Vermont Casting 2170 - Manual (Page 25)

25
Dutchwest Seneca
2006063
• Carefully remove the refractory package. It is
extremely delicate and should be handled as little as
possible.
• For a visual inspection for blockage that can be
performed without removing the combustor, have an
assistant shine a bright flashlight beam up through the
combustor from inside the stove’s firebox.
• If combustor removal is necessary for cleaning or
closer inspection, lift it gently out of its chamber. Check
the combustor and the bottom of the refractory cham-
ber for a buildup of fly ash, and remove any ash by
gently blowing air through the combustor. Do not brush
the surface, as this could damage the element.
• Inspect the combustor, referring to the information in
the “Catalytic Combustor Appendix” on Page 27 for
information on what to look for. Although small hairline
cracks will not affect performance, the combustor
should be essentially intact. If the combustor is broken
in pieces or has sections missing, it should be replaced.
Call your local Dutchwest dealer for a replacement
combustor, item #CB56. Consult the warranty section at
the back of this manual for further information on
catalytic combustor replacement.
• If the combustor is in good condition and clean,
reinstall it. Be sure first to carefully wrap a new
Interam® gasket (an extra was provided with your
stove) around its perimeter before replacement. Insert
the gasketed combustor back into position, and replace
the refractory package.
• Before replacing the stove top, check the damper. If
the gasket is intact, but the damper is not locking tightly,
adjustment should be made. Directions for adjusting the
damper are on Page 23. Also check the gasket that
seals the top plate.
• Gasket should be replaced only if damaged or
missing. The top plate and gasket both are sealed with
a 3/8” gasket. The procedure for removing the old
gasket and installing the new is the same as that
described for door gaskets on Page 22.
• Replace the stove top, and secure it by tightening
the two top plate bolts from inside the firebox. Be sure
that the top plate seats properly before tightening, and
tighten the bolts gradually and alternately.
Watch for Better Results
Finish up by cleaning the chimney and chimney con-
nector. Then, operate the stove in a typical manner for
two weeks and observe the stove’s performance, taking
particular note of the performance tests described
above.
If a problem persists, contact your local dealer for
further advice about your particular situation.
A Clean Chimney System is
Safer and Works Better
Learn to Recognize Creosote and Soot
When you first begin using the stove, check daily for
creosote - a substance that can look like either thick tar
or black, crisp flakes. Experience will show how often
you need to clean to be safe. The frequency may even
vary during the year. In the colder months when the
hottest fires producing the least creosote are burned,
you may need to clean less frequently. During the
warmer months when creosote is more likely to result
from cooler-burning fires, more frequent cleaning may
be necessary.
At the very least, inspect the chimney and chimney
connector twice monthly. Clean if necessary. Let the
stove cool to determine if a buildup of creosote or soot
has occurred. If a significant layer of creosote has
accumulated (1/8” [3mm]), or if soot has built up, either
should be removed to reduce the risk of a chimney fire.
Failure to keep the chimney and connector system
clean can result in a serious chimney fire.
The conditions for a chimney fire develop like this:
When wood is burned slowly, it produces tar and other
organic vapors, which combine with expelled moisture
to form creosote. 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
within the flue system which can damage the chimney
and overheat adjacent combustible material.
To reduce the amount of creosote that may form,
remember to provide adequate air for combustion and
to strive for small, intense fires rather than large,
smoldering ones.
You can never be too safe. Contact your local fire
authority for information on what to do in the event of a
chimney fire, and have a clearly defined plan on how to
handle one.
Inspect Chimney Connector and Chimney
Twice Monthly and Clean as Required
Let the stove cool completely before you inspect the
chimney. Then, using a strong light, sight up through
the flue collar into the chimney flue. If it is not possible
to inspect the flue system in this fashion, the stove
must be disconnected to provide adequate viewing.
Clean the chimney using a specially designed chimney
cleaning brush, the same size and shape as the flue
liner, attached to flexible fiberglass rods designed for
this purpose. Run the brush up and down the liner so
that any deposits fall to the bottom of the chimney
where they can be removed through the clean-out door.