® VENT-FREE NATURAL GAS HEATER OWNER’S OPERATION AND INSTALLATION MANUAL Models: VN6B and VN12A 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 natural gas. Do not convert heater to use different fuel type. 2. 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.
Piezo Ignitor Button Control Knob PRODUCT IDENTIFICATION Grill Guard Burners Heater Cabinet Front Panel Figure 1 - Vent-Free Natural Gas Heater (Model VN12A 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. 1430 Broadway New York, NY 10018 National Fire Protection Association, 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 natural gas. If your gas supply is not natural, 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 CEILING 36" Minimum 8" Minimum From Sides Of Heater Right Side Left Side 3" Minimum To Top Surface Of Carpeting, Tile Or Other Combustible Material FLOOR Figure 4 - Mounting Clearances As Viewed From Front of Heater INSTALLING HEATER TO WALL Marking Screw Locations 1. Determine where you will locate heater.
INSTALLING TO WALL Continued Installing Two Mounting Screws Note: Wall anchors and mounting screws are in hardware package. The hardware package is provided with heater. Attaching to wall stud method For attaching mounting screw to wall stud 1. Drill hole at marked location using 9/64" drill bit. 2. Insert mounting screw into wall stud. 3. Tighten screw until 1/16" space (thickness of penny) is between screwhead and wall.
INSTALLING TO WALL Continued Placing Heater On Mounting Screws 1. Locate two keyhole slots on back panel of heater (see Figure 9). 2. Place large openings of slots over screwheads. Slide heater down until screws are in small portion of slots. Keyhole Slots Figure 9 - Location Of Keyhole Slots On Back Panel Of Heater 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.
CONNECTING TO GAS SUPPLY NOTICE A qualified service person must connect heater to gas supply. Follow all local codes. WARNING ICON G 001 WARNING Never connect heater to private (non-utility) gas wells. This gas is commonly known as well-head gas. IMPORTANT: Check gas line pressure before connecting heater to gas line. Gas line pressure must be no greater than 14 inches of water. If gas line pressure is higher, heater regulator damage could occur.
CONNECTING TO GAS SUPPLY IMPORTANT: Hold pressure regulator with wrench when connecting it to gas piping and/or fittings. Continued Pressure Regulator 3/8" NPT Pipe Nipple Heater Cabinet Ground Joint Union Manual Shutoff Valve * Tee Joint Reducer Bushing to 1/8" NPT From Gas Meter (4" W.C. to 10.5" W.C. Pressure) Test Gauge Connection * 1/8" NPT Plug Tap Tee Joint 3" Minimum Pipe Nipple Sediment Trap Cap Figure 12 - Gas Connection * An A.G.A.
CHECKING GAS CONNECTIONS Continued 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 13). 2. Pressurize supply piping system by either using compressed air or opening main gas valve located on or near gas meter. 3. Check all joints from gas meter to manual shutoff valve (see Figure 14).
OPERATING HEATER 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. Be sure to smell next to the floor because some gas is heavier than air and will settle on the floor.
OPERATING HEATER 4. Wait five (5) 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 16. If you don’t smell gas, go to the next step. Continued to pilot position. 5. Press in control knob, and turn counterclockwise Keep control knob pressed for five seconds. Note: You may be running this heater for the first time after hooking up to gas supply.
OPERATING HEATER TO SELECT HEATING LEVEL Continued WARNING ICON G 001 WARNING When running heater, set control knob at LOW or HIGH locked positions (VN12A) or ON position (VN6B). 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 Continued TO TURN OFF GAS TO APPLIANCE Shutting Off Heater 1. Turn control knob clockwise Clockwise to the OFF position. Shutting Off Burner Only (pilot stays lit) 1. Turn control knob clockwise Clockwise to the PILOT position. MANUAL LIGHTING PROCEDURE 1. Remove front panel (see Figure 10, page 12). 2. Follow steps 1 through 5 under Lighting Instructions, pages 16 and 17. 3. With control knob pressed in, strike match. Hold match to pilot until pilot lights. 4.
INSPECTING BURNER BURNER FLAME PATTERN Figure 20 shows a correct burner flame pattern. Figure 21 shows an incorrect burner flame pattern.
TROUBLESHOOTING WARNING ICON WARNING G 001 Turn off heater and let cool before servicing. Only a qualified service person should service and repair heater. Note: All troubleshooting items are listed in order of operation. WARNING ICON G 001 CAUTION Never use a wire, needle, or similar object to clean ODS/pilot. This can damage ODS/pilot unit.
TROUBLESHOOTING Continued OBSERVED PROBLEM POSSIBLE CAUSE 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 3. Manual shutoff valve not fully open 4. Thermocouple connection loose at control valve 5. Pilot flame not touching thermocouple, which allows thermocouple to cool, causing pilot flame to go out.
TROUBLESHOOTING Continued OBSERVED PROBLEM POSSIBLE CAUSE REMEDY Burner plaque(s) does not glow 1. Plaque damaged 2. Inlet gas pressure is too low 3. Control knob set between locked positions 1. Replace burner 2. Contact local natural gas company 3. Turn control knob until it locks at desired setting Slight smoke or odor during initial operation 1. Residues from manufacturing processes 1.
TROUBLESHOOTING Continued 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. OBSERVED PROBLEM POSSIBLE CAUSE Gas odor even when control knob is in OFF position 1. Gas leak.
SERVICE HINTS When gas pressure is too low • pilot will not stay lit • burner(s) will have delayed ignition • heater will not produce specified heat When gas quality is bad • pilot will not stay lit • burner(s) will produce flames and soot • heater will backfire when lit You may feel your gas pressure is too low or gas quality is bad. If so, contact your local natural gas supplier. REPLACEMENT PARTS Note: Use only original replacement parts.
PARTS LIST VN6B KEY NO. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 7-1 7-2 8 9 10 11 12 13 PART NUMBER 098304-01 099467-01 099318-03 098342-01 099469-01 M15823-37 503329 098514-01 098594-01 099884-01 099056-04 099390-01 099387-05 099391-02 100829-01 This list contains replaceable parts used in your heater. When ordering parts, follow the instructions listed under Replacement Parts on page 25 of this manual.
PARTS LIST VN12A KEY NO. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 7-1 7-2 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 PART NUMBER 098304-01 099467-01 099318-03 098342-01 099469-02 M15823-37 503329 098514-01 098594-01 099884-02 099056-04 099390-02 099387-05 099392-01 099391-02 100432-01 This list contains replaceable parts used in your heater. When ordering parts, follow the instructions listed under Replacement Parts on page 25 of this manual.
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.