Archgard 60-1600I - Manual (Page 16)

Chalet 1600I 16
VENT SPECIFICATIONS
Your CHALET 1600I WOOD Fireplace Insert was de-
signed for and tested on a 6” (152mm) chimney,
15’ (4.57m) high, (includes insert height) measured from
the base of the insert. The further your stack height or di-
ameter varies from this configuration, the greater the possi-
bility of performance problems. In addition, exterior condi-
tions such as roof line, surrounding trees, prevailing winds
and nearby hills can influence insert performance. Your
local dealer is the expert in your geographic area and can
usually make suggestions or discover solutions that will
correct any flue problem you may have, allowing your wood
insert and its flue system to operate correctly and provide
safe and economical heat for your home.
OPERATION
Air quality is important to all of us, and if we choose to use
wood to heat our homes, we should do so responsibly. To
do this, we need to learn to burn our inserts in the cleanest
way possible. Doing this will allow us to continue using our
wood inserts for many years to come.
WARNING: Do not operate with insert door open. It can
over fire your appliance, gas and flame may be drawn
out of the fireplace stove opening, creating risks from
both fire and smoke.
AIR CONTROL - PRIMARY AIR SYSTEM
(DRAFT CONTROL)
The primary air enters at the base of the firebox and travels
through passages toward the upper front of the firebox,
near the top of the glass door. This preheated air supplies
the necessary fresh oxygen to mix with the unburned
gases, helping to create secondary combustions. This air
is regulated by the Primary Control at the bottom left side of
the appliance. For more primary air, pull the control out.
For less air, push the control in.
Pull this control all the way out when first starting the insert.
Once the fire has been established you may adjust this
control to set the burn rate of the fire. If this damper is
closed at first start-up, the fire will burn very slowly and
could soot the appliance.
When shutting down the insert, fully open the air control.
This allows the chimney temperatures to remain as high as
possible for as long as possible. Cold chimney tempera-
tures create creosote.
FIRST FIRE
1. The first step in building a fire is to open the air control.
2. Crumple four or five sheets of newspaper and put them
on the firebox in the centre of the heater (never use a
grate or build the fire off the floor of the insert)– be gen-
erous and you will have more success. Hold the paper
down with 10 to 15 pieces of dry kindling. Softwoods,
such as cedar and pine, make good kindling (use the
species available in your region).
Place the kindling on and behind the newspaper, so
that the combustion air reaches the newspaper first
where you light it. It is also a good idea to add one or
two small pieces of dry firewood to the kindling load
before lighting.
3. Light the newspaper and close (but don’t latch) the
door. When the paper is flaming brightly and the kin-
dling catches and the chimney is producing strong
draft, latch the door. CAUTION: Never leave the unit
unattended if door is left open. This procedure is
for start-up only, as the unit may over-heat if the
door is left open for too long.
4. When the flames from the kindling load begin to sub-
side, gradually add several small pieces of wood. Avoid
smothering the fire with the new wood. Place the
pieces on and behind the burning kindling. Wood
should be flaming until it is reduced to charcoal. Never
let a fire smoulder because smouldering wastes wood.
For the first few hours, the insert will give off an odor
from the paint. You may want to leave some windows
and/or doors open to provide adequate ventilation
while this temporary condition exists. In some in-
stances, your smoke detector may alarm. Do not build
hot fires in your insert for the first few days until the
paint has had a chance to cure with some moderate
fires.
5. Before opening your door to reload, open the draft fully
for approximately 10 to 15 seconds until the fire has
been reestablished. This will minimize any smoking.
All fuel burning appliances consume oxygen during opera-
tion. It is important that you supply a source of fresh air to
your unit while burning.
Ignore the fire until you notice the room, space or house
cooling off. A new load cools the firebox, so it needs to be
heated up again. Then add the right amount of wood to suit
the conditions. Wood burns best in cycles. A cycle starts
when wood is placed on and behind a raked coal bed. A
cycle ends when the load is reduced to the same sized coal
bed. Do not force wood into the firebox to try and fill it.
We recommend that when you first fire up your CHALET
1600I WOOD Fireplace Insert, you leave a door and/or win-
dow open in order to vent the smoke that may be created
from the unit’s paint curing. The paint will smell a little for
the first burn or two as it cures.