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2.1 Kindling and lighting intervals2.1 Kindling and lighting intervals
2.1 Kindling and lighting intervals2.1 Kindling and lighting intervals
2.1 Kindling and lighting intervals
Kindling requires a large volume of air. If you start with a completely cold stove, it
will help if you keep the door ajar for the first 5 minutes as well as fully opening the
primary and secondary air supplies.
1. An ember layer is quickly established by using 2-4 firelighters or 7-10 crumpled-
up pages of newspaper lit beneath approximately 1-2 kg dry kindling sticks.
2. You should completely open the primary & secondary air intakes.
3. After the paper/firelighters have ignited, the door should be kept ajar. To provide
sufficient chimney draught quickly an opening of approximately 2 cm is probably
required.
4. After the chimney has warmed sufficiently (5-10 minutes) a good draught should
now be established and the door should now be closed completely. If all the condi-
tions are fulfilled, after a further 15-20 min (approx.) a good ember base will have
formed in the firebox and more fuel can be gradually added.
Under normal circumstances, when refuelling, the stove door should be opened
carefully for the first 2-3 centimetres. This will allow the pressure within the flue to
balance and prevent any smoke spillage into the room. The stove door ought not to
be opened whilst the fire is in normal use.
5. Normally refuelling should be done whilst there are still plenty of glowing em-
bers left in the firebox. Use a poker to spread the embers along the bottom, pulling
most to the front of stove.
6. Gradually add small amounts fresh fuel to the fire, allowing for plenty of gaps for
oxygen to circulate.
7. When the primary and secondary air supplies have been opened to the maximum
setting and the door is closed, the new supply of fuel will ignite fairly quickly.
8. Once the fire has taken adjust the air to the required output position.
A gentle fire can be achieved by filling with smaller amounts of fuel and turning
down the air supplies, but remember it is most important to maintain a good bed of
glowing embers.
Main rules for regulating heat are:
A LITTLE HEAT – A LITTE FUEL – A LITTLE AIR
A LOT OF HEAT – A LOT OF FUEL - A LOT OF AIR
