Adjust the Damper as Needed

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System

Examine your WinterWarm’s damper after the ﬁrst 50 hours of use and adjust it if necessary. Thereafter, check the damper at least once a year and adjust as needed.

Both ﬁne and coarse adjustments to the damper are possible. Begin with the ﬁne adjustment, which modiﬁes the pressure on the damper plate directly; it will take care of most sealing problems. Proceed to the coarse adjustment, which adjusts the pressure at the damper latch, only if you cannot achieve a satisfactory seal with the ﬁne adjustment.

To inspect how well the damper seals, ﬁrst make sure that the ﬁre is out and that the WinterWarm is cool. Open the front door, and close and lock the damper. Visually inspect the seal between the damper plate and the damper frame; there should be no gaps. Now, push gently on the damper — there should be some give, but no rattle. If there is a gap in the seal or a rattle, adjust the damper.

Damper Adjustment Screw				Damper
Lock Nut				Damper
Lock Nut

Left

Throat HalfRight Throat

Half

Throat Retainer Clip

FP1080

Fig. 12 A view of the damper as seen through the front door.

Try the Fine Adjustment First

1.Open the door.

2.Close and lock the damper.

3.Locate the damper adjustment set-screw in the cen- ter of the damper plate, and loosen its lock nut.

4.Turn the set-screw 1/4 to 1/2 turn clockwise.

5.Check the damper seal for gap or rattle.

6.When the set screw position provides a good seal, tighten the lock nut. Be careful not to overtighten the set screw.

Use the Coarse Adjustment Only If Necessary

Follow Steps 1-3 of the ﬁne adjustment procedure, then;

1.Turn the set screw counter-clockwise several full turns.

2.Lift off the mantel piece to expose the damper latch.

3.With the damper open, loosen the latch retaining screw.

4.Move the latch approximately 1/8” (3mm) to the right, and retighten the retaining screw.

5.Close and lock the damper, and check for gap and rattle. Adjust the set screw as described under “Fine Adjustment.”

Repeat the coarse adjustment if necessary.

For further assistnce, contact your Vermont Castings’ Dealer.

Damper Latch	Shroud

Latch Retaining Screw

Damper
Control
Rod	FP1081
	FP1081

Fig. 13 With the mantel removed, the damper latch is ex- posed for adjustment.

Care of the Catalytic Combustor

This wood heater contains a catalytic combustor, which needs regular inspection and periodic replacement for proper operation. It is against the law in the United States to operate this wood heater in a manner incon- sistent with operating instructions in this manual, or if the catalytic element is deactivated or removed.

Under normal operating conditions, the catalytic com- bustor should remain active for two to six years (de- pending on the amount of wood burned). However, it is important to monitor the combustor periodically to ensure that it is functioning properly, as well as to de- termine when it needs to be replaced. A non-functioning combustor will result in a loss of heating efﬁciency, and an increase in creosote and emissions.

The combustor should be visually inspected “in place” for ﬂy ash accumulation and physical damage three times per year. Actual removal of the combustor is not recommended unless a more detailed inspection is war- ranted because of diminished performance as outlined below.

The refractory package that houses the catalytic com- bustor should be inspected annually for a build-up of ﬂy ash and cleaned if necessary. This may be done during examination of the catalytic combustor.

The catalytic combustion system includes an air supply for secondary combustion. The probe which controls the supply should also be inspected annually.

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