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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is smoke coming from my Pyro fire into my room?
There are a few reasons why this could be happening. Short Answers: Negative pressure in the room – this can...
When and how should I clean the flue?
Pyro Fires are renowned for burning very cleanly when dry fuel is used but you should still always clean your...
What can I do if my wetback develops a thick coating on it?
The wetback can develop a coating of crusty creosote when the wood fuel is not being burnt in the most...
Why have Pyro Fires dropped from No.1 on Consumer NZ tests on their last report?
Consumer Magazine recently changed the way fires are rated. This has caused some issues across the industry as what were...
What’s the difference between the Pyro Classic and the Pyroclassic IV?
The only difference is the name! In early 2022, we rebranded from Pyroclassic Fires to Pyro Fires. As such the...
What is the ideal operating temperature range of the fire?
There is no ‘max temp’ for a Pyro, the ceramic cylinder has an operating range safe up to 1450 Celsius...
How do I light my first fire?
Soak the reusable fire starters in methylated spirits. Tip: It is also handy to store the fire-lighters in a glass...
How do I get the best results from my Pyro?
Here is a great writeup from a satisfied customer of how they achieved the best results. Here here.
My flue pipe has turned a copper colour in one section. What has happened?
If there is a concentrated spot of heat like a ring around the pipe then this is an indication of...
Can I install a second hand wood burner?
We recommend you discuss your plan to install a second-hand woodburner with your local city or district council or the...
What is a load limiter?
Along the top of the fire chamber is a load limiter, which is designed to restrict the operator from overloading...
Can I move my existing wood fire to another location within the same house?
An existing burner that is moved within a house is considered to be a newly installed burner, so it must...
Can you configure the flue to have an offset so it goes out the wall behind the fire rather than the roof?
Yes, offset bends are available for the flue systems. The best option would be to speak with a local installer...
How do I use my re-usable fire starters?
Place the soaked fire starter in the front of the fire chamber just underneath the front of your kindling. When the...
What wood should I be using?
Short answer DRY. This means a maximum of 25% moisture content but ideally under 18% if possible. Do not burn...
Why did you rebrand from Pyroclassic Fires to Pyro Fires?
The main reason is because smartphones have a habit of “autocorrecting” Pyroclassic to pyroclastic which resulted in customers unable to...
What are the secondary air tubes?
The replacement secondary air tubes are designed to slip over the burnt down tips of the existing air tubes which...
What size firewood should I be using in my Pyro Fire?
Logs should be approximately 100- 120 mm in diameter by around 300mm – 400mm long for your Pyro Classic (Pyroclassic...
What is a wetback?
Here is a link to a New Zealand website that gives a great explanation of what a wetback is: https://www.level.org.nz/energy/water-heating/energy-sources/wetbacks/
What type of flue do you recommend?
We recommend a 150mm flue kit for your Pyro Fire. As we are a carbon neutral organisation, we are not...
What is the best type of wood to use?
A number of things should be considered when using wood for heating. An understanding of the various types of wood...
How does burning work with the Pyro Classic (Pyroclassic IV)
Solid wood must change to gas and vapour before any burning can take place. This change occurs by heating wood...
My fire isn’t going like it used to and performs like the flue is blocked even after cleaning. What do I do?
Remove the front panel by sliding it up. If there’s a white felt material (gasket), remove this and put back front...
How do I clean the outside of the Pyro and the flue pipes?
The powder coated panels on the Pyro can be wiped clean with some light detergent and warm water. You can...
What are the clearances for a Pyro Classic installed on a small raised woodbin?
You can download the installation clearances for installing a Pyro Classic (Pyroclassic IV) on a small raised woodbin HERE.
Why has the cowl not got a rain cap?
The Pyro eco flue system and full flow vertical discharge cowl has been in use now for more than 20...
Can I cook on the top?
Yes you can cook on the 10mm thick steel top plate of the fire once a good fire has been...
Air supply
The room or space containing the Pyroclassic needs no additional ventilation unless a draught stabilizer is fitted, in which case a...
Why is the Pyro Classic sometimes shown as having a 4kW heat output and sometimes 15kW?
The 4kW rating for the Pyro Classic comes from the efficiency and emissions testing procedure. This heat output test is...
Can I use a heat transfer kit?
The simple answer is yes. The thing with heat transfer kits is they work well with excess heat. The Pyro...
What if I have a two storey house and require extra flue lengths?
A longer flue is fine however this will cause the fire to run at a slightly higher burn rate and...
What are the ceramic chips/divots in my cylinder? Is it normal?
These are exposed air blisters and are completely normal. The blisters are a result of small air pockets getting trapped...
Why do I need a Wall Screen or a Flue Shield?
Pyro Fires can be installed with a double skin half round flue shield or for minimum clearances from combustible walls...
How do I clean the glass?
If the correct quality fuel is burnt in the right manner, the glass should stay relatively clean. The air wash...
Door knob troubleshooting
The expected lifespan of a door knob is somewhere between 4 – 10 years depending on how the fire is...
What dimension is the cylinder firebox?
The cylinder of the Pyro Classic (Pyroclassic IV) is 555 mm long, 367 mm outside diameter and 307 mm inside...
How does the Pyro Classic burn overnight?
The overnight burn ability of the Pyro Classic (Pyroclassic IV) is 100% dependent on the quality and size of fuel...
Why is my fire chamber rusty?
Iron oxidisation or rust is due to elevated moisture levels, this can occur for a number of reasons but the...
How do I find the serial number of the fire?
The serial number is printed on a metal plate at the back of the fire. To view the panel, simply...
I am building a very airtight home. Do I need to install an air vent?
All wood fires need oxygen to operate effectively. The Pyro Classic (Pyroclassic IV) needs 3.6 cubic metres of air per...
The front of my Pyro Fire has developed smoke stains on the panel. What can I do?
Depending on how extensive the marking is you may be able to remove it by using a light abrasive car...
How do I use my digital moisture meter?
It’s easier if we show you:
Pyro Fires’ Return Policy
Pyro Fires is committed to customer satisfaction. If you are unhappy with your purchase from our online store for any...
Why is our water heating pulsating and noisy?
This is most likely an improperly constructed water-heating circuit. Make sure you re-check the layout. Please re-read your copy of...
Can I burn driftwood and other treated timbers in my Pyro?
You cannot burn driftwood or treated timber in your Pyro. Treated timer and certain enamel and lead based paints can...
How can I test if I am getting good heat output from my Pyro Fire?
As you will note in the operating instructions for the Pyro Classic, the fire will not give its full performance...
How often do I need to clean out the ash?
The chamber in the Pyro Classic can operate with or without ash in it. However, it is preferential to empty...
How to Replace a Pyro Fire Door Knob
Pyro Fire door knobs are easy to replace. Follow our simple instructions to replace the door knob on your Pyro Fire in no time.
What is the NES 2 hectare rule?
Most urban areas in New Zealand experience air pollution during winter. Our focus is on improving air quality in those...
Why are cracks and deterioration in my Pyro cylinder?
This is a natural way to relieve built-up stress in refractories. It has no effect on operation, performance or useful...
What is the warranty for Pyro parts?
The ceramic firebox in the Pyro Classic is warranted for 15 years against defective material or workmanship, providing that the...
How much does it cost?
To download the RRP price list of our Pyro wood fire and accessories, click HERE.
How do I remove the ash from my Pyro?
Remove the ash when the fire chamber is relatively cool. Use the Pyro curved shovel to slowly empty the fire...
What are the technical specifications of the Pyro Classic?
Please see the last page of the Pyro Classic (Pyroclassic IV) brochure, which can be downloaded HERE.
What does it mean by the Pyro being ‘self regulating’?
The vigorous fire near the loading door automatically slows down as the burning front advances through the firebox towards the...
Our Pyro Fire appears to have ‘rust-like’ dust coming out of the bottom. What is this?
The rust dust is probably just the exposed bottom edges of the top valley walls where they meet the cylinder...
My Pyro door gasket has moved out of place. What do I do?
The door to glass sealing gasket can occasionally walk along the back of the door. This happens due to the...
My fire is slow to start up. What can I do?
Open the Turboslide by moving it to the far left or right position. Check the start-up hole is free of...
What is a Turboslide and how do I use it?
The Turboslide is the part on the front of your fire with the Pyroclassic® name plate on it. The purpose...
I am seeing dense smoke out of my chimney. What is wrong?
This can happen if you are burning wet wood, plastic materials, fire retardant-treated wood or high resin content. This can...
My powder coating looks worn after cooking?
The top plate of the Pyro is 10mm plate steel which sits directly above the heat of the firebox making...
How do I refuel the fire?
Use the rake to evenly distribute the hot ember and ash along the base of the fire box, ensuring there...
Do you recommend using Smartburn in the Pyro Classic?
We have not carried out any testing with the SmartBurn in the Pyro so we have no official data to...
Do I need to grease the doorknob spindle?
A small amount of graphite grease should be applied sparingly and only occasionally to the spindle of the doorknob, twice...
How are wood fires authorised?
There are two steps a woodburner model needs to go through to be authorised: The emissions and efficiency of the...
What do I do with my warranty forms?
Please make sure that both copies of your warranty paperwork have been completely filled out with all your details, the...
Why are gases and smoke entering the room when the door is opened?
The most likely reason for this is that your flue is clogged and may require sweeping. Other possible causes: You...
What chimney sweeps can you recommend to clean the flue?
It would be great if we could keep an up to date national register of all the good chimney sweeps...
How should I store my wood?
Gathering and stacking wood in the open air over the summer period is advantageous because the warmth of the sun...
Why is the glass small?
Big door glass = big waste of heat Glass is a very poor insulator, which is not ideal when it...
Can I use other tools in my Pyro fire chamber?
Depending on how the fire is used, the surface of the cylinder can wear and erode over time. This can...
Why is my door knob charred?
This will naturally happen slowly over years of use. However, this process can be accelerated by burning with the Turboslide...
How do I fix down draft?
Download our down draft troubleshooting tips HERE.
What are the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality?
The National Environmental Standards for Air Quality (NES) are regulations made under the Resource Management Act 1991 which aim to...
What proportion of heat comes from the back of the fire and the flue in comparison to the front and sides?
This is a difficult question to answer. Most of the radiant heat from the fire comes from the top plate...
Why is the door lock hard to operate?
Apply a small amount of high temperature grease to the thread (grease with graphite or molybdenum disulphide only). This could be...
Who should I use to install the fire?
As a responsible manufacturer we recommend that all our fires are installed by a New Zealand Home Heating Association approved...
Can I put a natural tile on the wall instead of the wall screens? Does this comply with the ‘non combustible wall’ requirements?
Any non-combustible mineral board that is directly fixed to a combustible material like timber immediately loses its non-combustible qualities and...
What proportion of heat comes from the back of the fire and the flue in comparison to the front and sides?
This is a difficult question to answer. Most of the radiant heat from the fire comes from the top plate...
Why is there pale blue smoke early in the morning?
The Pyro is burning off small creosote deposits formed by premature banking of the fire the night before.
What type of flue do you recommend?
We recommend a 150mm flue kit for your Pyro Fire. As we are a carbon neutral organisation, we are not...
Why is my Pyro using more wood than I thought it would?
This could be because the loading door is not airtight. Check the gasket – if you need a replacement, you...
Can I make modifications to my authorised woodburner?
Authorised woodburners have been designed and tested to ensure that they meet emissions and efficiency limits set out in the...