VENT-FREE HEATER OWNER’S OPERATION AND INSTALLATION MANUAL Shown with Optional Mantel Which Features a Built-in Base RFN30TA, RFP30TA VMH3000TNA, VMH3000TPA 15,000 to 30,000 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.
WARNING: Improper installation, adjustment, alteration, service or maintenance can cause injury or property damage. Refer to this manual for correct installation and operational procedures. For assistance or additional information consult a qualified installer, service agency or the gas supplier. WARNING: This is an unvented gas-fired heater. It uses air (oxygen) from the room in which it is installed. Provisions for adequate combustion and ventilation air must be provided.
SAFETY INFORMATION WARNING: This product contains and/or generates chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer or birth defects or other reproductive harm. IMPORTANT: Read this owner’s manual carefully and completely before trying to assemble, operate or service this heater. Improper use of this fireplace can cause serious injury or death from burns, fire, explosion, electrical shock and carbon monoxide poisoning.
SAFETY INFORMATION Continued 4. This heater shall not be installed in a bedroom or bathroom. 5. This heater needs fresh, outside air ventilation to run properly. This heater has an Oxygen Depletion Sensing (ODS) safety shutoff system. The ODS shuts down the heater if not enough fresh air is available. See Air for Combustion and Ventilation, page 7. 6. If heater shuts off, do not relight until you provide fresh, outside air. If heater keeps shutting off, have it serviced. 7.
PRODUCT FEATURES SAFETY PILOT This heater has a pilot with an Oxygen Depletion Sensing (ODS) safety shutoff system. The ODS/pilot is a required feature for vent-free room heaters. The ODS/pilot shuts off the heater if there is not enough fresh air. PIEZO IGNITION SYSTEM This heater has a piezo ignitor. This system requires no matches, batteries or other sources to light heater.
ASSEMBLING HEATER Continued INSTALLING LOG Note: For easier installation, lay heater on its back. 1. With Phillips screwdriver, remove two screws holding screen in place. Remove screen. 2. Remove log from inside of deflector. Discard protective packaging. 3. Gently slide log between log retaining brackets on deflector assembly (see Figure 3, page 5). The log should fit firmly against bottom of log retaining brackets. 4. Reattach screen using two screws removed in step 1.
AIR FOR COMBUSTION AND VENTILATION WARNING: This heater shall not be installed in a confined space or unusually tight construction unless provisions are provided for adequate combustion and ventilation air. Read the following instructions to insure proper fresh air for this and other fuel-burning appliances in your home. Todayʼs homes are built more energy efficient than ever. New materials, increased insulation and new construction methods help reduce heat loss in homes.
AIR FOR COMBUSTION AND VENTILATION Continued 1. Determine the volume of the space (length x width x height). Length x Width x Height = cu. ft. (volume of space) Example: Space size 20 ft. (length) x 16 ft. (width) x 8 ft. (ceiling height) = 2560 cu. ft. (volume of space) If additional ventilation to adjoining room is supplied with grills or openings, add the volume of these rooms to the total volume of the space. 2. Multiply the space volume by 20 to determine the maximum Btu/Hr the space can support.
AIR FOR COMBUSTION AND VENTILATION Continued 12" Ventilation Grills into Adjoining Room, Option 1 Ventilation Grills Into Adjoining Room, Option 2 Or Remove Door into Adjoining Room, Option 3 12" Figure 7 - Ventilation Air from Inside Building 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.
INSTALLATION Continued LOCATING HEATER WARNING: Maintain the minimum clearances shown in Figure 9. If you can, provide greater clearances from floor, ceiling and joining wall. You can locate heater on floor. The optional hearth base is needed. You can also install the optional decorative mantel on the heater (some mantels require hearth base). IMPORTANT: Only use optional mantel and hearth base specified in this manual. Purchase the optional mantel and hearth base from your dealer. See Accessories, page 26.
Continued Attaching Thermostat Sensing Bulb 1. Remove thermostat sensing bulb from holders inside heater. Route through slot opening in bottom of heater. 2. Place clamp on thermostat sensing bulb as shown in Figure 10. Clamp is provided in hardware package. 3. Snap clamp into upper mounting hole as shown in Figure 10. Mounting hole is located on lower left edge on back of heater. Make sure the thermostat sensing bulb is pointing up. Thermostat Sensing Bulb Marking Screw Locations 1.
INSTALLATION Continued 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. 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. Tighten screws until mounting bracket is firmly fastened to wall.
INSTALLATION Continued Securing Hearth Base to Floor 1. Position hearth base in desired location. Mark holes for drilling (see Figure 16). Remove hearth base. 2. For carpeted floor, make a small cut with a sharp knife at marked locations before drilling. If securing to a wood floor, drill a 3/4" deep hole using a 1/8" diameter drill bit. Do not use anchors in wood floors. If securing to a concrete floor, drill a 13/8" deep hole using a 1/4" diameter concrete drill bit. Completely insert anchors into each hole.
INSTALLATION Continued CONNECTING TO GAS SUPPLY WARNING: This appliance requires a 3/8" NPT (National Pipe Thread) inlet connection to the pressure regulator. WARNING: A qualified service person must connect heater to gas supply. Follow all local codes. WARNING: Never connect natural gas heater to private (nonutility) gas wells. This gas is commonly known as wellhead gas. CAUTION: Never connect propane/LP heater directly to the propane/LP supply. This heater requires an external regulator (not supplied).
INSTALLATION PRESSURE TESTING GAS SUPPLY PIPING SYSTEM Continued Note: Burner bracket not shown for clarity Pressure Regulator Heater Cabinet 3/8" NPT Pipe Nipple Tee Joint Reducer Bushing to 1/8" NPT Ground Union Joint Equipment Shutoff Valve * Natural Gas 3" From Gas Meter Min. (5" W.C. to 10.5" W.C. Pressure) Test Gauge Propane/LP Connection * From External Tee Pipe Cap Regulator Joint Nipple (11" W.C. to 14" W.C.
OPERATING HEATER INSTALLATION Continued FOR YOUR SAFETY READ BEFORE LIGHTING Thermostat Gas Valve Location WARNING: If you do not follow these instructions exactly, a fire or explosion may result causing property damage, personal injury or loss of life. Gas Meter Equipment Shutoff Valve Figure 21 - Checking Gas Joints (Natural Gas) Thermostat Gas Valve Location Propane/LP Supply Tank Equipment Shutoff Valve Figure 22 - Checking Gas Joints (Propane/LP Gas) PRESSURE TESTING HEATER GAS CONNECTIONS 1.
OPERATING HEATER Continued 5. Turn control knob counterclockwise to the PILOT position. Press in control knob for five (5) seconds (see Figure 23). Note: You may be running this heater for the first time after hooking up to gas supply. If so, the control knob may need to be pressed in for 30 seconds. This will allow air to bleed from the gas system. 6. With control knob pressed in, push down and release ignitor button. This will light pilot. The pilot is attached to the front of burner.
INSPECTING BURNERS Check pilot flame pattern and burner flame pattern often. PILOT FLAME PATTERN Figure 26 shows a correct pilot flame pattern. Figure 27 shows an incorrect pilot flame pattern. The incorrect pilot flame is not touching the thermocouple. This will cause the thermocouple to cool. When the thermocouple cools, the heater will shut down.
CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE WARNING: Turn off heater and let cool before cleaning. 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, pet hair, bedding material, etc. WARNING: Failure to keep the primary air opening(s) of the burner(s) clean may result in sooting or property damage, 3.
TROUBLESHOOTING WARNING: Turn off and unplug 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, 1. Ignitor cable pinched or wet there is no spark at ODS/pilot 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 1.
TROUBLESHOOTING Continued OBSERVED PROBLEM POSSIBLE CAUSE Burner does not light after ODS/ pilot is lit 1. Burner orifice is clogged Delayed ignition of burner 1. Manifold pressure is too low REMEDY 1. Clean burner (see Cleaning and Maintenance, page 19) or replace burner orifice 2. Burner orifice diameter is too 2. Replace burner orifice small 3. Inlet gas pressure is too low 3. Contact local natural gas company 2. Burner orifice is clogged 1. Contact local natural gas company 2.
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 heater where impurities in air exist may create odors.
SPECIFICATIONS BTU (Variable) Type Gas Ignition Pressure Regulator Setting Inlet Gas Pressure (in. of water) * Maximum Minimum Dimensions, Inches (H x W x D)** Heater Carton Weight (pounds) Heater Shipping * For purposes of input adjustment **Measurement includes knobs and hood RFN30TA VMH3000TNA 15,000/30,000 Natural Only Piezo 3" W.C. RFP30TA VMH3000TPA 15,000/30,000 Propane/LP Only Piezo 8" W.C. 10.5" 5" 14" 11" 23.75 x 25.9 x 8.5 26 x 27.75 x 10.25 23.75 x 25.9 x 8.5 26 x 27.75 x 10.
ILLUSTRATED PARTS BREAKDOWN 1 3 28 1 2 1 1 5 22 1 4 9 10 1 1 12 11 13 21 26 14 6 23 24 8 27 6 19 15 16 10 25 7 18 17 20 RFN30TA RFP30TA VMH3000TNA VMH3000TPA 24 www.desatech.
PARTS LIST This list contains replaceable parts used in your heater. When ordering parts, follow the instructions listed under Replacement Parts on page 23 of this manual. PART NUMBER KEY NO.
ACCESSORIES Purchase these heater accessories from your local dealer. If they can not supply these accessories, either contact your nearest Parts Central (see page 27) or call DESA Heating Products at 1-866-672-6040 for information. You can also write to the address listed on the back page of this manual. HEARTH BASE - GHB38 SERIES, GHB802 SERIES EQUIPMENT SHUTOFF VALVE GA5010 For locating heater on the floor. Includes brass trim. Complete installation instructions included.
PARTS CENTRALS These Parts Centrals are privately owned businesses. They have agreed to support our customerʼs needs by providing original replacement parts and accessories Tool & Equipment Company 5 Manila Ave. Hamden, CT 06514-0322 1-800-397-7553 203-248-7553 Portable Heater Parts 342 N. County Rd. 400 East Valparaiso, IN 46383-9704 All States 219-462-7441 1-888-619-7060 www.portableheaterparts.com sales@portableheaterparts.com techservice@portableheaterparts.
Model Serial No. Date Purchased 2701 Industrial Drive P.O. Box 90004 Bowling Green, KY 42102-9004 www.desatech.com 109889 01 NOT A UPC 109889-01 Rev.
