Installation and Operating Instructions Reference: Casttec Firebox INSET version 5 January 2011
For best performance on wood, and always if low smoke emission is expected:
• Split logs lengthways for drying
• Use logs no bigger than about 100mm x 250mm
• Ensure logs are absolutely dry (less than 20% moisture)
• Fill the stove criss-cross, so air can circulate between logs.
• Fill 'little and often'
• Always have the air wash control (1) at least a little open. (in Smoke control areas this must be permanently fixed open)
• When first lighting, or reviving a fire from embers, use only very small, thin, dry, sticks.
JOINERY WASTE: Dry wood offcuts will burn well, but don't expect softwood waste to burn as cleanly or for as long as hardwood logs.
PEAT: Sod turf must be thoroughly dry. BNM peat briquettes are approved for use in Smokeless Zones in the RoI.
LIGNITE: (not smokeless) is a natural mineral, between peat and coal. It lights easily and burns well, but produces much ash
HOUSECOAL or BITUMINOUS COAL: (not smokeless) makes lots of tarry smoke and large volumes of flammable gas which make it
difficult to control and risk explosions. Despite its low cost, it rarely represents value for money. Don't use house coal.
ANTHRACITE: (Smokeless) is a natural hard, shiny form of coal. Slow to light, it can burn for very long periods with great heat. Despite
its high price-per-bag it generally works out to be one of the cheapest of all fuels. Use the 'small nuts' size. Anthracite works best with
the air wash closed and the primary 1/3 open. But the best settings will depend on your fuel, air supply and flue draught and can only
be found from experience.
COKE: (Smokeless) is coal from which the smoke has been removed. Sometimes difficult to light, it burns very cleanly.
BRIQUETTES: Are compressed blocks of fuel, generally able to burn for long periods and remarkable for their consistency. 'Homefire'
and 'Phurnacite' are smokeless types while other brands are made from lignite, peat or house coal.
PETROLEUM COKE: sold as 'Petcoke', 'Longbeach' and under various proprietary names, is made from oil. Easy to light and to
control, its exceptional heat and lack of protective ash mean that it MUST NOT be used unless mixed with another fuel. Grate and liner
life will be drastically reduced when using petroleum coke
HOUSEHOLD WASTES: Some plastics give off toxic fumes when burned and remember that batteries and aerosols explode! The
stove is not an incinerator, so only ever use the recommended fuels and NEVER use liquid fuels in any form.
Operation to Avoid Smoke Emission when Loading and Re-lighting
To prevent the likelihood of smoke emission it is advised that:
The appliance is not overloaded
• Fuel should be added to fill the stove criss-cross, so air can circulate between logs.
• Fuel should be added 'little and often'
• Always have the air wash control (1) at least a little open.
Kindling is used to relight from a low fire-bed
• use only very small, thin, dry, sticks
• only when alight larger fuel should be added
PROBLEMS?
Problems like those listed here are usually due to some difficulty with the installation, chimney or fuels, so please check back through
this leaflet carefully. If necessary seek specialist advice.
POOR HEAT OUTPUT: A stove can heat a typical room of about 12m³ volume for each kW of output, so a 5kW model can heat up to
(12 x 5) 63m³, a room of about 5m square. The actual size depends on the insulation and air-change ratio of the room. To attempt to
heat a larger room will result in excessive fuel consumption and damaging overheating. Use the recommended very dry fuels.
LACK OF CONTROLLABILITY: Wood and some other fuels may burn excessively until the gases in them have been used up. You
can reduce this effect by making sure that the fire is set to 'low' for a while before refuelling and checking that the door seals fully. For
stoves with a Smoke Stop - adjust the heat output by how much fuel you put on, as well as by using the controls. Check that the door
seals are sound.