The Chimney System - Vermont Castings 1920 Installation & Operating Manual

C. The Chimney System
Creosote:
Your Aspen is designed to reduce creosote buildup
significantly. However, regular chimney inspection and
maintenance must still be performed. For safety, good stove
performance, and to protect your chimney and chimney
connector, inspect your chimney and chimney connector on
a regular schedule. Clean the system if necessary. Failure
to keep the chimney and connector system clean can result
in a serious chimney fire.
When wood is burned slowly, it produces tar, organic
vapors and moisture that combine to form creosote. The
creosote vapors condense in the relatively cool chimney
flue. As a result, creosote residue accumulates on the flue
lining. When ignited, this creosote makes an extremely hot
fire within the flue system that can damage the chimney
and overheat adjacent combustible material.
If you do have a chimney fire, promptly:
• Set the Primary air control on low.
• Get everyone out of the house.
• Call the Fire Department.
You should inspect the system every two weeks during the
heating season as part of a regular maintenance schedule.
To inspect the chimney, let the stove cool completely. Then,
using a mirror and a strong light, sight up through the flue
collar into the chimney flue. If it is not possible to inspect the
flue system in this fashion, the stove must be disconnected
to provide better viewing access.
If a significant layer of creosote has accumulated — 1/8" (3
mm) or more — remove it to reduce the risk of a chimney fire.
Clean the chimney using a brush the same size and shape
as the flue liner. Flexible fiberglass rods are used to run the
brush up and down the liner, causing any deposits to fall
to the bottom of the chimney where they can be removed
through the clean-out door.
The chimney connector should be cleaned by disconnecting
the sections, taking them outside, and removing any deposits
with a stiff wire brush. Reinstall the connector sections after
cleaning, being sure to secure the individual sections with
sheet metal screws.
If you cannot inspect or clean the chimney yourself, contact
your local Vermont Castings' Authorized Dealer or hire a
professional chimney sweep.
Annual Maintenance:
Perform a thorough cleaning, inspection and repair each
Spring, at the end of the heating season.
• Thoroughly clean the chimney and chimney connector.
• Inspect the chimney for damage and deterioration.
Replace weak sections of prefabricated chimney. Have
a mason make repairs to a masonry chimney.
• Inspect the chimney connector and replace any damaged
sections.
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Vermont Castings • Aspen 1920 Owner's Manual_R32 • 08/17
• Clean ash debris from under the primary air plate.
See procedure below.
• Check gasketing for wear or compression, and replace if
necessary. A 'paper test' will guide you on this. Close and
lock the door on a slip of paper and then try to pull the
paper out. If the paper pulls out with little or no resistance,
the gasket isn't snug enough at that spot. If adjusting the
or latch doesn't result in a seal that makes it hard to pull
the paper out, replace the gasketing.
• Check door handle for tightness. Adjust if needed.
• Check heat shield screws. Tighten as necessary.
• Clean dust from the inner sides of bottom, rear and
connector heat shields.
• Remove ashes from the ash pan and replace with moisture
absorbing material (such as cat litter) to keep the stove
interior dry. Close the stove door to keep cats from using
the litter.
• Touch up the paint on black stoves.
Clean the Primary Air Outlet:
Ash accumulation below the primary air plate will eventually
result in sluggish, cool fires. Ash accumulation should be
removed at least yearly as follows:
1. Remove the phillips head screw that retains the Primary
Air Plate. (Figure 9.3)
2. Use a screwdriver to pry the plate out of the cemented
seams.
3. Remove ash debris from the cavity.
4. Use high-temperature furnace cement to reseal the front
seam and side seams and replace the plate. Secure with
the phillips head screw.
Figure 9.3 - Remove phillips head screw and primary air plate to
clean ash from cavity.
Phillips
Head Screw
Primary
Air Plate
Remove All
Ash Debris
from this
Cavity
KT351
cleaning
primary air
11/02
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