Vermont Casting 2463 - Manual (Page 17)

17
Dutchwest
7001219
Damper Function
The Damper is operated by moving the handle on
the upper left side of the stove. (Fig. 23) It has two
positions: OPEN, to start the fire and load fuel, and
CLOSED, for greatest efficiency and heat. When the
damper is closed, exhaust gases pass through an insu-
lated catalytic burner before flowing into the chimney.
Use the door insert handle to rotate the damper handle.
Turn it counterclockwise to open the damper and clock-
wise to close it. You will feel resistance as the damper
mechanism engages into the open (counterclockwise)
position.
The stove damper must be open when you start a fire,
load fuel, or before you open either door for any reason.
Load Doors
A Side Loading Door allows the easiest loading of
wood logs. The Front Door opens for adding an occa-
sional log to the fire. Always be sure to open the stove
damper before opening either door.
Successful Wood Burning
Woodburning is often said to be more of an art than a
science. You’ll easily master the art if you start by using
good, dry fuel and by understanding how the stove’s air
supply system operates.
Burn Only High-Quality Fuel
Your heater is designed to burn natural wood only. Do
not burn other fuels. Never burn pressure-treated wood,
painted or stained wood, or glossy newsprint.
High efficiencies and low emissions are possible when
burning air-dried, seasoned woods as compared to soft-
woods or freshly cut hardwoods. Avoid burning “green”
wood that has not been properly seasoned.
The best hardwood fuels include oak, maple, beech,
ash, and hickory that has been split, stacked, and
air-dried outside under cover for at least one year. If
hardwood is not available, tamarack, yellow pine, white
pine, Eastern red cedar, fir, and redwood are softwoods
that are commonly burned. They too should be prop-
erly dried. The length of the wood should be the same
as that specified for your particular stove. Avoid using
wood that has been dried more than two years. Often
gray in color, this wood burns very quickly, resulting in
short burn time and diminished stove performance. If
you must burn it, mix it in with greener wood to slow the
burn.
Store your firewood under cover to keep it dry. Even for
short-term storage, keep wood a safe distance from the
heater and keep it clear of the areas around the heater
used for refueling and ash removal.
ST435
dutchwest
damper open
7/6/00 djt
Door Insert Handle
Open
ST435
ST436
dutchwest
damper closed
7/6/00 djt
Closed
ST436
Fig. 23 Damper operating positions.