts, 2
screws, and 2 washers.

4
Cast iron flue collar installation:
1. Peel off the tape from the back
of the gasket and attach the
gasket to the rope groove at
the back of the flue collar;
2. Mount flue collar on top of the
stove. Make sure that the
damper holes on each side of
the flue collar are parallel to
the back of the stove;
3. Fix the flue collar with the
hardware supplied;
4. Install the flue damper inside
the flue collar as illustrated.
Back air intake, ash dump cap,
and firebricks installation:
1. Slide the back air intake(A)
behind the bracket welded
on the back of the stove;
2. Install the bottom firebricks
first, then the side ones;
3. Install the back firebricks;
4. Insert the ash dump cap on
the bottom hole.
(A)

5
INSTALLATION
SAFETY NOTICE
• IF THIS STOVE IS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED, A HOUSE FIRE MAY RESULT. TO REDUCE THE RISK
OF FIRE, FOLLOW THE INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. FAILURE TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS MAY
RESULT IN PROPERTY DAMAGE, BODILY INJURY, OR EVEN DEATH.
• CONSULT YOUR MUNICIPAL BUILDING DEPARTMENT OR FIRE OFFICIALS ABOUT RESTRICTIONS
AND INSTALLATIONS REQUIREMENTS IN YOUR AREA.
• USE SMOKE DETECTORS IN THE ROOM WHERE YOUR STOVE IS INSTALLED.
• KEEP FURNITURE AND DRAPES WELL AWAY FROM THE STOVE.
• NEVER USE GASOLINE, GASOLINE-TYPE LANTERN FUEL, KEROSENE, CHARCOAL LIGHTER FLUID,
OR SIMILAR LIQUIDS TO START OR "FRESHEN UP" A FIRE. KEEP ALL SUCH LIQUIDS WELL AWAY
FROM THE STOVE.
• IN THE EVENT OF A CHIMNEY FIRE, CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
• DO NOT CONNECT TO ANY AIR DISTRIBUTION DUCT OR SYSTEM.
• A SOURCE OF FRESH AIR INTO THE ROOM OR SPACE HEATED SHALL BE PROVIDED WHEN
REQUIRED.
POSITIONING THE STOVE
It is very important to position the wood stove as close as possible to the chimney, and in
an area that will favour the most efficient heat distribution possible throughout the house.
The stove must therefore be installed in the room where the most time is spent, and in the
most spacious room possible. Recall that wood stoves produce radiating heat, the heat
we feel when we are close to a wood stove. A wood stove also functions by convection,
that is through the displacement of hot air accelerated upwards and its replacement with
cooler air. If necessary, the hot air distribution from the stove may be facilitated by a
blower or the installation of floor or wall grids.
The wood stove must not be hooked up to a hot air distribution system since an
excessive accumulation of heat may occur.
A wood stove must never be installed in a hallway or near a staircase, since it may
block the way in case of fire or fall to respect required clearances.

6
CLEARANCES FROM COMBUSTIBLES
It is of outmost importance that the clearances to combustible materials be scrupulously
respected upon installation of the stove you have selected. Refer to the tables below :
Single pipe / Double pipe
A B C D E F
29” 30” 39” 34-3/4” 22” 32”
• Floor to ceiling height must be at least 7' (84") in all cases.
• The clearance between the flue pipe and a wall are valid only for vertical walls and for
vertical flue pipe.
• The flue pipe must not go through roof trussing, an attic, a wardrobe, a floor, a
combustible partition, or similar spaces.
• A flue pipe crossing a combustible wall must have a minimum clearance of 18".
• To reduce flue pipe clearances from combustible materials, contact your local safety
department.
• For reduced clearances refer to NFPA 211 table 9-6.6.1.

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CHIMNEY
Your wood stove may be hooked up with a factory built or masonry chimney. If you are
using a factory built chimney, it must comply with UL 103 standards; therefore it must be a
Type HT (2100°F). It is extremely important that it be installed according to the
manufacturer's specifications.
If you are using a masonry chimney, it is important that it be built in compliance with the
specifications of the National Building Code. It must be lined with fire clay bricks, metal or
clay tiles sealed together with fire cement. (Round flues are the most efficient).
The interior diameter of the chimney flues must be identical to the stove's smoke exhaust.
(6”). A flue which is too small may cause draught problems, while a large flue favours
rapid cooling of the gas, and hence the build-up of creosote and the risk of chimney fires.
Note that it is the chimney and not the stove which creates the draught effect; your stove's
performance is directly dependent on an adequate draught from your chimney.
The following recommendations may be useful for the installation of your chimney:
1. Do not connect this unit to a chimney flue serving another appliance.
2. It must rise above the roof at least 3' (0.9 mm) from the uppermost point of
contact.
3. The chimney must exceed any part of the building or other obstruction within a
10' (3.04 m) distance by a height of 2' (0.6 m).
4. Installation of an interior chimney is always preferable to an exterior chimney.
Indeed, the interior chimney will, by definition, be hotter than an exterior
chimney, being heated up by the ambient air in the house. Therefore the gas
which circulates will cool more slowly, thus reducing the build-up of creosote
and the risk of chimney fires.
5. The draught caused by the tendency for hot air to rise will be increased with an
interior chimney.
6. Using a fire screen at the extremity of the chimney requires regular inspection in
order to insure that it is not obstructed thus blocking the draught, and it should
be cleaned when necessary.
7. Clean your chimney every 2 months.

8
CHIMNEY CONNECTOR (STOVE PIPE)
The stove pipe must be made of aluminized or cold roll steel with a minimum thickness of
0.021" or 0.53 mm. It is strictly forbidden to use galvanized steel.
Your smoke pipe should be assembled in such a way that the male section of the pipe
faces down. Attach each of the sections to one another with three equidistant metal
screws. The system should be attach to the unit using screws.
The pipe must be short and straight. All sections installed horizontally must slope at least
1/4 inch per foot, with the upper end of the section toward the chimney.
To insure a good draught, the diameter of the coupling pipe should be 6” and total length
should never exceed 8' to 10' (24 to 3.04 m). (Except for cases of vertical installation,
cathedral-roof style where the smoke exhaust system can be much longer and connected
without problem to the chimney at the ceiling of the room).
There should never be more than two 90 degrees elbow in the smoke exhaust system.
Installation of a "barometric draught stabiliser" (fireplace register) on a smoke exhaust
system is prohibited.
Stove Pipe

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TYPICAL INSTALLATIONS
FACTORY BUILT CHIMNEY:
ROOF FLASHING
18" CLEARANCE
WALL SUPPORT
WALL RADIATION SHIELD
RAIN CAP
Wall installation
CEILING SUPPORT
RADIATION SHIEL
D
Vertical installation

10
MASONRY CHIMNEY:
Clay liner
Thimble
Clean out
door

11
FACTORY BUILT THIMBLE:

12
BRICK THIMBLE:

13
WOODSTOVE UTILISATION
Your heating unit was designed to burn wood only; no other materials should be burnt.
Wastes and other flammable materials should not be burnt in your wood stove. Any type
of wood may be used in your stove, but specific varieties have better energy yields than
others. Please consult the following table in order to make the best possible choice.
Average Energy Yield Of One Air Dried Cord Of Cut Wood
Wood species Energy yield
(millions of BTU/cord)
Oak 29
Sugar Maple 28
Beech 26
Yellow birch 25
Ash 24
High energy yield
Elm 23
Larch (Tamarack) 23
Red Maple 23
Douglas red fir 23
Silver birch 22
Alder 18
Poplar 17
Medium energy yield
Hemlock 17
Spruce 17
Pine 17
Bass 16
Low energy yield
Fir 13
Data provided by Energy, Mines and Resources - Canada
IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT YOU USE DRY WOOD ONLY IN YOUR WOOD
STOVE. The wood must have dried for 9 to 15 months, such that the humidity content (in
weight) is reduced below 20% of the weight of the log. It is very important to keep in mind
that even if the wood has been cut since one, two or even more years, it is not necessarily
dry, if it has been stored in poor conditions; under extreme conditions, it may even rot
instead of drying. The vast majority of the problems related to the operation of a wood
stove are caused by the fact that the wood used was too damp or had dried in poor
conditions. These problems can be:
• ignition problems
• creosote build-up causing chimney fires
• low energy yield
• blackened windows
• incomplete log combustion

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Smaller pieces of wood will dry faster. All logs exceeding 6" in diameter should be split.
The wood should not be stored directly on the ground. Air should circulate through the
cord. A 24" to 48" air space should be left between each row of logs, which should be
placed in the sunniest location possible. The upper layer of wood should be protected
from the element but not the sides.
TESTING YOUR WOOD
When the stove is thoroughly warmed, place one piece of split wood (about five inches in
diameter) parallel to the door on the bed of red embers.
Close the door. If ignition of the piece is accomplished within 90 seconds from the time if
was placed in the stove, your wood is correctly dried. If ignition takes longer, your wood is
damp.
If your wood hisses and water or vapour escapes at the ends of the piece, your wood is
soaked or freshly cut. Do not use this wood in your stove. Large amounts of creosote
could be deposited in your chimney, creating potential conditions for a chimney fire.
THE FIRST FIRES
The fresh paint on your stove needs to be cured to preserve it's quality. Once the fuel
charge is properly ignited, only burn small fires in your stove for the first four hours of
operation.
Make sure that there’s enough air circulation while curing the stove. The odours could be
smelled during the 3 or 4 first fires. Never start your stove outside. You will not be able to
see if you are over heating.
IGNITION
Place several rumpled sheets of paper in the centre of the combustion chamber. Place 8
to 10 pieces of small dry kindling wood over the paper in the form of a tent. You may also
place a few pieces of heating wood, but choose the smaller ones. No chemical product
should be used to light the fire.
Before igniting the paper and kindling wood, it is recommended that you warm up the
chimney. This is done in order to avoid back draft problems often due to negative
pressure in the house. If such is the case, open a window slightly near the stove and twist
together a few sheets of newspaper into a torch. Light up this paper torch and hold it as
close as possible to the mouth of the pipe inside the combustion chamber to warm up the
chimney. Once the updraft movement is initiated, you are ready to ignite the stove by
lighting the paper and kindling wood inside the combustion chamber.
We therefore advise you to leave the door slightly opened (1/4") for a 10 to 30 minutes
period, under supervision, in order to allow for good combustion. After this time, you
must close the door.

15
ASH DISPOSAL
Ashes should be removed from the stove every few days or when ashes get to 2 to 3
inches deep. Always empty the stove when it is cold, such as in the morning.
Always dispose of ashes in a metal container with a tight fitting lid. Place this container on
a non combustible 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 close container until all cinders have thoroughly
cooled.
CAUTIONS:
• ASHES COULD CONTAIN HOT EMBERS EVEN AFTER TWO DAYS WITHOUT OPERATING THE STOVE.
• THE ASH PAN CAN BECOME VERY HOT. WEAR GLOVES TO PREVENT INJURY.
• NEVER BURN THE STOVE WITH THE ASH TRAP OPEN. THIS WOULD RESULT IN OVER FIRING THE
STOVE. DAMAGE TO THE STOVE AND EVEN HOUSE FIRE MAY RESULT.
• THE INSTALLATION OF A LOG CRADLE IS NOT RECOMMENDED IN YOUR DROLET WOOD STOVE.
• NEVER PUT WOOD ABOVE THE FIREBRICK LINING OF THE FIREBOX.

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AIR CIRCULATION SYSTEM
In order to improve air circulation in the room where the wood stove is installed, certain
options are available for specific stove models.
Blower: A variable speed-control blower is available. The part number is
AC02050.
Thermodisc: The thermodisc is installed on the blower's electrical supply cord, and
it will start the blower when the stove’s temperature reaches 120°F
(49°C) and cut off power when the stove cools down below 100°F
(37°C). Information regarding installation of the thermodisc is
included with the device.
MAINTENANCE
Your Drolet stove is a high efficiency stove and therefore require little maintenance. It is
important to perform a visual inspection of the stove every time it is emptied, in order to
insure that no parts have been damaged, in which case repairs must be performed
immediately.
GLASS
• Inspect the glass regularly in order to detect any cracks. If you spot one, turn the stove
off immediately. Do not abuse the glass door by striking or slamming shut. Do not use
the stove if the glass is broken.
• If the glass on your stove breaks, replace only with glazing supplied from the Drolet
dealer.
• To replace the glass, remove the screws retaining the glass mouldings inside the door.
Remove the mouldings and replace the damaged piece with a new one. Perform the
procedure backwards after replacing. When replacing the glass, you should change
the glass gasket to make sure you keep it sealed.
• Never wash the glass with a product that may scratch. Use a specialized product,
available in the stores where wood stoves are sold.
• The glass should be washed only when cold.
GASKETING
It is recommended that you change the door gasket (which makes your stove door air
tight) once a year, in order to insure good control over the combustion, maximum
efficiency and security. To change the door gasket, simply remove the damaged one.
Carefully clean the available gasket groove, apply a high temperature silicone sold for this
purpose, and install the new gasket. You may light up your stove again approximately 24
hours after having completed this operation.
WARNING:

17
• NEVERS OPERATE THE STOVE WITHOUT A GASKET OR WITH A BROKEN ONE. DAMAGE TO THE
STOVE OR EVEN HOUSE FIRE MAY RESULT
PAINT
Only clean your stove with a dry soft clothe that will not harm the paint finish.
If the paint becomes scratched or damaged, it is possible to give your wood stove a brand
new look, by repainting it with a 1200oF heat resistant paint. For this purpose, simply
scrub the surface to be repainted with fine sand paper, clean it properly, and apply thin
coats (2) of paint successively. Refer to page 18 of the present manual for the paint curing
process.

18
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT DO THE WORDS “DRAFT” AND “NEGATIVE PRESSURE” MEAN?
The word “draft” refers to the hot air movement that circulates in your stove’s exhaust
system, moving from the stove to the outside of the house, and carrying with it the
combustion residues. The draft is a natural phenomenon. Hot air weights less than cold
air, causing it to rise. This is why the higher the temperature in the exhaust system, the
stronger the draft. It is also important to say that the “tunnel effect” created by the exhaust
system contributes to increasing the draft effect. This is why chimneys that are
excessively long often create excessive draft, while chimneys that are abnormally short will
have an excessively low draft. The following are often symptoms of a draft problem:
- Excessively dirty (blackened) glass;
- A fire that has a tendency to die quickly when the stove door is closed;
- A stove that does not heat enough.
“Negative pressure” can be seen as a “reverse draft”. That is, air will circulate from the
chimney toward the interior of the house. Negative pressure is often what causes
smoking problems. In general, negative pressure is the result of either one or a
combination of the three factors explained below:
1- A cold chimney. Cold air, which is heavier than hot air, has a tendency to go down
the chimney and create the effect of a “clog”. This explains why a stove that has
not worked for a long time and which chimney is very cold will sometimes be hard to
light and cause smoking problems.
2- Negative pressure can also be caused by a “vacuum effect” in the room or the
house. The air in a house is constantly moving. Hot air rises, cold air moves down.
Air can also be mechanically expulsed outside of the house with the use of air-
moving devices, such as a range hood, a air exchanger, a dryer, a bathroom fan,
etc. Furthermore, air goes in and out of the house through cracks, doors, windows,
etc. If air leaves a room without being replaced, a “vacuum effect” is created.
Therefore, if a house is well insulated and all windows are closed, the room will
source its air through the easiest alternative route, which is often your stove’s
exhaust system. This creates a negative pressure in your exhaust system. You
now understand why it is often suggested that a window be slightly open in the
room where the stove is located. This enables the room to easily source its air from
outside the house without searching for an alternative route. The vacuum effect
can amplified when your stove is located in the basement. This is due to the fact
that your house itself acts like a chimney. Since hot air will rise to upper floors, it
will “draw” air from the basement of the house. This phenomenon is called the
“chimney stack effect”.

19
3- Wind can also be a third cause of negative pressure. When your house is located
near a structure which height is superior to your roof’s, wind currents can create an
interference with your chimney, leading to negative pressure problems.
Drawings #1 to #5 starting on page 18 will help you understand the explanations
provided in this section.