Archgard 10-1800P - Manual (Page 28)

Chalet 1800 28
CREOSOTE AND CHIMNEY FIRES
When wood burns slowly - as it often does in a conventional, air-tight stove or furnace - it makes a
smoky fire and produces more creosote deposits than a quick, hot fire does. Creosote is a highly flamma-
ble material. If it ignites near the base of the chimney, it can produce a raging fire that travels up the
chimney, creating extremely high temperatures as it spreads. The high temperature can damage the clay
liners in a masonry chimney or the metal liner in a factory-built chimney. Although 650°C/2100
o F chim-
neys can withstand these temperatures, the heat causes extreme stress in the chimney.
Chimney fires result from poor firing techniques combined with a lack of maintenance. If unsea-soned
wood (wood that hasn't been dried enough) is burned slowly in an old "airtight" heater, creosote can
build up quickly and the risk of a chimney fire increases. When you operate wood-burning appliances
properly, some creosote may still be deposited, but it will be less combustible. Instead of the black, tarry,
highly flammable creosote from smoldering fires, proper firing may create small amounts of soft, flaky
and dark brown deposits.
You can prevent chimney fires. Have your chimney checked for creosote deposits regularly, until you find
out how quickly it builds up in the system. Conventional wood heaters can produce creosote quickly be-
cause they can't burn the wood as completely as advanced combustion designs. In severe cases of smol-
dering, it may take only a few days for enough creosote to build up to sustain a chimney fire. The new,
low-emission wood stoves, like the Archgard Chalet 1800 burn the wood so completely that, when oper-
ated properly, their chimneys normally need cleaning only once a year.
Never assume that the chimney is clean. Check it regularly to be sure, especially during the spring and fall.
If you do have a chimney fire, have the chimney inspected and repaired, if necessary, before using the sys-
tem again. A chimney fire is a clear sign of a problem with the appliance, the fuel or the way the system is
operated. Make changes to avoid chimney fires in the future. Using an energy-efficient wood-burning appli-
ance, like the Archgard Chalet 1800 , coupled with good installation and proper burning techniques, dra-
matically lowers the chance of a chimney fire.
AVOIDING A CHIMNEY FIRE
There are two ways to avoid chimney fires:
1. Do not let creosote build up to a point where a chimney fire is possible.
2. Do not have fires in the stove that may ignite chimney fires.
These are hot fires, such as when burning household trash, cardboard, Christmas tree limbs.
Remember, this is a wood stove, not a garbage burner.
FAILURE TO INSPECT AND CLEAN YOUR CHIMNEY SYSTEM REGULARLY CAN RESULT
IN A CHIMNEY FIRE, WHICH COULD DAMAGE THE CHIMNEY OR CAUSE A HOUSE FIRE.