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3.5 Maintaining The Fire
Your Osburn insert will work best if a thick bed of hot embers is maintained in the bottom of the
firebox, and a minimum of two large pieces of seasoned fuel are added. Combustion efficiency is
largely related to establishing a hot ember bed, and hot firebox temperatures. The quicker the insert
and fuel get up to operating temperature, the better. A small intense fire is preferred to a large
smouldering fire, both to improve combustion efficiency and to reduce the amount of creosote emitted.
The best performance will be achieved by adding relatively small amounts of fuel to a well
established ember bed, and then operating with the air inlet control open long enough to achieve a hot
fire. Cordwood should be placed with air in between individual pieces. Use a poker to make an air
channel in the embers below the wood, this will allow air to flow under the wood for a more efficient
burn.
Extended burn times can be accomplished by first operating the insert on a full load with the air inlet
controls wide open. Once the fire is well established, and the moisture has been driven out of the
wood, reduce the air control to a lower setting. The unit should then burn cleanly without smoldering.
If the fire smolders without flame, re-establish a hotter fire before moving the air control to the lower
setting. A yellow flame burning in the top of the firebox is a good indication of a clean efficiently
burning fire.
Refuelling technique is important for good performance. The best efficiency and performance from
your insert can be achieved by adding partial loads of fuel and allowing them to get up to operating
temperature before adding additional fuel. Adding a large amount of fuel at one time will increase the
time required to get the fuel up to its ignition temperature, and an extended time to reach optimal
performance. When refuelling, open the air control or hold the door partially open 1” (25 mm) or less,
long enough (less than 5 minutes) so that the fire has well established flames. When refuelling, care is
required to ensure that fuel or embers do not fall out of the door opening. The unit will burn at about
2.0 to 2.5 lb/hr (.9 to 1.1kg/hr) at its minimum setting; approximately 20 to 25 lbs (9 to 11.3kg) of
wood are required for an extended burn.
In order to achieve an optimum efficiency from your unit, we suggest that you operate it with the air
control completely closed. Make sure that you have a good fire going and an adequate ember bed
before you completely close the air control. Closing the air control too soon will lower combustion
efficiency and may cause the fire to die out. The addition of a blower (if not already included) is
highly recommended to maximize your unit’s efficiency.
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