VENT-FREE COMPACT FIREPLACE OWNER’S OPERATION AND INSTALLATION MANUAL PFS ® US Shown with Optional Cabinet Mantel/Hearth Base Accessory Models VMH26TPC and VMH26TNC 14,000 to 26,000 Btu/Hr with Thermostat 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.
Table of Contents Safety................................................................... 2 Local Codes......................................................... 4 Product Identification............................................ 4 Product Features.................................................. 5 Unpacking............................................................ 5 Assembly.............................................................. 5 Air for Combustion and Ventilation.......................
SAFETY Continued WARNING: Any change to this heater or its controls can be dangerous. WARNING: Do not allow fans to blow directly into the fireplace. Avoid any drafts that alter burner flame patterns. Ceiling fans can create drafts that alter burner flame patterns. Altered burner patterns can cause sooting. WARNING: Do not use a blower insert, heat exchanger insert, or other accessory not approved for use with this fireplace.
SAFETY Continued 10. This fireplace needs fresh air ventilation to run properly. This fireplace has an Oxygen Depletion Sensing (ODS) safety shutoff system. The ODS shuts down the fireplace if not enough fresh air is available. See Air for Combustion and Ventilation, page 6. If fireplace keeps shutting off, see Troubleshooting, page 24. 11. Do not run fireplace • where flammable liquids or vapors are used or stored. • under dusty conditions. 12.
Product Features Safety Pilot Thermostatic Heat Control This fireplace has a pilot with an Oxygen Depletion Sensing (ODS) safety shutoff system. The ODS/pilot is a required feature for vent-free room fireplaces. The ODS/pilot shuts off the fireplace if there is not enough fresh air. This fireplace has a thermostat sensing bulb and a control valve. The thermostat will automatically modulate the heat output to maintain a consistent room temperature. This results in greater fireplace comfort.
Assembly Continued Assembling Hood 1. Locate four black phillips sheet metal screws from the hardware packet. 2. Rotate hood as shown in Figure 3. Make sure hood tabs point toward fireplace. 3. Insert hood tabs between baffle and louvers (see Figure 3). 4. Gently rotate hood to upright position. Make sure hood tabs are behind louvers and hood is resting on firebox top (see Figure 3). 5. Align screw holes on hood with screw holes on firebox top. 6. Insert screws as shown in Figure 3. Tighten screws firmly.
AIR FOR COMBUSTION AND VENTILATION Continued c. caulking or sealants are applied to areas such as joints around window and door frames, between sole plates and floors, between wall-ceiling joints, between wall panels, at penetrations for plumbing, electrical, and gas lines, and at other openings. If your home meets all of the three criteria above, you must provide additional fresh air. See Ventilation Air From Outdoors, page 8.
AIR FOR COMBUSTION AND VENTILATION Continued WARNING: If the area in which the heater may be operated does not meet the required volume for indoor combustion air, combustion and ventilation air shall be provided by one of the methods described in the National Fuel Gas Code, ANSI Z223.1/NFPA 54, the International Fuel Gas Code, or applicable local codes. VENTILATION AIR Ventilation Air From Inside Building This fresh air would come from an adjoining unconfined space.
Installation NOTICE: This heater is intended for use as supplemental heat. Use this heater along with your primary heating system. Do not install this heater as your primary heat source. If you have a central heating system, you may run system’s circulating blower while using heater. This will help circulate the heat throughout the house. In the event of a power outage, you can use this heater as your primary heat source. WARNING: A qualified service person must install fireplace. Follow all local codes.
INSTALLation Continued LOCATING FIREPLACE WARNING: Maintain the minimum clearances shown in Figures 6 and 7. If you can, provide greater clearances from floor, ceiling, and joining wall. You can recess firebox into the wall. You can also position fireplace in the optional cabinet or corner mantels. IMPORTANT: Only use optional cabinet or corner mantels specified in this manual. Purchase the optional mantel from your dealer (see Accessories, page 29).
INSTALLation Continued WARNING: If pre-wiring, do not connect wiring to any electrical source at this time. Install fireplace electrical outlet and connect wiring to outlet before connecting to electrical source. The fireplace electrical outlet is included with the GA3450T blower accessory. Only use the fireplace electrical outlet supplied with the GA3450TA blower accessory. 2. If installing GA3450TA blower accessory, do so at this time. See Installing Blower Accessory GA3450TA, page 13.
INSTALLation Continued WARNING: Never modify or cover the louvered slots on the front of the firebox. Mantel Clearances for Built-In Installation If placing mantel above built-in fireplace, you must meet minimum clearance between mantel shelf and top of fireplace opening. NOTICE: Surface temperatures of adjacent walls and mantels become hot during operation. Walls and mantels above the firebox may become hot to the touch.
INSTALLation Continued 9. Check all gas connections for leaks. See Checking Gas Connections, page 18. 10. Carefully insert fireplace into cabinet mantel (see Figure 13). Be careful not to scratch or damage hearth base or cabinet mantel. 11. Place metal trim on shoulder screws located on the side and top of the fireplace (see Assembling Perimeter Trim). Firmly snap trim over shoulder screws. Align fireplace in mantel assembly so the trim overlaps mantel evenly on all three sides. 12.
INSTALLation Continued Note: If you do not have a short Phillips screwdriver, the screen, log set, and branch support must be removed so a longer screwdriver may be used. See Connecting Equipment Shutoff Valve to Heater Control, page 17, steps 1 and 2. Branch Support Shoulder Screw Valve Remove Cover Shield Screw 2 1 Bottom Louver Assembly Figure 16 - Removing Valve Cover Shield Snap Bushings Installing Blower Assembly CAUTION: Label all wires prior to disconnection when servicing controls.
INSTALLation Continued 113111-01 Red White Green Blue Blower Motor 3 2 Black White Green Off 110/115 V.A.C. Follow instructions for Removing Valve Cover Shield, page 13. Continue installation as follows: 1. Install a snap bushing found in hardware kit into one of the holes found on rear of valve cover shield. The other hole is for a strain relief clamp (not supplied) to secure incoming electrical supply. 2. Follow steps 2 through 6 in Installing Blower Assembly, page 14.
INSTALLation Continued Blower Bracket Assembly Wire Harness Screw Switch Plate Switch 3 2 1 Blue Plastic Wire Strap Power Cord Outlet Receptacle Red Valve Cover Wire Shield Harness Clamp Connector Box Cover (not included) Figure 20 - Installing Blower Bracket Assembly Extension Cord Use extension cord if needed. The cord must have a three-prong, grounding plug and a three-hole receptacle. Make sure cord is in good shape. It must be heavy enough to carry the current needed.
INSTALLation Continued Installation must include an equipment shutoff valve, union, and plugged 1/8" NPT tap. Locate NPT tap within reach for test gauge hook up. NPT tap must be upstream from fireplace (see Figure 22). IMPORTANT: Install equipment shutoff valve in an accessible location. Equipment shutoff valve is for turning on or shutting off gas to the appliance. Check your building codes for any special requirements for locating equipment shutoff valve to fireplaces.
INSTALLation Continued 6. Replace branch support back into fireplace. Feed flexible gas line into fireplace base area while replacing branch support. Make sure the entire flexible gas line is in fireplace base area. Reattach branch support to fireplace with screws removed in step 2, page 17.
INSTALLation Continued Equipment Shutoff Valve Propane/LP Supply Tank Figure 26 - Checking Gas Joints for Propane/LP Gas (Shown with Optional Mantel) Equipment Shutoff Valve Gas Meter Pressure Testing Fireplace Gas Connections 1. Open equipment shutoff valve (see Figure 25, page 18). 2. Open main gas valve located on or near gas meter for natural gas or open propane/LP supply tank valve. 3. Make sure control knob of fireplace is in the OFF position. 4.
OPERATIon Continued LIGHTING INSTRUCTIONS WARNING: You must operate this fireplace with the fireplace screen in place. Make sure fireplace screen is installed before running fireplace. NOTICE: During initial operation of new fireplace, burning logs will give off a paper-burning smell. Orange flame will also be present. Open window to vent smell. Operate fireplace on HI position to burn off odor. This will only last a few hours. 1. STOP! Read the safety information starting, page 19. 2.
OPERATIon Continued TO TURN OFF GAS TO APPLIANCE MANUAL LIGHTING PROCEDURE Shutting Off Fireplace 1. Turn control knob clockwise to the OFF position. 2. Turn off all electric power to the appliance if service is to be performed. 3. Close equipment shutoff valve (see Figure 25, page 18). 1. Follow steps 1 through 5 under Lighting Instructions, page 20. 2. With control knob pressed in, strike match. Hold match to pilot until pilot lights. 3. Keep control knob pressed in for 30 seconds after lighting pilot.
Inspecting Burner Check pilot flame pattern and burner flame pattern often. PILOT FLAME PATTERN Figure 31 shows a correct pilot flame pattern. Figure 32 shows an incorrect pilot flame pattern. The incorrect pilot flame is not properly heating the thermocouple. This will cause thermocouple to cool. When thermocouple cools, the fireplace will shut down.
Cleaning and Maintenance WARNING: Turn off fireplace and let cool before cleaning. CAUTION: You must keep control areas, burner, and circulating air passageways of fireplace clean. Inspect these areas of fireplace before each use. Have fireplace inspected yearly by a qualified service person. Fireplace may need more frequent cleaning due to excessive lint from carpeting, bedding material, pet hair, etc. 4. Check injector holder located at end of burner tube again.
Troubleshooting WARNING: Turn off heater and let cool before servicing. Only a qualified service person should service and repair heater. CAUTION: Never use a wire, needle, or similar object to clean ODS/pilot. This can damage ODS/pilot unit. Note: All troubleshooting items are listed in order of operation. OBSERVED PROBLEM POSSIBLE CAUSE REMEDY When ignitor button is pressed, there is no spark at ODS/pilot 1. Ignitor cable pinched or wet 1. Free ignitor cable if pinched by any metal or tubing.
Troubleshooting Continued OBSERVED PROBLEM POSSIBLE CAUSE REMEDY ODS/pilot lights but flame goes out when control knob is released 1. Control knob not fully pressed in 2. Control knob not pressed in long enough 1. Press in control knob fully 3. Safety interlock system has been triggered 4. Equipment shutoff valve not fully open 5. Thermocouple connection loose at control valve 6. Pilot flame not touching thermocouple, which allows thermocouple to cool, causing pilot flame to go out.
Troubleshooting Continued OBSERVED PROBLEM POSSIBLE CAUSE REMEDY Slight smoke or odor during initial operation 1. Residues from manufacturing processes 1. Problem will stop after a few hours of operation Fireplace produces a whistling noise when burner is lit 1. Turning control knob to HI position when burner is cold 2. Air in gas line 1. Turn control knob to LO position and let warm up for a minute 2. Operate burner until air is removed from line.
Troubleshooting Continued 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. IMPORTANT: Operating fireplace where impurities in air exist may create odors.
Specifications VMH26TPC • Rating (Variable): 14,000/26,000 Btu/Hr • Gas Type: Propane/LP Gas Only • Ignition: Piezo • Pressure Regulator Setting: 8" W.C. • Inlet Gas Pressure (in. of water): Maximum - 14" W.C., Minimum* - 11" W.C. * For purposes of input adjustment VMH26TNC • Rating (Variable): 14,000/26,000 Btu/Hr • Gas Type: Natural Gas Only • Ignition: Piezo • Pressure Regulator Setting: 3" W.C. • Inlet Gas Pressure (in. of water): Maximum - 10.5" W.C., Minimum* - 5" W.C.
Accessories NOTICE: All accessories may not be available for all fireplace models. Purchase these accessories from your local dealer. If they can not supply these accessories call FMI PRODUCTS, LLC at 1-866-328-4537 for information. You can also write to the address listed on the back page of this manual. Perimeter TRIM KIT GAB6094 - Black GAP6094 - Platinum For all models. Optional three-sided perimeter trim kit for recessed installations (when unit is on the floor) or in mantel.
Parts Models vmh26tpC (Shown) and vmh26tnC 3 1 6 17 9 30 7 10 4 8 40 11 4 7 3 40 2 33 14 20 13 23 35 29 24 25 12-1 40 14 37 39 34 32 19 27 38 5 25 12 28 9 24 6 26 18 39 22 42 15 16 36 21 41 31 30 www.fmiproducts.
PARTS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 102633-02 102624-02 099230-02 098304-01 109824-05 103209-09 102635-02 111421-01 M10908-75 104281-02 102638-01 PP224 PP229 ** 099211-01 103963-01 102834-01 098304-02 098303-02 ** 102649-02 099415-09 099415-10 102875-01 101381-01 099387-11 098271-06 107186-01 107186-02 101006-02 098249-01 098522-26 098522-23 102639-01 101628-01 102869-01 102731-01 103295-05 107048-01 104313-01 104313
Warranty KEEP THIS WARRANTY Model (located on product or identification tag)______________________________ Serial No. (located on product or identification tag)___________________________ Date Purchased ___________________________ Keep receipt for warranty verification.
