® VENT-FREE COMPACT FIREPLACE OWNER’S OPERATION AND INSTALLATION MANUAL 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.
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 fireplace. Improper use of this fireplace can cause serious injury or death from burns, fire, explosion, electrical shock, and carbon monoxide poisoning.
SAFETY INFORMATION Continued 3. 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 4. This fireplace shall not be installed in a bedroom or bathroom. 5. Do not use this fireplace as a wood-burning fireplace.
PRODUCT FEATURES SAFETY PILOT 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. ASSEMBLY WARNING: Always have branch support and screen in place before operating fireplace. This prevents excessive temperatures on fireplace surfaces. PIEZO IGNITION SYSTEM This fireplace has a piezo ignitor.
ASSEMBLY AIR FOR COMBUSTION AND VENTILATION Continued 5. Reattach screen by placing the notches in the screen frame over the shoulder screws and pushing down. 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.
AIR FOR COMBUSTION AND VENTILATION Continued Unusually tight construction is defined as construction where: a. walls and ceilings exposed to the outside atmosphere have a continuous water vapor retarder with a rating of one perm (6 x 10-11 kg per pa-sec-m2) or less with openings gasketed or sealed and b. weather stripping has been added on openable windows and doors and c.
AIR FOR COMBUSTION AND VENTILATION 12" Continued A. Rework worksheet, adding the space of an adjoining room. If the extra space provides an unconfined space, remove door to adjoining room or add ventilation grills between rooms. See Ventilation Air From Inside Building. B. Vent room directly to the outdoors. See Ventilation Air From Outdoors. C. Install a lower Btu/Hr fireplace, if lower Btu/Hr size makes room unconfined.
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 30).
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 GA3450T blower accessory. 2. If installing GA3450T blower accessory, do so at this time. See Installing Blower Accessory GA3450T, page 13.
INSTALLATION Continued WARNING: Never modify or cover the louvered slots on the front of the firebox. WARNING: Use only noncombustible mortar or adhesives when overlapping the front facing with noncombustible facing material. 4. Assemble trim kit. See Assembling Perimeter Trim, page 13. 5. Firmly snap trim kit on shoulder screws. Shoulder screws are located on fireplace cabinet (see Figure 12). 6. Align trim kit for flush fit around opening. 7.
INSTALLATION Set Screws Slot Continued 10. Attach wood base to floor with two 1 3/4" black screws provided (see Figure 13). If the floor is concrete use anchor method (see Attaching Wood Base to Solid Floor, page 16). 11. Install gas line. See Connecting To Gas Supply, page 16. 12. Check for leaks. See Checking Gas Connections, page 18. 13. Place mantel around fireplace. Be careful not to damage wall or mantel. 14. Place trim kit on the shoulder screws located on the side and top of the fireplace.
INSTALLATION Continued Branch Support Shoulder Screw 6. 7. Valve Remove Cover Shield Screw 8. 2 9. 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. Wiring errors can cause improper and dangerous operation. CAUTION: Verify proper operation after servicing. Note: If you are using a mantel with your heater, use the following instructions.
INSTALLATION Continued lief clamp (not supplied) to secure incoming electrical supply. Follow steps 2 through 6 in Installing Blower Assembly, page 13. Also remove black wire from middle switch terminal 2. Remove black plastic strain relief and power cord from switch plate. The power cord supplied will not be used in built-in installations. Pop in the plastic snap bushing found in hardware kit into the hole left by supply cord/strain relief.
INSTALLATION Continued 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. An undersized cord will cause a drop in line voltage. This will result in loss of power and overheating. Use a No. 16 AWG cord for lengths less than 50 feet.
INSTALLATION Continued Installation must include a 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 23). IMPORTANT: Install equipment shutoff valve in an accessible location. The equipment shutoff valve is for turning on or shutting off the gas to the appliance. Check your building codes for any special requirements for locating equipment shutoff valve to fireplaces.
INSTALLATION Continued To Fireplace Gas Regulator Flexible Gas Line from Fireplace Gas Regulator Provided with Fireplace Equipment Shutoff Valve Provided by Installer PROPANE/LP To External Regulator NATURAL To Gas Supply Figure 25 - Attaching Flexible Gas Line to Equipment Shutoff Valve CHECKING GAS CONNECTIONS WARNING: Test all gas piping and connections, internal and external to unit, for leaks after installing or servicing. Correct all leaks at once.
INSTALLATION Continued Equipment Shutoff Valve Propane/LP Supply Tank Figure 27 - Checking Gas Joints for Propane/LP Gas (Shown with Optional Mantel) Equipment Shutoff Valve WHAT TO DO IF YOU SMELL GAS • Do not try to light any appliance. • Do not touch any electric 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. C.
OPERATING FIREPLACE Continued 5. Turn control knob counterclockwise to the PILOT position. Press in control knob for five (5) seconds (see Figure 29). Note: You may be running this fireplace for the first time after hooking up to gas supply. If so, the control knob may need to be pressed in for 30 seconds or more. This will allow air to bleed from the gas system. • If control knob does not pop up when released, contact a qualified service person or gas supplier for repairs. 6.
Pilot Burner OPERATING FIREPLACE Thermocouple Continued OPERATING BLOWER This blower has three settings: ON, OFF, and AUTO. In the ON position, the blower will operate constantly. In the OFF position, the blower will not operate. In the AUTO position, the blower will start when the thermostat senses a sufficient increase in firebox temperature. Note: Your fireplace and thermostat blower will not turn on and off at the same time. The fireplace may run for several minutes before the blower turns on.
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.
TROUBLESHOOTING Note: All troubleshooting items are listed in order of operation. 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. 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 1. Turn control knob to LO position and let warm up for a minute 2. Operate burner until air is removed from line. Have gas line checked by local propane/LP gas company 3.
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 Btu (Variable) Type Gas Ignition Pressure Regulator Setting Inlet Gas Pressure (in. of water) * Maximum Minimum Dimensions, Inches (H x W x D) Fireplace (including hood and screws) Carton Weight, pounds Fireplace Shipping VMH26TPC 14,000/26,000 Propane/LP Only Piezo 8" W.C. VMH26TNC 14,000/26,000 Natural Only Piezo 3" W.C. 14" 11" 10.5" 5" 25 7/8 x 26 13/16 x 9 3/8 32 5/8 x 27 3/16 x 11 5/8 25 7/8 x 26 13/16 x 9 3/8 32 5/8 x 27 3/16 x 11 5/8 44.5 lbs. 48 lbs. 44.5 lbs. 48 lbs.
ILLUSTRATED PARTS BREAKDOWN MODELS VMH26TPC (Shown) AND VMH26TNC 3 17 1 96 30 7 4 10 8 40 7 4 3 40 14 20 23 35 29 24 25 12-1 40 13 34 2 33 11 14 32 37 39 19 38 27 5 25 43 6 26 18 12 28 24 36 39 44 9 42 15 16 22 21 41 31 28 www.desatech.
PARTS LIST This list contains replaceable parts used in your fireplace. When ordering parts, follow the instructions listed under Replacement Parts on page 27 of this manual. KEY NO.
ACCESSORIES EXTRUDED LOUVER KIT NOTICE: All accessories may not be available for all fireplace models. (Not Shown) GA9092 - Polished Brass GAP9092 - Platinum For all models. Optional extruded louver. Kit contains 2 louvers. Purchase these fireplace accessories from your local dealer. If they cannot supply these accessories call DESA Heating Products’ Sales Department at 1-866-672-6040 for referral information. You can also write to the address listed on the back page of this manual.
ACCESSORIES CLEANING KIT - GCK (Not Shown) Your vent-free gas appliance requires regular cleaning and maintenance to prevent performance problems. This kit gives you the tools and instructions to make it easy to clean all critical areas of your appliance. Continued INFORMATION VIDEO - 108917-01 A care and maintenance video is available by calling 1-866-672-6040. You may also email your request to productsupport@desaint.com. FIRE CRACKLE - CF6-A (Not Shown) Creates the sound of a real burning fire.
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.