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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