1. Modern fireplace inserts are made from high quality materials and are increasingly better fitted out. In order to fully utilize the benefits of the newly-purchased insert it is necessary, before its first use, to carefully read and acquaint yourself with the instruction and maintenance manual. Such manual is attached to each sold fireplace insert.

2. In order to enable an easier start of the cold fireplace it is advisable to use small wood chips and natural kindling. During the transitional periods such as spring or autumn, it may be necessary to set ajar the door in order to fully open the automatic flue damper and to create a stronger draught. Such starting is allowable only and exclusively with the permanent presence of grown-ups in the room, where the fireplace is located.

3. During the transitional periods, such as spring or autumn, it may be necessary during adverse weather conditions to empty the ash pan in the fireplace insert and to remove the ash from the bottom of the hearth more often than under normal conditions.

4. Only seasoned wood of deciduous trees should be burnt in the fireplace inserts. The best types include: hornbeam, beech, oak, followed by birch, acacia, elm and alternatively other species of deciduous trees. Individual types of wood differ in terms of their calorific value and unit weight. The comparison presented below should help choose the best types of wood:

5. In order to season wood well it is necessary to split the newly purchased wood into chips and to stow in piles on wooden pallets, for example. Such prepared piles should be covered from the top with a plastic foil, for example, to keep the wood dry. The storage place should be easy to ventilate. After the period ranging from 18 to 24 months, the wood should reach c. 15% of moisture content and should burn the best. A roofed woodshed should be ideal for the continuous preparation of wood; the wood should be chosen alternatively to maintain a constant stock of the seasoned wood.

6. Fireplace inserts with a water jacket, due to the constant absorption of large quantities of heat by water from the heating installation, in particular require the use of dry, seasoned deciduous wood of the best types. In case of the use of wood of poor calorific value or of not allowable types, the heating benefits of such insert will not be fully utilized, and in extreme cases it may result in the permanent damage of the equipment and the loss of the warranty.

7. In the newly-purchased and assembled steel-chamotte heating insert during its first lightings there should occur the process of self-hardening of the paint. The first lightings are permitted after the period of 14 days from the fireplace assembly (see point 14). When it is allowed to burn the quantities of wood described in the instruction and maintenance manual in the insert it should be done, if possible, for a period of a few hours daily. Owing to the fact that during the paint hardening an irritant smell can be emitted the room, where the fireplace is placed should be intensively aired. It is not advisable to stay too long in that room during that period. Children, elderly and persons suffering from allergies should not be allowed to enter that room as well.

 8. In case of too fast or slow wood burning the draught can be adjusted by means of appropriate setting of the flue damper of the exhaust gases outlet mounted in the fireplace insert's flue.

9. The continuously improved construction design of the fireplace inserts and the prices of wood remaining at the favourable level mean that a fireplace with a modern fireplace insert is one of the most economical sources of house heating. When comparing the costs of house heating by means of the most popular fuels wood-burning fireplaces come out very well. Below a sample comparison of such costs is presented:

 * the approximate cost of generating heat depends on many factors, among others on the thermal efficiency of a given machine, the calorific value of the heating fuel in a given supply, etc.

10. Fireplace inserts with a water jacket fitted with an internal heat exchanger made from special acid resistant steel corrugated coils are characterized by the better thermal efficiency, the operational reliability lasting many years as well as by an easier assembly and connection of the whole system to the house heating installation than the fireplace inserts connected by means of plate heat exchangers.

11. If we intend to additionally heat a one-floor house by means of a fireplace, it is advisable to choose a fireplace insert with a factory-mounted heating jacket. Such a heating jacket mounted professionally by the manufacturer of the fireplace insert will ensure the best integrity of such a system. Thanks to the installation of 4 stub pipes to the hot air exhaust vent it is possible to provide the most suitable distribution of the heated air to several rooms without unpleasant surprises.

12. A fireplace insert should be purchased from the local and verified fireplace manufacturer. It will ensure an assembly of the fireplace insert in accordance with the fireplace mounting art, you will be provided with necessary advice and an easy access to maintenance services. The purchase of a fireplace insert from an internet shop, very often located hundred kilometers from the investment location, may cause many complications and unforeseen unpleasant situations.

13. The diameter of the chimney duct should be at least equal to the diameter of the stub pipe of the exhaust vent on the fireplace insert. The chimney should be suitably high as well as it should be correctly positioned in relation to the roof slopes. A chimneysweep, suitable in terms of the investment location, should assist in choosing the appropriate type of a chimney.

14. In the newly mounted fireplace there occurs a process of bonding of the glues and mortars used in the construction. Therefore, the initial lighting of the fireplace should be carried out after the period of 14 days from the assembly. The room, where the fireplace has been built should be heated by other means so that a room temperature is constantly maintained there. After the period of 14 days the initial lighting should be done in moderation with small single loading of wood. After having performed several of such delicate lightings it is possible to gradually increase the intensity and force of burning, at the same time maintaining the defined in the instruction manual quantities of wood. The process of the hardening of the fireplace insert's paint described in point 7 above should then take place.

15. Fireplace inserts with large surface doors, in particular those inserts with corner doors, require in particular a suitably chosen chimney that may ensure the suitable chimney draught, wood of appropriate moisture content and the correct heating of the fireplace - chimney system.