Vermont Casting 1910, 0968 Chimney System, Annual Maintenance, Adjust the Door Latch If Necessary

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Vermont Castings Defiant

7.Press the gasketed part firmly against its normal mating surface to seat the gasket evenly in its channel. Close and latch the door to do this, or tap other parts with the rubber mallet (or hammer/block of wood).

8.Clean any excess cement from around the channel, then let the cement that holds the new gasket dry thoroughly.

Adjust the Door Latch If Necessary

The stove’s doors may need adjustment after you have regasketed them. Initially, it may require loosening the latch to accommodate the new gasket; after a few weeks, it may need tightening to compensate for compression of the new gasket. The directions for adjusting the latches are on page 28.

Permanent Defiant Gaskets

Other gaskets form seals between non-moving parts, but these are not subject to the same wear and dete- rioration as gaskets on moving parts. It is unlikely that you will ever need to replace these gaskets unless the involved parts are disassembled and then put back together. If this is the case, the job should be done only by a qualified service technician.

5/16" diameter gasket seals the following parts:

•The lower fireback to the back panel

•The left and right air plates (inner sides)

The Chimney System

Creosote

Your Defiant is designed to reduce creosote build- up significantly. However, regular chimney inspection and maintenance must still be performed. For safety, good stove performance, and to protect your chimney and chimney connector, inspect your chimney and chimney connector on a regular schedule. Clean the system if necessary. Failure to keep the chimney and connector system clean can result in a serious chim- ney fire.

When wood is burned slowly, it produces tar, organic vapors and moisture that combine to form creosote. The creosote vapors condense in the rela- tively cool chimney flue of a slow-burning fire. As a result, creosote residue accumulates on the flue lining. When ignited, this creosote makes an extremely hot fire within the flue system that can damage the chim- ney and overheat adjacent combustible material. If a significant layer of creosote has accumulated —1/8" (3

mm)or more — it should be removed to reduce the risk of a chimney fire.

If you do experience a chimney fire, act promptly to:

•Close the damper and thermostat lever.

•Get everyone out of the house.

•Call the Fire Department.

Inspect the system every two weeks during the heating season as part of a regular maintenance schedule. To inspect the chimney, let the stove cool completely. Then, using a mirror and a strong light, sight up through the flue collar into the chimney flue. If you cannot inspect the flue system in this fashion, the stove must be disconnected to provide better viewing access.

Clean the chimney using a brush the same size and shape as the flue liner. Flexible fiberglass rods are used to run the brush up and down the liner, causing any deposits to fall to the bottom of the chimney where they can be removed through the clean-out door.

Clean the chimney connector by disconnecting the sections, taking them outside, and removing any deposits with a stiff wire brush. Reinstall the connector sections after cleaning, being sure to secure the joints between individual sections with sheet metal screws.

If you cannot inspect or clean the chimney your- self, contact your local Vermont CastingsMajestic Products Company Dealer or a professional chimney sweep.

Annual Maintenance

Every Spring, at the end of the heating season, per- form a thorough cleaning, inspection and repair:

•Thoroughly clean the chimney and chimney connector.

•Inspect the chimney for damage and deterioration.Replace weak sections of prefabricated chimney. Have a mason make repairs to a masonry chimney.

•Inspect the chimney connector and replace any damaged sections.

•Check gasketing for wear or compression, and replace if necessary.

•Inspect and clean the catalytic element. Lightly clean the refractory assembly that houses the element but be careful not to damage the refractory material, which is very fragile.

•Clean the glass. Ash left on the glass can etch it, resulting in a chalky appearance. Also check for cracking; replace if needed.

•Check door and damper handles for tightness. Adjust if needed.

•Check heat shield screws. Tighten as necessary.

•Clean dust from the inner sides of bottom, rear and connector heat shields.

•Use a clean, dry, fine-bristle wire brush to remove any built-up accumulation on the top of the griddle. It is normal for the griddle to darken with use, and this is not treatable.

•Remove ashes from the ash pan and replace with moisture absorbing material (such as cat litter) to keep the stove interior dry.

•Touch up the paint on black stoves.

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Contents Defiant Welcome Save These Instructions for Future ReferenceTable of Contents Story of the DefiantSpecifications Defiant, ModelChimney Height InstallationOutside Air What Kind of Chimney to Use Masonry ChimneysPrefabricated Chimneys Chimney SizeChimney Connector Guidelines Single-wall Chimney ConnectorsSecuring the Single-wall Connector to a Masonry Chimney Freestanding InstallationsFireplace Installations Above the FireplaceThrough the Fireplace Wall pass-ThroughsFloor Protection for Fireplace Installation Floor ProtectionWall Shields Keep the Stove a Safe Distance from Surrounding MaterialsSafe Ways to Reduce Clearances Defiant Clearance Chart Stove Clearance Unprotected Surfaces Protected SurfacesDefiant Clearance Diagrams Unprotected Surfaces Protected SurfacesRear heat shield installed on the Defiant Stove Stove Heat ShieldsDistance from the Center of the Flue Collar to the Wall Defiant With Rear Heat Shield onlyAssembly Operation Defiant ControlsAssemble the Removable Insert Handle Single Air Control Regulates Heat Output and Burn TimeTwo Ways to Add Fuel Damper Directs Air Flow Within the StoveInfra-Red Reflective Glass Panels For Clear Fire Viewing Andirons Help Protect the GlassBurn Only High-Quality Wood Surface Thermometer is a Valuable Guide to OperationHigh-Efficiency Wood Burning With Catalytic Combustion Use the Air Control Settings that Work Best for YouDefiant Control Settings Conditioning Your Stove Starting and Maintaining a Wood FireRefuel While the Embers Are Still Hot Add larger pieces of wood as the fire begins to burnAsh Disposal Masonry Chimney Steel ChimneyIndoor/Outdoor Location Flue SizingDraft Testing Single VentingCreosote FuelNegative Pressure ConclusionMaintenance Keep Your Stove Looking New Working Its BestAdjust the Damper as Needed How to Adjust the Door LatchesCheck the Operation Primary Air Shutter Tighten the Damper Handle as NeededInspection and Cleaning When To Suspect a Combustor ProblemRemoving and Cleaning the Combustor Catalytic ElementRemove the bricks and the brick retainer Replace the Stove Gaskets as Needed Annual Maintenance Adjust the Door Latch If NecessaryChimney System Permanent Defiant GasketsBlockage Masking and PoisoningFlame Impingement OverfiringAppendix Chimney and Fireplace Hazards For a fireplaceDefiant Woodburning Stove Defiant Warranty Vermont Castings Majestic Products Company
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