Archgard 10-1800P - Manual (Page 30)

Chalet 1800 30
WOOD (cont’d)
The size of the firewood pieces affects the rate of combustion. Large pieces ignite and release their en-
ergy slower than small pieces. Smaller, more finely split pieces are better for short, hot fires, while larger
pieces suit extended firing cycles. The largest piece of wood for your Chalet 1800 should be no more
than about 15 cm (6 in.) across and 18” long.
Another factor that affects how firewood burns is the wood's condition. Wood that has been lying on
the ground or has been cut too long ago and starting to rot, will be difficult to burn. Store two or three
days' supply of wood indoors, making sure that it is clean and dry. In winter, when you bring wood di-
rectly in from the cold outdoors and immediately load it into the appliance, it may initially cool the fire
and prevent proper combustion. Remember, storing wet wood indoors could create mould inside the
house, so you should limit the amount of wood that you store inside.
Several tree species are used for firewood, and those you choose will affect your wood-burning system.
The energy content of wood per dry kilogram (i.e., per unit of weight) is similar regardless of species
(approximately 8,600 BTU/lb at 15% moisture content). However, the energy output from each piece of
wood (weight per unit volume) of various species differs widely. Wood is generally sold by volume (cords),
which means the energy per cord can differ widely among different species of wood. In general, hard-
woods like maple and oak are denser and have more energy per piece than soft-woods such as pine,
spruce and cedar.
Burn only dry seasoned wood. Store wood under cover, out of the rain and snow. Well-seasoned wood will
not only minimize the chance of creosote formation, but will give you the most efficient fire. Even dry wood
contains under 20% moisture by weight and should be burned hot enough to dry the wood out. The Chalet
1800 high-efficiency stove burns both hardwood and softwood equally well.
Dead wood lying on the forest floor should be considered wet, and requires full seasoning time. Standing
dead wood can be considered to be about two-thirds seasoned. The best way to tell if wood is dry enough
to burn, is to use a moisture meter. If your wood sizzles in the fire, even though the surface is dry, it may
not be fully seasoned.
Splitting wood before it is stored reduces drying time. Wood should be stacked so that both ends of each
piece are exposed to air, since more drying occurs through the cut ends than the sides. This is true even
with wood that has been split.
Store wood off the ground , under cover, such as in a shed, or covered with a tarp, plastic, tar paper, sheets
of scrap plywood, etc., as uncovered wood can absorb water from rain or snow. Also, leave the sides ex-
posed to the air to make sure that air can flow around the woodpile so that there will be no delaying the sea-
soning process.