Troubleshooting
From time to time you may encounter difficulty with the operation of your woodfire.
Here, we list some common woodfire problems and suggest simple ways they can be resolved.
Problem
The room filled with smoke/fumes and an unpleasant odour the very first time I lit the fire
Likely Cause
The flue paint is curing and residual oils burning.
Solution
Ventilate the room, open doors and windows, use fan if necessary. This will stop after a few hot fires.
Problem
I can't get the fire started
Likely Cause
Wood is wet
Pieces too large
Papers burning out
The flue is blocked
Excessive downdraft
Solutions
Use dry kindling/wood
Use well spaced, smaller pieces of kindling/wood
Try one or two firelighters (strongly recommended)
Have the flue cleaned
Extend the flue (refer installer)
Problem
Smoke comes into the room when I open the door to reload the fire
Likely Cause
Opening the door too soon after lighting
Door is left open while starting the fire
Fire is not hot enough
Flue blocked
Negative pressure inside the home caused by extraction fans
Solutions
Refuel only when wood has burned down to a red hot ember bed
Never operate the fire with the door open, light or reload and close the door immediately
Allow a hot fire to establish using smaller pieces of wood
Open the door slowly and carefully
Fully open air control (down position) before opening the door
Check and clean the flue if necessary
Turn off air extraction appliances when reloading fire
Problem
Ash falls out of the fire when I open the door to reload wood
Likely Cause
Door is opened too quickly
Too much ash accumulated in the firebox
Opening the door too soon
Excess ash created by paper used to light the fire
Solutions
Open the door slowly and carefully
Remove surplus ash
Fully open air control for 30 seconds before opening door
Open the door to reload only when fuel has burned down to a red hot ember bed
Use a firelighter to start the fire (recommended)
Problem
Logs roll forward and rest against the door glass
Likely Cause
Bottom front log burns away before top log.
Solution
Load top log toward rear of firebox to prevent rolling.
Problem
Smoke and/or creosote is weeping from the seam in the outer liner
Likely Cause
Burning wet wood
Blocked flue causes fire to back circulate and exhaust wood smoke up combustion air gap
Fire operated with door open for lighting allowing smoke to exhaust up combustion air gap where it condenses
Solutions
Burn only dry, seasoned wood with less than 20% moisture content
Have the flue cleaned immediately
Extend the flue (refer installer)
Open the door only when refueling, and never during lighting
Problem
I don't get enough heat - what's wrong?
Likely Cause
Poor start up, not enough fuel
Moisture content in wood too high (greater than 20%)
Hard wood loaded on cold fire
Fuel load is not ignited properly before air control is lowered
Solutions
Use plenty of dry kindling to start fire and establish a hot ember bed before loading more fuel
Use only well seasoned and dry wood
Hard woods are slow burning. It is a good idea to mix with faster burning soft/medium woods for best performance
Burn only dry wood. Use kindling and smaller pieces of fuel. Keep ember bed hot
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