® VENT-FREE PROPANE GAS HEATER OWNER’S OPERATION AND INSTALLATION MANUAL Models: VP1600C, VP1600IT, VP2600C, and VP2200IT WARNING: If the information in this manual is not followed exactly, a fire or explosion may result causing property damage, personal injury, or loss of life. — Do not store or use gasoline or other flammable vapors and liquids in the vicinity of this or any other appliance. — WHAT TO DO IF YOU SMELL GAS • Do not try to light any appliance.
CONTENTS SECTION PAGE Safety Information ......................................................................... 2 Product Identification .................................................................... 4 Local Codes ................................................................................... 4 Unpacking ...................................................................................... 4 Product Features ............................................................................
SAFETY INFORMATION Continued WARNING ICON G 001 WARNINGS Continued WARNING: Any change to this heater or its controls can be dangerous. 1. Use only propane gas. Do not convert heater to use different fuel type. 2. Do not place propane supply tank(s) inside any structure. Locate propane supply tank(s) outdoors. 3. This heater shall not be installed in a bedroom or bathroom. 4.
PRODUCT IDENTIFICATION Thermostat Control Knob (Models VP1600IT and VP2200IT Only) Piezo Ignitor (Models VP1600IT and VP2200IT Only) Control Knob Grill Guard Burners Front Panel Heater Cabinet Figure 1 - Vent-Free Propane Gas Heater (Model VP2200IT Shown) LOCAL CODES Install and use heater with care. Follow all local codes. In the absence of local codes, use the latest edition of National Fuel Gas Code ANSI Z223.1, also known as NFPA 54*. *Available from: American National Standards Institute, Inc.
FRESH AIR FOR COMBUSTION AND VENTILATION WARNING ICON G 001 WARNING This heater must have fresh air for proper operation. If not, poor fuel combustion could result. Read the following instructions to insure proper fresh air for this and other fuel-burning appliances in your home. Today’s homes are built more energy efficient than ever. New materials, increased insulation, and new construction methods help reduce heat loss in homes.
FRESH AIR FOR COMBUSTION AND VENTILATION Continued DETERMINING FRESH-AIR FLOW FOR HEATER LOCATION Determining if You Have a Confined or Unconfined Space Use this worksheet to determine if you have a confined or unconfined space. Space: Includes the room in which you will install heater plus any adjoining rooms with doorless passageways or ventilation grills between the rooms. 1. Determine the volume of the space (length x width x height). Length x Width x Height = ___________________ cu. ft.
FRESH AIR FOR COMBUSTION AND VENTILATION Continued VENTILATION AIR Ventilation Air From Inside Building This fresh air would come from an adjoining unconfined space. When ventilating to an adjoining unconfined space, you must provide two permanent openings: one within 12" of the ceiling and one within 12" of the floor on the wall connecting the two spaces (see options 1 and 2, Figure 2). You can also remove door into adjoining room (see option 3, Figure 2).
FRESH AIR FOR COMBUSTION AND VENTILATION Continued VENTILATION AIR (Continued) Ventilation Air From Outdoors Provide extra fresh air by using ventilation grills or ducts. You must provide two permanent openings: one within 12" of the ceiling and one within 12" of the floor. Connect these items directly to the outdoors or spaces open to the outdoors. These spaces include attics and crawl spaces. Follow the National Fuel Gas Code NFPA 54/ANSI Z223.1, Section 5.
INSTALLING TO WALL NOTICE A qualified service person must install heater. Follow all local codes. CHECK GAS TYPE Use only propane gas. If your gas supply is not propane, do not install heater. Call dealer where you bought heater for proper type heater. INSTALLATION ITEMS Before installing heater, make sure you have the items listed below.
INSTALLING TO WALL Continued For convenience and efficiency, install heater • where there is easy access for operation, inspection, and service • in coldest part of room An optional fan kit is available from your dealer. See Accessories, page 31 If planning to use fan, locate heater near an electrical outlet.
INSTALLING TO WALL Continued INSTALLING HEATER TO WALL Mounting Bracket The mounting bracket is located on back panel of heater. It has been taped there for shipping. Remove mounting bracket from back panel. Mounting Bracket Figure 6 - Mounting Bracket Location Removing Front Panel Of Heater 1. Remove two screws near bottom corners of front panel. 2. Lift straight up on grill guard until it stops. Grill guard will slide up about 1/4". 3. Pull bottom of front panel forward, then down.
INSTALLING TO WALL Marking Screw Locations 1. Tape mounting bracket to wall where heater will be located. Make sure mounting bracket is level. Continued WARNING ICON WARNING G 001 Maintain minimum clearances shown in Figure 8. If you can, provide greater clearances from floor and joining wall. 2. Mark screw locations on wall (see Figure 8). Note: Only mark last hole on each end of mounting bracket. Insert mounting screws through these holes only. 3. Remove tape and mounting bracket from wall.
INSTALLING TO WALL 4. For thin walls (1/2" or less), insert red key into wall anchor. Push red key to “pop” open anchor wings. IMPORTANT: Do not hammer key! For thick walls (over 1/2" thick) or solid walls, do not pop open wings. Continued Figure 10 - Popping Open Anchor Wings For Thin Walls 5. Place mounting bracket onto wall. Line up last hole on each end of bracket with wall anchors. 6. Insert mounting screws through bracket and into wall anchors. 7.
CONNECTING TO GAS SUPPLY NOTICE A qualified service person must connect heater to gas supply. Follow all local codes. WARNING ICON G 001 CAUTION Never connect heater directly to the propane supply. This heater requires an external regulator (not supplied). Install the external regulator between the heater and propane supply. The installer must supply an external regulator. The external regulator will reduce incoming gas pressure.
CONNECTING TO GAS SUPPLY IMPORTANT: Hold pressure regulator with wrench when connecting it to gas piping and/or fittings. Continued Pressure Regulator Regulator Bracket 1/2" NPT Pipe Nipple Heater Cabinet Ground Joint Union Tee Joint Test Gauge Connection * Manual Shutoff Valve * Reducer Bushing to 1/8" NPT From External Regulator (11" W.C. to 14" W.C.
CONNECTING TO GAS SUPPLY Continued 3. Pressurize supply piping system by either using compressed air or opening propane supply tank valve. 4. Check all joints of gas supply piping system. Apply mixture of liquid soap and water to gas joints. Bubbles forming show a leak. 5. Correct all leaks at once. Test Pressures Equal To or Less Than 1/2 PSIG 1. Close manual shutoff valve (see Figure 15). 2. Pressurize supply piping system by either using compressed air or opening propane supply tank valve. 3.
OPERATING HEATER Models VP1600IT and VP2200IT FOR YOUR SAFETY READ BEFORE LIGHTING WARNING ICON G 001 WARNING If you do not follow these instructions exactly, a fire or explosion may result causing property damage, personal injury or loss of life. A. This appliance has a pilot which must be lighted by hand. When lighting the pilot, follow these instructions exactly. B. BEFORE LIGHTING smell all around the appliance area for gas.
OPERATING HEATER Models VP1600IT and VP2200IT Continued LIGHTING INSTRUCTIONS 1. STOP! Read the safety information at the top of page 17. 2. Make sure manual shutoff valve is fully open. 3. Turn thermostat control knob on left side of heater clockwise OFF position. Thermostat Control Knob Clockwise to the Plaque Control Knob Ignitor Button 1 LO 2 T PILO IH OFF 3 IGNITOR 4 Figure 17 - Thermostat Control Knob In The OFF Position 4. Wait five minutes to clear out any gas.
OPERATING HEATER Ignitor Electrode Thermocouple Pilot Burner Models VP1600IT and VP2200IT Continued Figure 18 - Pilot TO SELECT HEATING LEVEL WARNING ICON WARNING G 001 When running heater, set control knob at the 1, 2, 3, or 4 locked positions. Never set control knob between locked positions. Poor combustion and higher levels of carbon monoxide may result. WARNING ICON G 001 CAUTION Do not try to adjust heating levels by using the manual shutoff valve. 1.
OPERATING HEATER Models VP1600IT and VP2200IT Continued TO TURN OFF GAS TO APPLIANCE Shutting Off Heater 1. Turn thermostat control knob clockwise Clockwise to the OFF position. 2. Turn off all electric power to the appliance if service is to be performed. Shutting Off Burner Only (pilot stays lit) 1. Turn thermostat control knob clockwise Clockwise to the PILOT position. THERMOSTAT OPERATION (Models VP1600IT and VP2200IT Only) The thermostat measures the temperature of air near the heater cabinet.
OPERATING HEATER Models VP1600C and VP2600C FOR YOUR SAFETY READ BEFORE LIGHTING WARNING ICON G 001 WARNING If you do not follow these instructions exactly, a fire or explosion may result causing property damage, personal injury or loss of life. A. This appliance has a pilot which must be lighted by hand. When lighting the pilot, follow these instructions exactly. B. BEFORE LIGHTING smell all around the appliance area for gas.
OPERATING HEATER Models VP1600C and VP2600C Continued 4. Wait five minutes to clear out any gas. Then smell for gas, including near the floor. If you smell gas, STOP! Follow “B” in the safety information at the top of page 21. If you don’t smell gas, go to the next step. 5. Press in control knob. Note: You may be running this heater for the first time after hooking up to gas supply. If so, you may need to press in control knob for 30 seconds. This will allow air to bleed from the gas system.
OPERATING HEATER Models VP1600C and VP2600C Continued TO SELECT HEATING LEVEL WARNING ICON G 001 WARNING When running heater, set control knob at LOW, MEDIUM, or HIGH locked positions. Never set control knob between locked positions. Poor combustion and higher levels of carbon monoxide may result. WARNING ICON G 001 CAUTION Do not try to adjust heating levels by using the manual shutoff valve. 1. Slightly press in control knob and turn counterclockwise to the LOW, MEDIUM, or HIGH positions.
OPERATING HEATER Models VP1600C and VP2600C Continued TO TURN OFF GAS TO APPLIANCE Shutting Off Heater 1. Turn control knob clockwise Clockwise to the OFF position. 2. Turn off all electric power to the appliance if service is to be performed. Shutting Off Burner Only (pilot stays lit) 1. Turn control knob clockwise Clockwise to the PILOT position. MANUAL LIGHTING PROCEDURE 1. Follow steps 1 through 5 under Lighting Instructions, pages 21 and 22. 2. With control knob pressed in, strike match.
INSPECTING BURNER BURNER FLAME PATTERN Figure 25 shows a correct burner flame pattern. Figure 26 shows an incorrect burner flame pattern.
CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE WARNING ICON G 001 WARNING Turn off heater and let cool before cleaning. WARNING ICON G 001 CAUTION You must keep control areas, burner, and circulating air passageways of heater clean. Inspect these areas of heater before each use. Have heater inspected yearly by a qualified service person. Heater may need more frequent cleaning due to excessive lint from carpeting, bedding material, etc.
TROUBLESHOOTING Continued OBSERVED PROBLEM POSSIBLE CAUSE When control knob is pressed in and turned to the PILOT/IGN position, there is spark at ODS/pilot but no ignition (non-thermostat models only). 1. Gas supply turned off or manual shutoff valve closed. 2. Control knob not pressed in while being turned to PILOT/IGN position (non-thermostat models only). Thermostat control knob not pressed in (thermostat models only).
TROUBLESHOOTING Continued OBSERVED PROBLEM POSSIBLE CAUSE Burner(s) does not light after ODS/pilot is lit. 1. Burner orifice(s) is clogged. 2. Burner orifice(s) diameter is too small. 3. Inlet gas pressure is too low. REMEDY 1. Clean burner orifice(s) (see Cleaning and Maintenance, page 26) or replace burner orifice(s). 2. Replace burner orifice(s). 3. Contact local propane gas company. Delayed ignition of burner(s) 1. Manifold pressure is too low. 2. Burner orifice(s) is clogged. 1.
TROUBLESHOOTING WARNING ICON G 001 WARNING If you smell gas • Shut off gas supply. • Do not try to light any appliance. • Do not touch any electrical switch; do not use any phone in your building. • Immediately call your gas supplier from a neighbor’s phone. Follow the gas supplier’s instructions. • If you cannot reach your gas supplier, call the fire department. Continued IMPORTANT: Operating heater where impurities in air exist may create odors.
SPECIFICATIONS VP1600IT BTU (Variable) 6,000-16,000 Type Gas Propane Only Ignition Piezo Pressure Regulator Setting 8" W.C. Inlet Gas Pressure (in. of water) Maximum 14" Minimum 11" Dimensions, Inches (H x W x D) Heater 23.5 x 18.5 x 8 Carton 25.8 x 21.3 x 10.1 Weight (pounds) Heater 24 Shipping 29 VP2200IT 6,500-22,000 Propane Only Piezo 8" W.C. VP1600C BTU (Variable) 6,000/11,000/16,000 Type Gas Propane Only Ignition Piezo Pressure Regulator Setting 8" W.C. Inlet Gas Pressure (in.
REPLACEMENT PARTS Note: Use only original replacement parts. This will protect your warranty coverage for parts replaced under warranty. Parts Under Warranty Contact authorized dealer from whom you purchased this product. If they are unable to supply original replacement part(s), call DESA International’s Technical Service Department at 1-800-323-5190 for information.
14 ILLUSTRATED PARTS BREAKDOWN 12 11 16 22 Model VP1600IT 17 19 15 4 18 24 10 9 8 6 21 20 HEATER EXPLODED VIEW 23 7 5 13 3 6 2 A 1 23-1 B C 23-15 23-10 23-2 23-11 23-16 23-4 23-17 23-3 23-17 23-16 23-9 23-5 23-12 23-7 23-6 23-13 23-14 23-8 BURNER ASSEMBLY ODS/PILOT 32 100751
PARTS LIST Model VP1600IT This list contains replaceable parts used in your heater. When ordering parts, follow the instructions listed under Replacement Parts on page 31 of this manual. KEY NO.
14 ILLUSTRATED PARTS BREAKDOWN 12 11 16 22 Model VP2200IT 17 19 15 4 18 24 10 9 8 6 21 HEATER EXPLODED VIEW 20 23 7 5 13 3 6 2 23-1 1 A B 23-17 23-18 C 23-15 D 23-9 23-2 23-4 23-11 23-3 23-13 23-5 23-14 23-12 23-6 23-10 ODS/PILOT 23-16 BURNER ASSEMBLY 23-8 23-7 34 100751
PARTS LIST Model VP2200IT This list contains replaceable parts used in your heater. When ordering parts, follow the instructions listed under Replacement Parts on page 31 of this manual. KEY NO.
ILLUSTRATED PARTS BREAKDOWN 10 Model VP1600C 15 11 12 4 14 9 6 13 8 HEATER EXPLODED VIEW 7 5 16 3 6 2 1 A 13-14 13-1 B 13-15 C 13-2 13-10 13-11 13-4 13-3 13-12 13-13 13-5 13-6 13-7 13-16 ODS/PILOT 13-8 13-9 BURNER ASSEMBLY 36 100751
PARTS LIST Model VP1600C This list contains replaceable parts used in your heater. When ordering parts, follow the instructions listed under Replacement Parts on page 31 of this manual. KEY NO.
11 ILLUSTRATED PARTS BREAKDOWN 12 10 4 Model VP2600C 14 15 9 6 8 13 HEATER EXPLODED VIEW 7 5 16 3 6 2 1 A B C 13-14 13-15 13-9 13-1 D E 13-11 13-2 13-4 13-5 13-3 13-12 13-13 13-7 13-6 13-16 ODS/PILOT 13-8 BURNER ASSEMBLY 13-10 38 100751
PARTS LIST Model VP2600C This list contains replaceable parts used in your heater. When ordering parts, follow the instructions listed under Replacement Parts on page 31 of this manual. KEY NO.
WARRANTY INFORMATION KEEP THIS WARRANTY Model Serial No. Date Purchased Always specify model and serial numbers when communicating with the factory. We reserve the right to amend these specifications at any time without notice. The only warranty applicable is our standard written warranty. We make no other warranty, expressed or implied.