Section III Preparing a Masonry Chimney

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System

Section III: Preparing a Masonry Chimney

Installing the WinterWarm into a masonry ﬁreplace is an effective way to add an efﬁcient heater to your home.

Requirements for the

Existing Masonry Fireplace

The WinterWarm Fireplace Insert is listed only for installation within a properly built masonry or heat circulating, masonry-type ﬁreplace that is constructed in accordance with the requirements of recognized build- ing codes. A heat-circulating masonry-type ﬁreplace must conform to building code standards for masonry ﬁreplaces, and must consist of a factory-built metal ﬁrebox with air circulation pathways that are surrounded by masonry materials.

NOTE: The WinterWarm is not listed for use in “zero-clearance” prefabricated ﬁreplaces, except when used as part of the Vermont Castings’ Winter- Warm Fireplace system, including the WinterWarm Fireplace Energy Cabinet, item #2110 (referred to on the WinterWarm safety label as Fireplace Cabinet Model 1283).

The ﬁreplace and chimney must be clean and structur- ally sound. Have it inspected by a qualiﬁed professional chimney sweep, a mason, or your Vermont Castings’ Authorized Dealer before the WinterWarm is installed. Any deterioration (cracks, loose mortar or loose bricks) must be repaired.

The ﬁreplace should not be modiﬁed to install the Win- terWarm without ﬁrst checking with your local building inspector or ﬁre marshal. Do not remove bricks or mor- tar that may jeopardize the compliance of the ﬁreplace with local building codes.

Requirements of your

Existing Masonry Chimney

Your ﬁreplace chimney must be well-constructed and must meet minimum code requirements. The chimney ﬂue should have a code-approved liner made of mason- ry or pre-cast refractory tiles, straight or ﬂexible stain- less steel pipe, or a poured-in-place liner. An unlined chimney must be relined professionally. Chimney height should be no less than 15’ (4.6m) above the hearth and no more than 35’ (10.7m).

The chimney must have a nominal ﬂue size of 8” x 8” (203 x 203mm) or larger, with a maximum size of 12” x 12” (305 x 305mm). Some chimneys originally de- signed for ﬁreplace use may perform differently when used to vent an air-controlled appliance such as your WinterWarm. A chimney on an outside wall with a large

ﬂue, for example, may not heat up enough to sustain an adequate draft. Such a ﬂue can often be improved if it is relined to reduce its size and/or insulated to keep it warmer.

The chimney should extend at least 3’ (914mm) above the highest point where it passes through a roof, and at least 2’ (610mm) higher than any portion of a building within 10’ (3m). (Fig. 18)

	0 To 10'
	2' Min. 3'	0 To 10'
	Min.
		2' Min. 3'
		Min.
	Reference
	Point	AC617
Fig. 18	The 2’3’10’ rule for chimneys.

Existing masonry ﬁreplace chimneys, especially older ones, may have one or more openings used at an earlier time to connect stoves in different rooms to the ﬁreplace chimney. These openings must be sealed with masonry to the thickness of the chimney wall. Unused openings sealed with pie plates or wallpaper are a haz- ard. In the event of a chimney ﬁre, ﬂames and smoke may be forced out of these unused openings.

Do not connect your WinterWarm ﬁreplace insert to a chimney ﬂue serving another appliance.

Minimum Fireplace Dimensions

The WinterWarm Fireplace Insert will ﬁt most masonry ﬁreplaces. To conﬁrm that it will ﬁt yours, measure the lintel depth, plus the height, width, and depth of your ﬁreplace and your hearth. Compare them to the mea- surements in the accompanying chart. If you choose to install a new hearth over an existing ﬁreplace hearth, be sure to take its thickness into consideration when measuring both front and back height of the ﬁreplace.

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