Quadra-Fire 4100I-GD-B Manual

Also see for 4100-I ACT: User guide

Contents

Quadra-Fire 4100I-GD-B Manual Manual pdf 19 page image

Page 19March 27, 20084100-I ACT WOOD INSERT250-7201 Rev DRStart-Up Air ControlPrimary Air ControlFigure 19A OPEN - PUSH INCLOSE - PULL OUTBURNING PROCESSIn recent years there has been an increasing concern aboutair quality. Much of the blame for poor air quality has beenplaced on the burning of wood for home heating. In order toimprove the situation, we at Quadra-Fire have developedcleaner-burning wood stoves and inserts that surpass therequirements for emissions established by our governingagencies. These appliances must be properly operated inorder to insure that they perform the way they are designedto perform. Improper operation can turn most any wood stoveor insert into a smoldering environmental hazard.Kindling or First StageIt helps to know a little about the actual process of burningin order to understand what goes on inside a wood burningappliance. The first stage of burning is called the kindlingstage. In this stage, the wood is heated to a temperature highenough to evaporate the moisture which is present in all wood.The wood will reach the boiling point of water (212°F) and willnot get any hotter until the water is evaporated. This processtakes heat from the coals and tends to cool the appliance.Fire requires three things to burn - fuel, air and heat. So, ifheat is robbed from the appliance during the drying stage, thenew load of wood has reduced the chances for a good cleanburn. For this reason, it is always best to burn dry, seasonedfirewood. When the wood isn’t dry, you must open the aircontrols and burn at a high burn setting for a longer time tostart it burning. The heat generated from the fire should bewarming your home and establishing the flue draft, not evapo-rating the moisture out of wet, unseasoned wood, resultingin wasted heat.The air control in the right side of the grille, bottom rod, iscalled the Start-Up Air Control; it is used during the kindlingstage of burning. It must be closed (pulled out) after the first5 to 15 minutes.Second StageThe next stage of burning, the secondary stage, is the periodwhen the wood gives off flammable gases which burn abovethe fuel with bright flames. During this stage of burning it isvery important that the flames be maintained and not allowedto go out. This will ensure the cleanest possible fire. If youare adjusting for a low burn rate, you should close down theair to the point where you can still maintain some flame. Ifthe flames tend to go out, it is set too low for your burningconditions. The air control, located at the right of the grille,top rod, is the one used to adjust for burn rates. This is calledthe Primary Air Control. Figure 19A.Final StageThe final stage of burning is the charcoal stage. This occurswhen the flammable gases have been mostly burned andonly charcoal remains. This is a naturally clean portion ofthe burn. The coals burn with hot blue flames.It is very important to reload your appliance while enoughlively hot coals remain in order to provide the amount of heatneeded to dry and rekindle the next load of wood. It is bestto open the air controls for a short while before reloading.This livens up the coal bed. Open door slowly so that ash orsmoke does not exit appliance through opening. You shouldalso break up any large chunks and distribute the coals sothat the new wood is laid on hot coals.Air quality is important to all of us, and if we choose to usewood to heat our homes we should do so responsibly. To dothis we need to learn to burn our stoves in the cleanest waypossible. Doing this will allow us to continue using our woodstoves for many years to come.Start-up SystemThe combustion air enters at the rear of the firebox throughthe rear air tubes. This air supply is controlled by the Start-up Air Control.Primary Air SystemThe primary air enters at the upper front of the firebox, nearthe top of the glass door. This preheated air supplies thenecessary fresh oxygen to mix with the unburned gases,helping to create second, third and fourth combustions. Thisair is regulated by the Primary Air Control. For more primaryair push control “IN”, for less air pull control “OUT”.AIR CONTROLS