Hearth & Home Technologies PMH User Manual

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Page 18

   7004-187F  September 1, 2008

In recent years there has been an increasing concern about 
air quality.  Much of the blame for poor air quality has been 
placed on the burning of wood for home heating. In order 
to improve the situation, we at Quadra-Fire have developed 
cleaner-burning wood stoves that surpass the requirements 
for emissions established by our governing agencies.  These 
wood stoves, like any other appliances, must be properly 
operated in order to ensure that they perform the way they 
are designed to perform.  Improper operation can turn most 
any wood stove into a smoldering environmental hazard.

It helps to know a little about the actual process of burning in 
order to understand what goes on inside a stove.  The first 
stage of burning is called the kindling stage.  In this stage, the 
wood is heated to a temperature high enough to evaporate 
the moisture which is present in all wood.  The wood will 
reach the boiling point of water (212°F / 100C) and will not 
get any hotter until the water is evaporated.  This process 
takes heat from the coals and tends to cool the stove.  

Fire requires 3 things to burn: fuel, air and heat.  So, if heat is 
robbed from the stove during the drying stage, the new load 
of wood has reduced the chances for a good clean burn.  For 
this reason, it is always best to burn dry, seasoned firewood.  
When the wood isn’t dry, you must open the air controls 
and burn the stove at a high burn setting for a longer time 
to start it burning.  The heat generated from the fire should 
be warming your home and establishing the flue draft, not 
evaporating the moisture out of wet, unseasoned wood, 
resulting in wasted heat.

As you face the stove, the air control on the right (furthest 
back) is called the Start-Up Air Control.  It is used during the 
kindling stage of burning.  It must be closed (pulled out) after 
the first 5 to 15 minutes.  See Figure 19A on page 19.

The next stage of burning, the secondary stage, is the period 
when the wood gives off flammable gases which burn above 
the fuel with bright flames.  During this stage of burning it is 
very important that the flames be maintained and not allowed 
to go out.  This will ensure the cleanest possible fire.  If you 
are adjusting your stove for a low burn rate, you should close 
down the air to the point where you can still maintain some 
flame.  If the flames tend to go out, the stove is set too low 
for your burning conditions.  The front air control closest 
to the front of the stove is the one used to adjust the stove 
for burn rates.  This is called the Primary Air Control.  See 
Figure 19A on page 19.

Do not over-fire.

Over-firing may ignite creosote or will damage 
the stove and chimney.

To prevent over-firing your stove, DO NOT:

•  Use flammable liquids
•  Overload with wood
•  Burn trash or large amounts of scrap lumber
•  Permit too much air to the fire

Symptoms of over-firing may include one or more of the 
following:

  •  Chimney connector or appliance glowing

  •  Roaring, rumbling noises

  •  Loud cracking or banging sounds

 • Metal 

warping

 • Chimney 

fire

 

•  Immediately close the door and air controls to reduce 

air supply to the fire.

  •  If you suspect a chimney fire, call the fire department 

and evacuate your house.

  •  Contact your local chimney professional and have 

your stove and stove pipe inspected for any damage.

  •  Do not use your stove until the chimney professional 

informs you it is safe to do so.

Hearth & Home Technologies WILL NOT warranty stoves 
that exhibit evidence of over-firing.  Evidence of over-firing 
includes, but is not limited to:

  •  Warped air tube

  •  Deteriorated refractory brick retainers

  •  Deteriorated baffle and other interior components