( 
)Before you light your coal stove, inspect the pipe and flues; it will save your life. The pipe connecting the stove to to the chimney should be at least 24 gauge. Thicker gauges may be available and will resist corrosion longer and need fewer replacements. Slope the flue pipe back toward the heater, 1/4 inch per foot of horizontal run, so that any condensation forming in the pipe will be carried back into the heater. The connector pipe should be installed so that the upper pipe section fits inside the lower section. This way any creosote or soot building up inside the pipe will stay inside the pipe as it flows down the inside surface. Horizontal pipe runs should have the pipe seams turned up. Particular attention should be paid to the point where the flue passes through a wall or ceiling. This penetration should always be made with insulated pipe and the proper accessories. Chimney connectors must not pass through the veiling, concealed spaces, or enter the chimney in the attic, unless proper clearance or insulated pipe used with manufactured clearance.
REMEMBER, that all pipe sections should be connected with at least three sheet metal screws per joint. A fire in the stack may cause vibrations and poorly fastened piping may fall. Assure that the chimney connection pipe extends at least two inches into the chimney, but does not extend so far into the chimney flue that it blocks air flow. Where the pipe connects to a masonry chimney, it must be cemented to the chimney, or, a thimble must be connected to the chimney and the pipe should be tightly inserted into the thimble without cementing. A barometric damper should be installed between the heater and chimney. The barometric damper prevents over heating of your heater, as well as a more efficient stove operation.
With that out of the way . . . Starting a Coal fire is not like lighting a barbeque. You will need some kindling; small pieces of good dry wood about 8” to 10” long and never use pressure treat wood as it is poisonous. You can use small branches and then break them up to usable sizes. It is recommended that you have some easy lighting work like maple and some heavier work like oak as kindling. Place balled up single sheets of newspaper in the firebox; covering the bottom. Stack two layers of kindling, perpendicular to each other. Open the flue in the chimney and the damper on the stovepipe to 100%. [Warning: Never close either the flue in the chimney and the damper on the stovepipe until the stove has been out and cool for many days, with coals and ashes removed.]
Prove your Draft: Use a single sheet of paper, light one end then quickly blow it out and put it in the firebox. The smoke should not come out at you it should go up the chimney; if it doesn’t you either have a big problem or a cold chimney. If the smoke went up the chimney . . . Then with the ash door closed, open the air inlet on the ash door to 100%; primary air. Light the newspaper under the kindling and close the door on the firebox. You fire should come to life, let the kindling burn down to low flaming coals and then add some more kindling. Let the kindling burn down again; repeat these steps until you have a bed of wood coals glow red. Add a small amounts of anthracite nut or pea coal on top of kindling; approximately 1” to 2” of a layer. The coal will begin to crackle and after about 15 minutes it will begin to glow.
Once the coal begins to burn add more a coal in small amounts of anthracite nut or pea coal until you have a large area of coal burning; about 6” layer. Now begin to fill your hopper slowly. (To fast may choke out the fire). When the coal is burning properly and receiving proper air you are done. Maintain your desired heating temperature by adjusting you primary are to the 50% position and if you have it, adjust your automatic thermostat on the rear for a desired temperature. Now regulate your slide draft on the ash door to keep the stove burning at the temperature you desire. You are up and running, now read these follow-up and daily duties.
Never use gasoline, kerosene, charcoal lighter or any type flammable fluid to start your fire.
Refueling: Keep your hopper full. Should your hopper run empty add coal very slowly so you will not choke out the fire. It is best to fill the hopper before completely empty.
Ashes: You must keep your ashes cleaned out under the grates. This may require emptying your ash pan daily, depending how hard you burn it and how often you shake your grates. Your stove will choke it self out if the ash pan becomes over full. Store you ashes in a metal can, ASH CAN or Use a HOD; Coal bucket. Never store ashes indoors and when storing them outdoor be careful as they can stay hot for many days. Keep ashes away from combustables.
Remember: Control your stoves temperature with primary air and fuel load. Never close the flue when the stove has been in use. Coal fires are a little hard to start but once started then stay started and are very hard to put out.
01/04/2006 PSCHROEBEL UTIMATEPRODUCTSUSA
REMEMBER, that all pipe sections should be connected with at least three sheet metal screws per joint. A fire in the stack may cause vibrations and poorly fastened piping may fall. Assure that the chimney connection pipe extends at least two inches into the chimney, but does not extend so far into the chimney flue that it blocks air flow. Where the pipe connects to a masonry chimney, it must be cemented to the chimney, or, a thimble must be connected to the chimney and the pipe should be tightly inserted into the thimble without cementing. A barometric damper should be installed between the heater and chimney. The barometric damper prevents over heating of your heater, as well as a more efficient stove operation.
With that out of the way . . . Starting a Coal fire is not like lighting a barbeque. You will need some kindling; small pieces of good dry wood about 8” to 10” long and never use pressure treat wood as it is poisonous. You can use small branches and then break them up to usable sizes. It is recommended that you have some easy lighting work like maple and some heavier work like oak as kindling. Place balled up single sheets of newspaper in the firebox; covering the bottom. Stack two layers of kindling, perpendicular to each other. Open the flue in the chimney and the damper on the stovepipe to 100%. [Warning: Never close either the flue in the chimney and the damper on the stovepipe until the stove has been out and cool for many days, with coals and ashes removed.]
Prove your Draft: Use a single sheet of paper, light one end then quickly blow it out and put it in the firebox. The smoke should not come out at you it should go up the chimney; if it doesn’t you either have a big problem or a cold chimney. If the smoke went up the chimney . . . Then with the ash door closed, open the air inlet on the ash door to 100%; primary air. Light the newspaper under the kindling and close the door on the firebox. You fire should come to life, let the kindling burn down to low flaming coals and then add some more kindling. Let the kindling burn down again; repeat these steps until you have a bed of wood coals glow red. Add a small amounts of anthracite nut or pea coal on top of kindling; approximately 1” to 2” of a layer. The coal will begin to crackle and after about 15 minutes it will begin to glow.
Once the coal begins to burn add more a coal in small amounts of anthracite nut or pea coal until you have a large area of coal burning; about 6” layer. Now begin to fill your hopper slowly. (To fast may choke out the fire). When the coal is burning properly and receiving proper air you are done. Maintain your desired heating temperature by adjusting you primary are to the 50% position and if you have it, adjust your automatic thermostat on the rear for a desired temperature. Now regulate your slide draft on the ash door to keep the stove burning at the temperature you desire. You are up and running, now read these follow-up and daily duties.
Never use gasoline, kerosene, charcoal lighter or any type flammable fluid to start your fire.
Refueling: Keep your hopper full. Should your hopper run empty add coal very slowly so you will not choke out the fire. It is best to fill the hopper before completely empty.
Ashes: You must keep your ashes cleaned out under the grates. This may require emptying your ash pan daily, depending how hard you burn it and how often you shake your grates. Your stove will choke it self out if the ash pan becomes over full. Store you ashes in a metal can, ASH CAN or Use a HOD; Coal bucket. Never store ashes indoors and when storing them outdoor be careful as they can stay hot for many days. Keep ashes away from combustables.
Remember: Control your stoves temperature with primary air and fuel load. Never close the flue when the stove has been in use. Coal fires are a little hard to start but once started then stay started and are very hard to put out.
01/04/2006 PSCHROEBEL UTIMATEPRODUCTSUSA
Guide created: 01/04/06 (updated 01/21/08)
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