Drolet ESCAPE 1800 DB03100 User manual

READ AND KEEP THIS MANUAL FOR REFERENCE
45554A
Printed in Canada 06-09-2012
Installation and Operation Manual
Escape 1800 Insert
US ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY PHASE II CERTIFIED
WOOD INSERT
Safety tested according to ULC S628,
UL 737 and UL 1482 Standards
by Intertek Testing Services
www.drolet.ca
Stove Builder International Inc.
250, rue de Copenhague, St-Augustin-de-Desmaures
(Quebec) Canada G3A 2H3
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
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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THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING THIS DROLET WOOD INSERT
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 insert 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 insert 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 insert. You may
need to get a building permit for the installation of this insert 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.

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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.......................................................................... 8
2.1Escape 1800 Insert Specifications ......................................................................... 8
2.2Zone Heating and How to Make it Work for You .................................................. 10
2.3The Benefits of Low Emissions and High Efficiency............................................. 11
2.4The SBI Commitment to You and the Environment.............................................. 11
2.4.1What is Your New Insert Made Of?.................................................................. 11
3Fuel.................................................................................................... 13
3.1Materials That Should Not be Burned .................................................................. 13
3.2How to Prepare or Buy Good Firewood................................................................ 13
3.2.1What is Good Firewood?.................................................................................. 13
3.2.2Tree Species.................................................................................................... 13
3.2.3Log Length ....................................................................................................... 14
3.2.4Piece Size ........................................................................................................ 14
3.2.5How to Dry Firewood ....................................................................................... 15
3.2.6Judging Firewood Moisture Content ................................................................ 16
3.3Manufactured Logs............................................................................................... 16
4Operating Your Insert..................................................................... 17
4.1The use of a fire screen........................................................................................ 17
4.2Your First Fires..................................................................................................... 17
4.3Lighting Fires........................................................................................................ 17
4.3.1Conventional Fire Starting................................................................................ 18
4.3.2The Top Down Fire .......................................................................................... 18
4.3.3Two Parallel Logs ............................................................................................ 19
4.3.4Using Fire Starters ........................................................................................... 19
4.4Maintaining Wood Fires........................................................................................ 19
4.4.1General Advice ................................................................................................ 19
4.4.2Ash Removal.................................................................................................... 20
4.4.3Raking Charcoal .............................................................................................. 20
4.4.4Firing Each New Load Hot ............................................................................... 21
4.4.5Turning Down the Air Supply ........................................................................... 21

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4.5Fan Operation ...................................................................................................... 22
4.5.1Building Different Fires for Different Needs...................................................... 22
5Maintaining Your Wood Heating System...................................... 24
5.1Insert Maintenance............................................................................................... 24
5.1.1Cleaning Door Glass........................................................................................ 24
5.1.2Door adjustment............................................................................................... 25
5.1.3Replacing the Door Gasket.............................................................................. 26
5.1.4Replacing the Glass Gasket and/or the Glass ................................................. 26
5.1.5Cleaning and Painting the Insert ...................................................................... 27
5.2Chimney and Chimney Liner Maintenance........................................................... 27
5.2.1Why Chimney Cleaning is Necessary .............................................................. 27
5.2.2How Often Should You Clean the Chimney? ................................................... 28
5.2.3Cleaning the Chimney...................................................................................... 28
PART B - INSTALLATION.................................................................. 29
6Pre-Installation Masonry fireplace requirements......................... 29
7Safety Information ........................................................................... 31
7.1Summary of Installation Cautions and Warnings.................................................. 31
7.2Regulations Covering Insert Installation ............................................................... 32
8Clearances to Combustible Material.............................................. 33
8.1Location of the Certification Label ........................................................................ 33
8.2The Masonry Fireplace Throat Damper................................................................ 33
8.3Compliance of a Combustible Mantel Shelf.......................................................... 34
8.4Positioning the Unit .............................................................................................. 35
8.5Minimum Masonry Opening, Clearances to Combustibles, and Floor Protector .. 40
9The Venting System ......................................................................... 42
9.1General ................................................................................................................ 42
9.2Block-Off Plate ..................................................................................................... 42
9.3Suitable Chimneys ............................................................................................... 43
9.4Liner installation ................................................................................................... 43
9.5Chimney liner installation ..................................................................................... 44
9.5.1If the chimney liner does align with the insert’s flue outlet, you have two
options ............................................................................................................. 44
9.5.2If the chimney liner does not align with the insert’s flue outlet.......................... 45
9.6Minimum Chimney Height .................................................................................... 46

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9.7The Relationship Between the Chimney and the House ...................................... 46
9.7.1Why the chimney should penetrate the highest heated space......................... 46
9.8Supply of Combustion Air..................................................................................... 47
9.8.1Air Supply in Conventional Houses.................................................................. 47
Appendix 1: Blower Installation............................................................ 48
Appendix 2: Installing the Adapter for Fresh Air Kit (AC01298) ..... 49
Appendix 3: Faceplate and Decorative Trims Installation.................. 51
Appendix 4: Top Surround and Shelf Heat Shield Installation
(AC01317)......................................................................... 54
Appendix 5: Installing the Fire Screen (AC01315).............................. 55
Appendix 6: Installation of Secondary Air Tubes and Baffle............. 56
Appendix 7: Removal instructions ........................................................ 58
Appendix 8: Exploded Diagram and Parts List................................... 59
DROLET LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY................................. 62
REGISTER YOUR WARRANTY ONLINE
To receive full warranty coverage, you will need to show evidence of the
date you purchased your insert. Keep your sales invoice. We also
recommend that you register your warranty online at:
http://www.drolet.ca/en/service-support/warranty-registration
Registering your warranty online will help us to quickly track the
information we need about your insert.

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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
INSERT OPERATION.
•USING AN INSERT WITH CRACKED OR BROKEN COMPONENTS, SUCH AS
GLASS OR FIREBRICKS OR BAFFLES MAY PRODUCE AN UNSAFE CONDITION
AND MAY DAMAGE THE INSERT.
•OPEN THE AIR CONTROL FULLY BEFORE OPENING THE LOADING DOOR.
•THIS INSERT HAS BEEN TESTED FOR USE WITH AN OPEN DOOR IN
CONJUNCTION WITH A FIRE SCREEN (AC01315, 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 INSERT
UNATTENDED WHEN THE DOOR IS OPENED WITH OR WITHOUT FIRE SCREEN.
•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 INSERT. KEEP ALL SUCH LIQUIDS OR AEROSOLS
WELL AWAY FROM THE INSERT 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:
oGARBAGE OF ANY KIND,
oCOAL OR CHARCOAL,
oTREATED, PAINTED OR COATED WOOD,
oPLYWOOD OR PARTICLE BOARD,
oFINE PAPER, COLORED PAPER OR CARDBOARD,
oSALT WATER DRIFTWOOD,
oMANUFACTURED LOGS CONTAINING WAX OR CHEMICAL ADDITIVES,
oRAILROAD TIES OR
oLIQUIDS 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.
•SOME JURISDICTIONS IN THE USA REQUIRE A SUPPLY OF OUTDOOR
COMBUSTION AIR FOR THE INSERT. IN CANADA, AN OUTDOOR AIR SUPPLY IS
NOT REQUIRED; IF A CARBON MONOXIDE (CO) DETECTOR/ALARM IS
LOCATED IN THE ROOM IN WHICH THE INSERT IS INSTALLED. THE CO
DETECTOR WILL PROVIDE WARNING IF FOR ANY REASON THE WOOD INSERT
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
INSERT OCCURS.

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2 General Information
2.1 Escape 1800 Insert Specifications
Fuel Type Cordwood
Test Standards (safety) ULC S628, UL 737 and UL 1482
Test Standard (emissions) EPA Method 28 (40 CFR Part 60)
Heating capacity range* 500 to 2100 sq. ft. (47 to 195 m2)
Maximum heat output**
(EPA test fuel) 32 200 BTU/h (9,4 kW/h)
Maximum heat output**
(natural hardwood fuel) 75 000 BTU/h (21,9 kW/h)
Optimum efficiency 77,2 %
Test Standard (efficiency) CSA B415.1-10
Approximate Burn Time 6 to 8 hours
Shipping Weight 401 lb (182 kg)
Firebox Volume 2,1 cu.ft. (0,060 m3)
Maximum Log Length 20" east-west***
Flue Outlet Diameter 6" (150 mm) diameter (vertical)
Baffle Material Vermiculite
* 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 insert is not intended to operate at its peak
heat output continuously.
*** East-west: through the door you see the sides of the logs; north-south: through the door
you see the ends of the logs.

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2.2 Zone Heating and How to Make it Work for You
Your new Escape 1800 wood insert 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 insert. Whole house zone heating works best when the insert 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
insert 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 insert 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 insert, the size, layout and age of your home and your climate zone.
Three-season vacation homes can usually be heated with smaller inserts than houses that
are heated all winter.