Osburn MATRIX User manual

READANDKEEPTHISMANUALFORREFERENCE
45592A
PrintedinCanada05‐03‐2013
INSTALLATIONANDOPERATIONMANUAL
MATRIX 
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USENVIRONMENTALPROTECTION
AGENCYPHASEIICERTIFIEDWOOD
STOVE
SafetytestedaccordingtoULCS627,
UL737andUL1482Standards
byIntertekTestingServices
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 
 

www.osburn‐mfg.com
StoveBuilderInternationalInc.
250,ruedeCopenhague,St‐Augustin‐de‐Desmaures(Quebec)CanadaG3A2H3
Tel:(418)878‐3040Fax:(418)878‐3001
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.

MatrixInstallationandOperationManual
2_______________________________________________________________________________
THANKYOUFORCHOOSINGTHISOSBURNWOODSTOVE
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stove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.
Whenthisstoveisnotproperlyinstalled,ahousefiremayresult.Toreducetheriskoffire,
followtheinstallationinstructions.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stove.Failuretofollow
instructionsmayresultinpropertydamage,bodilyinjury,orevendeath.Itisimportantthatyou
followtheinstallationsguidelinesexactly.
Youmayneedtoobtainabuildingpermitfortheinstallationofthisstoveandthechimneythat
itisconnectedto.Consultyourmunicipalbuildingdepartmentorfiredepartmentbefore
installationtodeterminetheneedtoobtainone.Werecommendthatyoualsoinformyour
homeinsurancecompanytofindoutiftheinstallationwillaffectyourpolicy.

REGISTERYOURWARRANTYONLINE
Toreceivefullwarrantycoverage,youwillneedtoshowevidenceof
thedateyoupurchasedyourstove.Keepyoursalesinvoice.Wealso
recommendthatyouregisteryourwarrantyonlineat:
http://www.osburn‐mfg.com/warranty‐registration.aspx
Registeringyourwarrantyonlinewillhelpustoquicklytrackthe
informationweneedaboutyourstove.
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MatrixInstallationandOperationManual
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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.........................................................................7
2.1MatrixSpecifications.............................................................................................................7
2.2ZoneHeatingandHowtoMakeitWorkforYou..................................................................9
2.3TheBenefitsofLowEmissionsandHighEfficiency.............................................................10
2.4TheSBICommitmenttoYouandtheEnvironment............................................................10
2.4.1WhatisYourNewStoveMadeOf?..................................................................................10
3Fuel.................................................................................................11
3.1MaterialsThatShouldNotbeBurned.................................................................................11
3.2HowtoPrepareorBuyGoodFirewood..............................................................................11
3.2.1WhatisGoodFirewood?.................................................................................................11
3.2.2TreeSpecies.....................................................................................................................11
3.2.3LogLength........................................................................................................................12
3.2.4PieceSize..........................................................................................................................12
3.2.5HowtoDryFirewood.......................................................................................................13
3.2.6Wheretostorewood.......................................................................................................14
3.2.7JudgingFirewoodMoistureContent...............................................................................14
3.3ManufacturedLogs..............................................................................................................15
4OperatingYourStove......................................................................16
4.1Theuseofafirescreen........................................................................................................16
4.2YourFirstFires.....................................................................................................................16
4.3LightingFires........................................................................................................................16
4.3.1ConventionalFireStarting...............................................................................................17
4.3.2TheTopDownFire...........................................................................................................17
4.3.3TwoParallelLogs..............................................................................................................18
4.3.4UsingFireStarters............................................................................................................18
4.4MaintainingWoodFires......................................................................................................18
4.4.1GeneralAdvice.................................................................................................................18
4.4.2AshRemoval.....................................................................................................................19

MatrixInstallationandOperationManual
4_______________________________________________________________________________
4.4.3RakingCharcoal................................................................................................................19
4.4.4FiringEachNewLoadHot................................................................................................20
4.4.5TurningDowntheAirSupply...........................................................................................20
4.4.6BuildingDifferentFiresforDifferentNeeds....................................................................21
5MaintainingYourWoodHeatingSystem.........................................24
5.1Stove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Stove......................................................................................27
5.2ChimneyandChimneyConnector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SafetyInformation..........................................................................29
6.1SummaryofInstallationCautionsandWarnings................................................................29
6.2RegulationsCoveringStoveInstallation..............................................................................30
7ClearancestoCombustibleMaterial................................................31
7.1Locationofthecertificationlabel........................................................................................31
7.2ClearancestoWallsandCeiling...........................................................................................31
7.3Floorprotector.....................................................................................................................34
7.4ReducingWallandCeilingClearancesSafely......................................................................34
7.4.1TableofClearanceReductionPercentages.....................................................................35
7.4.2ShieldConstructionRules................................................................................................36
8TheVentingSystem........................................................................37
8.1General................................................................................................................................37
8.2SuitableChimneys...............................................................................................................37
8.2.1Factory‐builtMetalChimneys..........................................................................................38
8.2.2Factory‐builtMetalChimneysinmobilehomes..............................................................39
8.2.3MasonryChimneys...........................................................................................................40

MatrixInstallationandOperationManual
_______________________________________________________________________________5
8.3MinimumChimneyHeight...................................................................................................40
8.4TheRelationshipBetweentheChimneyandtheHouse.....................................................41
8.4.1Whyinsidechimneysarepreferred.................................................................................41
8.4.2Whythechimneyshouldpenetratethehighestheatedspace.......................................42
8.5SupplyofCombustionAir....................................................................................................42
8.5.1CombustionAirSupplyinMobileHomes........................................................................42
8.5.2AirSupplyinConventionalHouses..................................................................................43
8.6InstallingtheChimneyConnector.......................................................................................43
8.6.1InstallationofSingleWallChimneyConnector...............................................................43
Appendix1:ReversingtheDoorOpeningandAdjustingtheHandle.....46
Appendix2:InstallingtheDecorativePanels........................................48
Appendix3:InstallingtheFreshAirKit.................................................51
Appendix4:InstallingtheFireScreen(AC01315).................................52
Appendix5:InstallationandUseoftheAirCirculationFanand
Thermodisc......................................................................53
Appendix6:InstallationofSecondaryAirTubesandBaffle..................55
Appendix7:ExplodedDiagramandPartsList.......................................57
OSBURNLIMITEDLIFETIMEWARRANTY...............................................60
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MatrixInstallationandOperationManual
6_______________________________________________________________________________
PARTA‐OPERATIONANDMAINTENANCE
PleaseseePartBforinstallationinstructions.
1SAFETY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STOVEOPERATION.
•USINGASTOVEWITHCRACKEDORBROKENCOMPONENTS,SUCHASGLASSORFIREBRICKS
ORBAFFLESMAYPRODUCEANUNSAFECONDITIONANDMAYDAMAGETHESTOVE.
•OPENTHEAIRCONTROLFULLYBEFOREOPENINGFIRINGDOOR.
•THISSTOVE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STOVEUNATTENDEDWHEN
THEDOORISOPENEDWITHORWITHOUTFIRESCREEN.
•NEVERUSEGASOLINE,GASOLINE‐TYPELANTERNFUEL(NAPHTHA),FUELOIL,MOTOROIL,
KEROSENE,CHARCOALLIGHTERFLUID,ORSIMILARLIQUIDSORAEROSOLSTOSTARTOR
‘FRESHENUP’AFIREINTHISSTOVE.KEEPALLSUCHLIQUIDSORAEROSOLSWELLAWAY
FROMTHESTOVEWHILEITISINUSE.
•DONOTSTOREFUELWITHINHEATERMINIMUMINSTALLATIONCLEARANCES.
•BURNONLYSEASONEDNATURALFIREWOOD.
•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,OR
oRAILROADTIES.

•DONOTELEVATETHEFIREBYUSINGAGRATEINTHISSTOVE.
•THISAPPLIANCESHOULDBEMAINTAINEDANDOPERATEDATALLTIMESINACCORDANCE
WITHTHESEINSTRUCTIONS.
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MatrixInstallationandOperationManual
_______________________________________________________________________________7
2GENERALINFORMATION
2.1 MATRIXSPECIFICATIONS
FuelTypeCordwood
TestStandards(safety)ULCS627,UL737andUL1482
TestStandard(emissions)EPAMethod28(40CFRPart60)
Heatingcapacityrange*500to2,100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.(22kW/h)
Optimumefficiency77,2%
TestStandard(efficiency)CSAB415.1‐10
ApproximateBurnTime6to8hours
ShippingWeight535lb(243kg)
FireboxVolume2,4cu.ft.(0,068m3)
MaximumLogLength20"east‐west***
FlueOutletDiameter: 6"(150mm)diameter(vertical)
BaffleMaterialC‐cast

*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stove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OsburnMatrixwoodstove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stove.Wholehousezoneheatingworksbestwhenthestove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stove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stove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stove,thesize,layoutandageofyourhomeandyourclimatezone.Three‐season
vacationhomescanusuallybeheatedwithsmallerstovesthanhousesthatareheatedallwinter.

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2.3 THEBENEFITSOFLOWEMISSIONSANDHIGHEFFICIENCY
ThelowsmokeemissionsproducedbythespecialfeaturesinsidetheOsburnMatrixfireboxmean
thatyourhouseholdwillreleaseupto90percentlesssmokeintotheoutsideenvironmentthanif
youusedanolderconventionalstove.Butthereismoretotheemissioncontroltechnologiesthan
protectingtheenvironment.
Thesmokereleasedfromwoodwhenitisheatedcontainsabouthalfoftheenergycontentofthe
fuel.Byburningthewoodcompletely,yourstovereleasesalltheheatenergyfromthewood
insteadofwastingitassmokeupthechimney.Also,thefeaturesinsidethefireboxallowyouto
reducetheairsupplytocontrolheatoutput,whilemaintainingcleanandefficientflaming
combustion,whichbooststheefficientdeliveryofheattoyourhome.
Theemissioncontrolandadvancedcombustionfeaturesofyourstovecanonlyworkproperlyif
yourfuelisinthecorrectmoisturecontentrangeof15to20percent.SeeSectionA3.0ofthis
manualforsuggestionsonpreparingfuelwoodandjudgingitsmoisture.

2.4 THESBICOMMITMENTTOYOUANDTHEENVIRONMENT
TheSBIteamarecommittedtoprotectingtheenvironment,sowedoeverythingwecantouse
onlymaterialsinourproductsthatwillhavenolastingnegativeimpactontheenvironment.
2.4.1 WHATISYOURNEWSTOVEMADEOF?
Thebodyofyourstove,whichismostofitsweight,iscarbonsteel.Shoulditeverbecome
necessarymanyyearsinthefuture,almosttheentirestovecanberecycledintonewproducts,
thuseliminatingtheneedtominenewmaterials.
Thepaintcoatonyourstoveisverythin.ItsVOCcontent(VolatileOrganicComponents)isvery
low.VOCscanberesponsibleforsmog,soallthepaintusedduringthemanufacturingprocess
meetsthelatestairqualityrequirementswithregardstoVOCreductionorelimination.
Theairtubesarestainlesssteel,whichcanalsoberecycled.
TheC‐Castbaffleismadeofanaluminosilicatefibrematerialthatiscompressedwithabinderto
formarigidboard.C‐Castcanwithstandtemperaturesabove2,000°F.Itisnotconsidered
hazardouswaste.Disposalatalandfillisrecommended.
Firebrickismainlycomposedofsilicondioxide,alsoknownassilica,anearthderivedproduct.Itis
mostcommonlyfoundinnatureintheformofsandandclay.Disposalatalandfillis
recommended.
Thedoorandglassgasketsarefibreglasswhichisspunfrommeltedsand.Blackgasketshavebeen
dippedintoasolvent‐freesolution.Disposalatalandfillisrecommended.
Thedoorglassisa5mmthickceramicmaterialthatcontainsnotoxicchemicals.Itisbasically
madeofrawearthmaterialssuchassandandquartzthatarecombinedinsuchawaytoforma
glassathightemperatures.Ceramicglasswillnotre‐meltinthesamewayasnormalglass,soit
shouldnotberecycledwithyourregularhouseholdproducts.Disposalatalandfillis
recommended.

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3FUEL
3.1 MATERIALSTHATSHOULDNOTBEBURNED
•GARBAGEOFANYKIND,
•COALORCHARCOAL,
•TREATED,PAINTEDORCOATEDWOOD,
•PLYWOODORPARTICLEBOARD,
•FINEPAPER,COLOREDPAPERORCARDBOARD,
•SALTWATERDRIFTWOOD
•MANUFACTUREDLOGSCONTAININGWAXORCHEMICALADDITIVES
•RAILROADTIES
•LIQUIDSSUCHASKEROSCENEORDIESELFUELTOSTARTAFIRE
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3.2 HOWTOPREPAREORBUYGOODFIREWOOD
3.2.1 WHATISGOODFIREWOOD?
Goodfirewoodhasbeencuttothecorrectlengthforthestove,splittoarangeofsizesand
stackedintheopenuntilitsmoisturecontentisreducedto15to20percent.
3.2.2 TREESPECIES
Thetreespeciesthefirewoodisproducedfromislessimportantthanitsmoisturecontent.The
maindifferenceinfirewoodfromvarioustreespeciesisthedensityofthewood.Hardwoodsare
denserthansoftwoods.PeoplewholiveinthecoldestregionsofNorthAmericausuallyhaveonly
spruce,birchandpoplar,otherlow‐densityspeciestoburnandyettheycanheattheirhomes
successfully.
Homeownerswithaccesstobothhardwoodandsoftwoodfuelsometimesusebothtypesfor
differentpurposes.Forexample,softerwoodsmakegoodfuelforrelativelymildweatherinspring
andfallbecausetheylightquicklyandproducelessheatSoftwoodsarenotasdenseashardwoods
soagivenvolumeofwoodcontainslessenergy.Usingsoftwoodsavoidsoverheatingthehouse,
whichcanbeacommonproblemwithwoodheatinginmoderateweather.Harderwoodsarebest
forcolderwinterweatherwhenmoreheatandlongerburncyclesaredesirable.
Notethathardwoodtreeslikeoak,maple,ashandbeechareslowergrowingandlongerlivedthan
softerwoodslikepoplarandbirch.Thatmakeshardwoodtreesmorevaluable.Theadvicethat

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onlyhardwoodsaregoodtoburnisoutdated.Old,leakycastironstoveswouldn’tholdafire
overnightunlesstheywerefedlargepiecesofhardwood.Thatisnolongertrue.Youcan
successfullyheatyourhomebyusingthelessdesirabletreespeciesandgivetheforestabreakat
thesametime.
3.2.3 LOGLENGTH
Logsshouldbecutabout1”(25mm)shorterthanthefireboxsotheyfitineasily.Piecesthatare
evenslightlytoolongmakeloadingthestoveverydifficult.Themostcommonstandardlengthof
firewoodis16”(400mm).
Thepiecesshouldbeaconsistentlength,withamaximumof1”(25mm)variationfrompieceto
piece.

3.2.4 PIECESIZE
Firewooddriesmorequicklywhenitissplit.Largeunsplitroundscantakeyearstodryenoughto
burn.Evenwhendried,unsplitlogsaredifficulttoignitebecausetheydon’thavethesharpedges
wheretheflamesfirstcatch.Logsassmallas3”(75mm)shouldbesplittoencouragedrying.
 

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Woodshouldbesplittoarangeofsizes,fromabout3”to6”(75mmto150mm)incrosssection.
Havingarangeofsizesmakesstartingandrekindlingfiresmucheasier.Often,thefirewood
purchasedfromcommercialsuppliersisnotsplitfinelyenoughforconvenientstoking.Itis
sometimesadvisabletoresplitthewoodbeforestackingtodry.
3.2.5 HOWTODRYFIREWOOD
Firewoodthatisnotdryenoughtoburnisthecauseofmostcomplaintsaboutwoodstoves.The
complaintsusuallyinvolvealackofheatanddirtydoorglass.


Herearesomethingstoconsiderinestimatingdryingtime:
•firewoodtakesalongtimetodry
•firewoodboughtfromadealerisrarelydryenoughtoburn,soitisadvisabletobuythewood
inspringanddryityourself
•dryinghappensfasterindryweatherthanindamp,maritimeclimates
•dryinghappensfasterinwarmsummerweatherthaninwinterweather
•smallpiecesdrymorequicklythanlargepieces
•splitpiecesdrymorequicklythanunsplitrounds
•softwoodstakelesstimetodrythanhardwoods
•softwoodslikepine,spruce,andpoplar/aspencanbedryenoughtoburnafterbeingstacked
intheopenforonlythesummermonths
•hardwoodslikeoak,mapleandashcantakeone,oreventwoyearstodryfully,especiallyif
thepiecesarebig
•firewooddriesmorequicklywhenstackedintheopenwhereitisexposedtosunandwind;it
takesmuchlongertodrywhenstackedinawoodshed
•firewoodthatisreadytoburnhasamoisturecontentbetween15and20%byweightandwill
allowyourstovetoproduceitshighestpossibleefficiency

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3.2.6 WHERETOSTOREWOOD
Thisstovehasbeencertifiedtostorelogsinthepedestalprovidedthatthefollowingrequirements
aremet:
Thelogsmustnotexceedtheinsideedge
(A)ofthepedestal.
Theheatshieldbaffle(B)underthefirebox
mustneverberemoved.
Nocombustiblematerialcanbeplaced
abovetheheatshieldbaffle.

3.2.7 JUDGINGFIREWOODMOISTURECONTENT
Youcanfindoutifsomefirewoodisdryenoughtoburnbyusingtheseguidelines:
•cracksformattheendsoflogsastheydry
•asitdriesinthesun,thewoodturnsfromwhiteorcreamcolouredtogreyoryellow,
•bangtwopiecesofwoodtogether;seasonedwoodsoundshollowandwetwoodsoundsdull,
•drywoodismuchlighterinweightthanwetwood,
•splitapiece,andifthefreshfacefeelswarmanddryitisdryenoughtoburn;ifitfeelsdamp,it
istoowet,
•burnapiece;wetwoodhissesandsizzlesinthefireanddrywooddoesnot.

Youcouldbuyawoodmoisturemetertotestyour
firewood.

MatrixInstallationandOperationManual
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3.3 MANUFACTUREDLOGS
Donotburnmanufacturedlogsmadeofwaximpregnatedsawdustorlogswithanychemical
additives.Manufacturedlogsmadeof100%compressedsawdustcanbeburned,butusecaution
inthenumberoftheselogsburnedatonetime.Startwithonemanufacturedlogandseehowthe
stovereacts.Youcanincreasethenumberoflogsburnedatatimetomakingsurethe
temperatureneverriseshigherthan475°F(246°C)onamagneticthermometerforinstallationon
singlewallstovepipesor900°F(482°C)onaprobethermometerforinstallationondoublewall
stovepipe.Thethermometershouldbeplacedabout18”(457mm)abovethestove.Higher
temperaturescanleadtooverheatanddamageyourstove.



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16______________________________________________________________________________
4OPERATINGYOURSTOVE
4.1 THEUSEOFAFIRESCREEN
Thisstovehasbeentestedforusewithanopendoorinconjunctionwithafirescreen(AC01315,
soldseparately).Makesurethefirescreenisproperlysecuredonthestovetoavoidanyriskof
fire.Whenthefirescreenisused,itisimportantnottoleavethestoveunattendedtorespond
promptlyintheeventofsmokespillageintotheroom.Potentialcausesofsmokespillageare
describedinsectionheightofthismanual.SeeAppendix4:InstallingtheFireScreen(AC01315)
forinstallationinstructions.

4.2 YOURFIRSTFIRES
Twothingswillhappenasyouburnyourfirstfewfires;thepaintcuresandtheinternal
componentsofthestoveareconditioned.
Asthepaintcures,someofthechemicalsvaporize.Thevaporsarenotpoisonous,buttheydo
smellbad.Freshpaintfumescanalsocausefalsealarmsinsmokedetectors.So,whenyoufirst
lightyourstove,bepreparedbyopeningdoorsand/orwindowstoventilatethehouse.Asyou
burnhotterandhotterfires,moreofthepaintedsurfacesreachthecuringtemperatureofthe
paint.Thesmellofcuringpaintdoesnotdisappearuntilyouhaveburnedoneortwoveryhot
fires.
Burnoneortwosmallfirestobeginthecuringandconditioningprocess.Thenbuildbiggerand
hotterfiresuntilthereisnolongeranypaintsmellfromthestove.Oncethepaintsmell
disappears,yourstoveisreadyforseriousheating.

4.3 LIGHTINGFIRES
Eachpersonwhoheatswithwooddevelopstheirownfavoritewaytolightfires.Whatever
methodyouchoose,yourgoalshouldbetogetahotfireburningquickly.Afirethatstartsfast
produceslesssmokeanddepositslesscreosoteinthechimney.Herearethreepopularand
effectivewaystostartwoodfires.

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4.3.1 CONVENTIONALFIRESTARTING
Theconventionalwaytobuildawoodfire
istobunchup5to10sheetsofplain
newspaperandplacetheminthefirebox.
Next,place10orsopiecesoffinekindling
onthenewspaper.Thiskindlingshouldbe
verythin;lessthan1”(25mm).Next,place
somelargerkindlingpiecesonthefine
kindling.Opentheaircontrolfullyand
lightthenewspaper.Ifyouhaveatall,
straightventingsystemyoushouldbeable
toclosethedoorimmediatelyandthefire
willignite.Ifyourventingsystemhas
elbowsoranoutsidechimney,youmay
needtoleavethedoorclosedbut
unlatchedforafewminutesasthe
newspaperignitesandheatinthechimney
producessomedraft.Oncethefirehas
ignited,closethedoorandleavetheair
controlfullyopen.

Aconventionalkindlingfirewithpaper
underfinelysplitwood.
DONOTLEAVETHESTOVEUNATTENDEDWHENTHEDOORISSLIGHTLYOPENEDDURING
IGNITION.ALWAYSCLOSETHEDOORAFTERIGNITION.
Afterthekindlingfirehasmostlyburned,youcanaddstandardfirewoodpiecesuntilyouhavea
fireoftherightsizefortheconditions.
4.3.2 THETOPDOWNFIRE
Thetopdownfirestartingmethodsolvestwoproblemswiththeconventionalmethod:first,it
doesnotcollapseandsmotheritselfasitburns;andsecond,itisnotnecessarytobuildupthefire
graduallybecausethefireboxisloadedbeforethefireislit.Atopdownfirecanprovideuptotwo
hoursofheatingormore.Thetopdownmethodonlyworksproperlyifthewoodiswell‐seasoned.
Startbyplacingthreeorfourfull‐sizedsplitpiecesofdryfirewoodinthefirebox.Next,place4or5
morefinelysplitpiecesoffirewood(2”to3”[50mmto75mm]india.)onthebaselogsatright
angles(logcabinstyle).Nowplaceabout10piecesoffinelysplitkindlingonthesecondlayerat
rightangles.
Thefireistoppedwithabout5sheetsofnewspaper.Youcanjustbunchthemupandstuffthemin
betweenthekindlingandtheundersideofthebaffle.Oryoucanmakenewspaperknotsbyrolling
upsinglesheetscornertocornerandtyingaknotinthem.Theadvantageofknotsisthatthey
don’trolloffthefireastheyburn.Lightthenewspaperandwatchasthefireburnsfromtopto
bottom.

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18______________________________________________________________________________
4.3.3 TWOPARALLELLOGS
Placetwospitlogsinthefirebox.Placeafewsheetsoftwistednewspaperbetweenthelogs.Now
placesomefinekindlingacrossthetwologsandsomelargerkindlingacrossthose,logcabinstyle.
Lightthenewspaper.
4.3.4 USINGFIRESTARTERS
Manypeopleliketousecommercialfirestartersinsteadofnewspaper.Someofthesestartersare
madeofsawdustandwaxandothersarespecializedflammablesolidchemicals.Followthe
packagedirectionsforuse.
Gelstartermaybeusedbutonlyiftherearenohotemberspresent.Useonlyinacoldfireboxto
startafire.
DONOTUSEFLAMMABLELIQUIDSSUCHASGASOLINE,NAPHTHA,FUELOIL,MOTOROIL,OR
AEROSOLSTOSTARTORREKINDLETHEFIRE.

4.4 MAINTAININGWOODFIRES
4.4.1 GENERALADVICE
Woodheatingwithaspaceheaterisverydifferentthanotherformsofheating.Therewillbe
variationsinthetemperatureindifferentpartsofthehouseandtherewillbevariationsin
temperaturethroughoutthedayandnight.Thisisnormal,andforexperiencedwoodburners
theseareadvantagesofzoneheatingwithwood.
Donotexpectsteadyheatoutputfromyourstove.Itisnormalforitssurfacetemperaturetorise
afteranewloadofwoodisignitedandforitstemperaturetograduallydeclineasthefire
progresses.Thisrisingandfallingoftemperaturecanbematchedtoyourhouseholdroutines.For
example,theareatemperaturecanbecoolerwhenyouareactive,suchaswhendoinghousework
orcooking,anditcanbewarmerwhenyouareinactive,suchaswhenreadingorwatching
television.
Woodburnsbestincycles.Acyclestartswhenanewloadofwoodisignitedbyhotcoalsandends
whenthatloadhasbeenconsumeddowntoabedofcharcoalaboutthesamesizeasitwaswhen
thewoodwasloaded.Donotattempttoproduceasteadyheatoutputbyplacingasinglelogon
thefireatregularintervals.Alwaysplaceatleastthree,andpreferablymore,piecesonthefireat
atimesothattheheatradiatedfromonepiecehelpstoignitethepiecesnexttoit.Eachloadof
woodshouldprovideseveralhoursofheating.Thesizeofeachloadcanbematchedtothe
amountofheatneeded.
Whenyouburnincycles,yourarelyneedtoopenthestove’sloadingdoorwhilethewoodis
flaming.Thisisanadvantagebecausethereismorechancethatsmokewillleakfromthestove
whenthedoorisopenedasafullfireisburning.Thisisespeciallytrueifthechimneyconnector
has90degreeelbowsandifthechimneyrunsuptheoutsidewallofthehouse.

MatrixInstallationandOperationManual
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IFYOUMUSTOPENTHEDOORWHILETHEFUELISFLAMING,OPENTHEAIRCONTROLFULLYFOR
AFEWMINUTES,THENUNLATCHANDOPENTHEDOORSLOWLY.
4.4.2 ASHREMOVAL
Ashshouldberemovedfromthefireboxeverytwoorthreedaysoffulltimeheating.Donotlet
theashbuildupinthefireboxbecauseitwillinterferewithproperfiremanagement.
Thebesttimetoremoveashisafteranovernightfirewhenthestoveisrelativelycool,butthereis
stillsomechimneydrafttodrawtheashdustintothestoveandpreventitfromcomingintothe
room.
Afterasheshavebeenremovedfromthestoveandplacedinatightlycoveredmetalcontainer,
theyshouldbetakenoutsideimmediately.Theclosedcontainerofashesshouldbeplacedona
non‐combustiblefloororonthegroundwellawayfromallcombustiblematerialspendingfinal
disposal.Ashesnormallycontainsomelivecharcoalthatcanstayhotforseveraldays.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.Otherwasteshallnotbeplacedinthis
container.
NEVERSTOREASHESINDOORSORINANON‐METALICCONTAINERORONAWOODENDECK.
4.4.3 RAKINGCHARCOAL
Rekindlethefirewhenyounoticethattheroomtemperaturehasfallen.Youwillfindmostofthe
remainingcharcoalatthebackofthefirebox,furthestfromthedoor.Rakethesecoalstowards
thedoorbeforeloading.Therearetworeasonsforthisrakingofthecoals.First,itconcentrates
themnearwheremostofthecombustionairentersthefireboxandwheretheycanignitethenew
loadquickly,andsecond,thecharcoalwillnotbesmotheredbythenewloadofwood.Ifyouwere
tosimplyspreadthecharcoalout,thenewloadwillsmoulderforalongtimebeforeigniting.

Removeashfirst,andthenrakecharcoaltowardsthefrontofthefireboxbeforeloadingsothatit
willignitethenewload.

MatrixInstallationandOperationManual
20______________________________________________________________________________
4.4.4 FIRINGEACHNEWLOADHOT
Placethenewloadofwoodonandbehindthecharcoal,andnottooclosetotheglass.Closethe
doorandopentheaircontrolfully.Leavetheaircontrolfullyopenuntilthefireboxisfullof
flames,thewoodhascharredtoblackanditsedgesareglowingred.Firingeachloadofwoodhot
accomplishesafewthings:
•drivesthesurfacemoisturefromthewood,
•createsalayerofcharonthewood,whichslowsdownitsreleaseofsmoke,
•heatsthefireboxcomponentssotheyreflectheatbacktothefire,and
•heatsthechimneysoitcanproducestrong,steadydraftfortherestofthecycle.
Althoughitisimportanttofireeachnewloadhottoprepareforacleanburn,donotallowthefire
toburnatfullintensityformorethanafewminutes.
DONOTLEAVETHESTOVEUNATTENDEDWHILEANEWLOADISBEINGFIREDHOT.
Whenyouburnanewloadofwoodhottoheatupthewood,thestoveandthechimney,the
resultwillbeasurgeofheatfromthestove.Thisheatsurgeiswelcomewhentheroom
temperatureisalittlelowerthandesirable,butnotwelcomeifthespaceisalreadywarm.
Therefore,alloweachloadofwoodtoburndownsothatthespacebeginstocooloffalittle
beforeloading.Lettingthespacecoolbeforeloadingisoneofthesecretstocleanburningand
effectivezoneheating.
4.4.5 TURNINGDOWNTHEAIRSUPPLY
Oncethefirewood,fireboxandchimneyarehot,youcanbegintoreducetheairsupplyfora
steadyburn.
Asyoureducetheairsupplytothefire,twoimportantthingshappen.First,thefiringrateslows
downtospreadtheheatenergyinthefueloveralongerperiodoftime.Second,theflowrateof
exhaustthroughthestoveandfluepipeslowsdown,whichgivesmoretimeforthetransferof
heatfromtheexhaust.Youwillnoticethatasyoureducetheairsetting,theflamesslowdown.
Thisisyourindicationthatthestoveisburningatitspeakefficiency.
Iftheflamesgetsmallandalmostdisappearwhenyouturndowntheair,youhaveturneddown
theairtooearly,oryourfirewoodiswetterthanitshouldbe.Withgoodfuelandcorrectair
controluse,theflamesshouldslowdown,butshouldstaylargeandsteady,evenastheairsupply
isreduced.