Desa VF-24P-PJD, VF-18P-PJD User Manual

UNVENTED (VENT-FREE) GAS LOG HEATER

OWNER’S OPERATION AND INSTALLATION MANUAL

VF-24N-PJD, VF-24P-PJD
VF-18N-PJD, VF-18P-PJD

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.

• 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.

— Installation and service must be performed by a quali-

fied installer, service agency or the gas supplier.

INSTALLER: Leave this manual with the appliance.

CONSUMER: Retain this manual for future reference.

For more information, visit www.desatech.com

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 appliance is for installation only in a
solid-fuel burning masonry or UL127 factory-built fire­place or in a listed ventless firebox enclosure. It is de­sign-certified for these installations in accordance with
ANSI Z21.11.2. Exception: Do not install this appliance
in a factory-built fireplace that includes instructions
stating it has not been tested or should not be used with
unvented gas logs.

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. Refer to Air for Combustion and Ventilation
section on page 5 of this manual.

This appliance may be installed in an aftermarket,* per­manently located, manufactured (mobile) home, where
not prohibited by local codes.

This appliance is only for use with the type of gas indi­cated on the rating plate. This appliance is not convert­ible for use with other gases.

* Aftermarket: Completion of sale, not for purpose of resale, from the manufacturer

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Safety Information ............................................... 3

Product Identification ........................................... 4

Local Codes ........................................................ 5

Unpacking ........................................................... 5

Product Features ................................................. 5

Air For Combustion and Ventilation .....................

Installation ........................................................... 8

Operating Heater ............................................... 14

Inspecting Burners ........................................... 18

Cleaning and Maintenance ................................ 19

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Troubleshooting ................................................. 20

Wiring Diagram .................................................. 23

Service Hints ..................................................... 24

Technical Service .............................................. 24

Replacement Parts ............................................ 24

5

Specifications ....................................................

Accessories ....................................................... 25

Illustrated Parts Breakdown and Parts List ....... 26

Warranty Information ...........................Back Cover

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25

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
be fore trying t o asse mble,
operate or service this heater.
Improper use of this heater can
cause serious injury or death
from burns, fire, explosion,
electrical shock and carbon
monoxide poisoning.

WARNING: Do not allow fans
to blow directly into the heater.
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 place
log scraps or lava rocks on
burner.

Due to high temperatures, the
appliance should be located out
of traffic and away from furniture
and draperies.

DANGER: Carbon monoxide

poisoning may lead to death!

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Early signs of carbon

monoxide poisoning resemble the flu, with head
aches, dizziness or nausea. If you have these signs,
the heater may not be working properly. Get fresh
air at once! Have heater serviced. Some people
are more affected by carbon monoxide than others.
These include pregnant women, people with heart
or lung disease or anemia, those under the influence
of alcohol and those at high altitudes.

Natural and Propane/LP Gas: Natural and pro-

pane/LP gases are odorless. An odor-making
agent is added to these gases. The odor helps you
detect a gas leak. However, the odor added to the
gas can fade. Gas may be present even though no
odor exists.

Make certain you read and understand all warn
ings. Keep this manual for reference. It is your
guide to safe and proper operation of this heater.

WARNING: Any change to
this heater or its controls can
be dangerous.

WARNING: Do not use a
blower insert, heat exchanger
insert or other accessory not ap­proved for use with this heater.

Do not place clothing or other
flammable material on or near
the appliance. Never place any
objects on the heater.

-

Heater base assembly becomes
very hot when running heater.
Keep children and adults away
from hot surface to avoid burns
or clothing ignition. Heater
will remain hot for a time after
shutdown. Allow surface to cool
before touching.

Carefully supervise young chil­dren when they are in the room

-

with heater.

You must operate this heater
with a fireplace screen in place.
Make sure fireplace screen is
closed before running heater.

Keep the appliance area clear
and free from combustible ma­terials, gasoline and other flam­mable vapors and liquids.

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SAFETY INFORMATION

Continued

1. This appliance is only for use with the type of
gas indicated on the rating plate. This appliance
is not convertible for use with other gases.

2. Do not place propane/LP supply tank(s) in
side any structure. Locate propane/LP supply
tank(s) outdoors (propane/LP units only).

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 neighb orʼ s phone. Fo ll ow the gas
supplierʼs instructions

• if you cannot reach your gas supplier, call

the fire department

4. This heater shall not be installed in a bedroom
or bathroom.

5. Before installing in a solid fuel burning fire
place, the chimney flue and firebox must be
cleaned of soot, creosote, ashes and loose paint
by a qualified chimney cleaner. Creosote will
ignite if highly heated. Inspect chimney flue
for damage. If damaged, repair flue before
operating heater.

6. Do not burn solid-fuel in a masonry or UL127
factory-built fireplace in which a vent-free
room heater is installed.

7. If fireplace has glass doors, never operate this
heater with glass doors closed. If you operate
heater with doors closed, heat buildup inside
fireplace will cause glass to burst. Make sure
there are no obstructions across openings of
fireplace.

8. To prevent the creation of soot, follow the
instructions in Cleaning and Maintenance
page 19.

9. Before using furniture polish, wax, carpet
cleaner or similar products, turn heater off. If
heated, the vapors from these products may
create a white powder residue within burner
box or on adjacent walls or furniture.

10. This heater needs fresh, outside air ventilation to
run properly. This heater has an oxygen depletion
sensing (ODS) pilot light safety system. The
ODS shuts down the heater if not enough fresh
air is available. See Air for Combustion and
Ventilation, page 5. If heater keeps shutting off,
see Troubleshooting, page 20.

11. Do not run heater

• where flammable liquids or vapors are

used or stored

• under dusty conditions

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12. Do not use this heater to cook food or burn
paper or other objects.

13. Do not use heater if any part has been exposed
to or under water. Immediately call a qualified
service technician to inspect the room heater
and to replace any part of the control system and

­any gas control which has been under water.

14. Do not operate heater if any log is broken. Do
not operate heater if a log is chipped (dime­sized or larger).

15. Turn heater off and let cool before servicing
or repairing. Only a qualified service person
should install, service or repair heater.

16. This heater does not need to be connected to
any external electrical source.

17. To prevent performance problems, do not
use propane/LP fuel tank of less than 100 lb.
capacity (propane/LP units only).

18. Operating heater above elevations of 4,500
feet could cause pilot outage.

-

19. Prov ide adeq ua te clearan ce s around air
openings.

State of Massachusetts: The installa
tion must be made by a licensed plumber
or gas fitt er in the Common we alth of
Massachusetts.

Sel lers of unvented propane or natural
gas-fired supplemental room heaters shall
provide to each purchaser a copy of 527
CMR 30 upon sale of the unit.

Vent-free gas products are prohibited for
bedroom and bathroom installation in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

PRODUCT

,

IDENTIFICATION

Log Set
Assembly

Control
Valve

Chassis
Assembly

Figure 1 - Product Identification

Hand-Held
Remote Control

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LOCAL CODES

Install and use heater with care. Follow all local
codes. In the absence of local codes, use the lat
est edition of The National Fuel Gas Code ANSI

Z223.1/NFPA 54

*Available from:

American National Standards Institute, Inc.

National Fire Protection Association, Inc.

*.

1430 Broadway

New York, NY 10018

Batterymarch Park

Quincy, MA 02269

UNPACKING

CAUTION: Do not remove the
data plates from the grate as­sembly. The data plates contain
important warranty and safety
information.

1. Remo ve log set ass embly fro m cart on.

Note: Do not pick up assembly by logs. This
could damage heater. Always handle assembly
by grate.

2. Remove control cover floor media components.

3. Remove all protective packaging applied to
log set for shipment.

3. Check all items for any shipping damage. If
damaged, promptly inform dealer where you
bought heater.

PRODUCT FEATURES

OPERATION

This heater is clean burning. It requires no outside
venting. There is no heat loss out a vent or up a
chimney. Heat is generated by realistic flames and
glowing ceramic logs/coals. This heater is designed
for vent-free operation with flue damper closed. It has
been tested and approved to ANSI Z21.11.2 standard
for unvented heaters. State and local codes in some
areas prohibit the use of vent-free heaters.

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.

REMOTE IGNITION AND CONTROL

This gas log set has a battery powered electronic
remote ignition and control. This system requires
no matches or other source to light log set.

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. Home owners weather strip and caulk
around windows and doors to keep the cold air out
and the warm air in. During heating months, home
owners want their homes as airtight as possible.

While it is good to make your home energy efficient,
your home needs to breathe. Fresh air must enter
your home. All fuel-burning appliances need fresh
air for proper combustion and ventilation.

Exhaust fans, fireplaces, clothes dryers and fuel
burning appliances draw air from the house to
operate. You must provide adequate fresh air for
these appliances. This will insure proper venting
of vented fuel-burning appliances.

PROVIDING ADEQUATE
VENTILATION

The following are excerpts from National Fuel
Gas Code, ANSI Z223.1/NFPA 54, Section 5.3,
Air for Combustion and Ventilation.

All spaces in homes fall into one of the three fol
lowing ventilation classifications:

1. Unusually Tight Construction

2. Unconfined Space

3. Confined Space

The information on pages 5 through 7 will help you
classify your space and provide adequate ventilation.

Unusually Tight Construction

The air that leaks around doors and windows may
provide enough fresh air for combustion and ven
tilation. However, in buildings of unusually tight
construction, you must provide additional fresh air.

-

-

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AIR FOR COMBUSTION

AND VENTILATION

Continued

Unusually tight construction is defined as
construction where:

a. walls and ceilings exposed to the out

side atmosphere have a continuous
water vapor retarder with a rating of one
perm (6 x 10
with openings gasketed or sealed and

b. weather stripping has been added on

openable windows and doors and

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 7.

If your home does not meet all of the three
criteria above, proceed to Determining
Fresh-Air Flow For Heater Location.

Confined and Unconfined Space

The National Fuel Gas Code, ANSI Z223.1/NFPA
54 defines a confined space as a space whose

volume is less than 50 cubic feet per 1,000 Btu
per hour (4.8 m
rating of all appliances installed in that space and
an unconfined space as a space whose volume is
not less than 50 cubic feet per 1,000 Btu per hour
(4.8 m3 per kw) of the aggregate input rating of
all appliances installed in that space. Rooms com­municating directly with the space in which the
appliances are installed*, through openings not
furnished with doors, are considered a part of the
unconfined space.

* Adjoining rooms are communicating only if
there are doorless passageways or ventilation grills
between them.

DETERMINING FRESH-AIR FLOW
FOR HEATER LOCATION

Determining if You Have a Confined or
Unconfined Space

Use this work sheet 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 pas
sageways or ventilation grills between the rooms.

-11

kg per pa-sec-m2) or less

3

per kw) of the aggregate input

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) = 2,560 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.

__________ (volume of space) x 20 = (Maxi-

mum Btu/Hr the space can support)

Example: 2,560 cu. ft. (volume of space) x 20 =

51,200 (maximum Btu/Hr the space can support)

3. Add the Btu/Hr of all fuel burning appliances in
the space.

Vent-free fireplace

Gas water heater*

Gas furnace

Vented gas heater

Gas fireplace logs

Other gas appliances* +

Total =

* Do not include direct-vent gas appliances. Di

rect-vent draws combustion air from the outdoors
and vents to the outdoors.

Example:

Gas water heater

Vent-free fireplace +

Total =

4. Compare the maximum Btu/Hr the space can
support with the actual amount of Btu/Hr used.

_________

_________
Example: 51,200 Btu/Hr (maximum the space

73,000 Btu/Hr (actual amount of

The space in the example is a confined space because
the actual Btu/Hr used is more than the maximum
Btu/Hr the space can support. You must provide ad
ditional fresh air. Your options are as follows:

A. Rework worksheet, adding the space of an adjoin

ing 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, page 7.

B. Vent room directly to the outdoors. See Ventila

tion Air From Outdoors, page 7.

C. Install a lower Btu/Hr fireplace, if lower Btu/Hr

size makes room unconfined.

-

Btu/Hr (maximum the space can support)

Btu/Hr (actual amount of Btu/Hr used)

can support)

Btu/Hr used)

__________ Btu/Hr

__________ Btu/Hr

__________ Btu/Hr

__________ Btu/Hr

__________ Btu/Hr

__________ Btu/Hr

__________ Btu/Hr

40,000

__________ Btu/Hr

33,000

__________ Btu/Hr

73,000

__________ Btu/Hr

-

-

-

-

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111826-04A

AIR FOR COMBUSTION

Or

Remove
Door into
Adjoining

Room,
Option

3

Ventilation Grills

Into Adjoining Room,

Option

2

Ve

ntilation
Grills

Into Adjoining

Room,

Option 1

12"

12"

Outlet

Air

Ve

ntilated

Attic

Outlet
A

ir

Inlet
Air

Inlet Air

Ventilated

Crawl Space

To

Crawl

Space

To Attic

AND VENTILATION

Continued

If the actual Btu/Hr used is less than the maximum
Btu/Hr the space can support, the space is an uncon­fined space. You will need no additional fresh air
ventilation.

WARNING: If the area in
which the heater may be oper­ated is smaller than that defined
as an unconfined space or if the
building is of unusually tight
construction, provide adequate
combustion and ventilation air
by one of the methods described
in the National Fuel Gas Code,
ANSI Z223.1/NFPA 54 Section 5.3
or applicable local codes.

VENTILATION AIR

Ventilation Air From Inside Building

This fresh air would come from an adjoining un
confined 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). Follow the National Fuel Gas

Code, ANSI Z223.1/NFPA 54, Section 5.3, Air for
Combustion and Ventilation for required size of

ventilation grills or ducts.

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, ANSI Z223.1/NFPA 54,
Section 5.3, Air for Combustion and Ventilation for

required size of ventilation grills or ducts.
IMPORTANT: Do not provide openings for inlet

or outlet air into attic if attic has a thermostat­controlled power vent. Heated air entering the attic
will activate the power vent.

-

Figure 3 - Ventilation Air from Outdoors

Figure 2 - Ventilation Air from Inside

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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 pri
mary 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 heater.
Follow all local codes.

WARNING: Before installing in
a solid fuel burning fireplace, the
chimney flue and firebox must be
cleaned of soot, creosote, ashes
and loose paint by a qualified chim­ney cleaner. Creosote will ignite
if highly heated. A dirty chimney
flue may create and distribute soot
within the house. Inspect chimney
and firebox flue for damage. If
damaged, repair flue and firebox
before operating heater.

WARNING: Seal any fresh
air vents or ash clean-out doors
located on floor or wall of fire
place. If not, drafting may cause
pilot outage or sooting. Use a
heat-resistant sealant. Do not
seal chimney flue damper.

WARNING: Never install the

heater

• in a bedroom or bathroom

• in a recreational vehicle

• where curtains, furniture, cloth-

­ing or other flammable objects

are less than 42 inches from the
front, top or sides of the heater

• in high traffic areas

• in windy or drafty areas

CAUTION: This heater cre­ates warm air currents. These
currents move heat to wall sur­faces next to heater. Installing
heater next to vinyl or cloth wall
coverings or operating heater
where impurities (such as, but
not limited to, tobacco smoke,
aromatic candles, cleaning flu­ids, oil or kerosene lamps, etc.) in
the air exist, may discolor walls
or cause odors.

IMPORTANT: Vent-free heaters add moisture to
the air. Although this is beneficial, installing heater
in rooms without enough ventilation air may cause
mildew to form from too much moisture. See

for Combustion and Ventilation

CHECK GAS TYPE

Use the correct gas type (natural or propane/LP)
for your unit. If your gas supply is not correct, do
not install heater. Call dealer where you bought
heater for proper type heater.

-

WARNING: This appliance

, page 5.

is equipped for (natural or pro­pane/LP) gas. Field conversion
is not permitted.

Air

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111826-04A

INSTALLATION

Continued

INSTALLATION AND CLEARANCES
FOR VENT-FREE OPERATION

WARNING: Maintain the
minimum clearances. If you can,
provide greater clearances from
floor, ceiling and adjoining wall.

MINIMUM FIREPLACE

CLEARANCE TO

COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS

Log Size 18" or 24"
Side Wall 16"
Ceiling 42"
Floor 5"

LOG SIZING REQUIREMENTS

Minimum Firebox Size
Log Front Rear*
Size Height Depth Width Width

18" 17" 14" 24" 20"
24" 17" 14" 28" 22"

*Measured at 14" depth

Carefully follow the instructions below. This will
ensure safe installation into a masonry, UL127­listed manufactured fireplace or listed vent-free
firebox enclosure.

Minimum Clearances For Side
Combustible Material, Side Wall and
Ceiling

A. Clearances from the side of the fireplace

cabinet to any combustible material and wall
should follow diagram in Figure 4.

Example: The face of a mantel, bookshelf,

etc. is made of combustible material and
protrudes 3
tible material must be 4" from the side of the
fireplace cabinet (see Figure 4).

Note: When installing your gas logs into

a man uf actur ed fireb ox , foll ow fir ebox
manufacturerʼs instructions for minimum
clearances to combustible materials.

B.

Clearances from the top of the fireplace opening
to the ceiling should not be less than 42 inches.

1

/2" from the wall. This combus-

Example

*

*Minimum 16 inches from Side Wall

Figure 4 - Minimum Clearance for

Combustible to Wall

Minimum Noncombustible Material
Clearances
If Not Using Mantel

Note: If using a mantel, proceed to If Using
Mantel. If not using a mantel, follow the informa-

tion below.

You must have noncombustible material(s) above
fireplace opening. Noncombustible materials
(such as slate, marble, tile, etc.) must be at least
1/2 inch thick. With sheet metal, you must have
noncombustible material behind it. Noncombus
tible material must extend at least 8" up (for all
models). If noncombustible material is less than
12", you must install the fireplace hood accessory

- 24" models only). See Figure 5, page 10, for
minimum clearances.

If Using Mantel

You must have noncombustible material(s) above
the fireplace opening. Noncombustible materials
(such as slate, marble, tile, etc.) must be at least
1/2 inch thick. With sheet metal, you must have
noncombustible material behind it. Noncombus
tible material must extend at least 8 inches up (for
all models). If noncombustible material is less than
12", you must install the fireplace hood accessory.
Even if noncombustible material is more than 12",
you may need the hood accessory to deflect heat
away from your mantel shelf. See Figures 5, 6 and
7, page 10, for minimum clearances.

-

-

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Minimum Non­Combustible
Material

Minimum Non­Combustible
Material Height

Distances to
Underside of
Mantel

Top of Fireplace
Opening

Underside of
Mantel Shelf

Mantel Shelf

12"

(A)

18"

20"

22"

24"

All minimum
distances are
in inches

2

1

/2

"

6"

8"

10"

INSTALLATION

Minimum
Noncombustible
Material

8"
Min.

12"

15"

18"

All minimum
distances are
in inches

20"

2

1

/2"

6"

8"

10"

12"

Distances to
Underside of
Mantel

Hood
(GA6050,
GA6052 or
GA6053)

Top of
Fireplace
Opening

Underside
of Mantel
Shelf

Mantel Shelf

Continued

Noncombustible
Material Requirements for
Distance (A) Safe Installation

12" or more Noncombustible material OK.
Between 8" 24" Model:Install fire place hood accessory
and 12" (GA6060, see Accessories, page 25).
18" Model: Noncombustible material OK
Less than 8" Noncombustible material must be
ex ten d ed to at leas t 8".
and 12",
you must

above. If you cannot

operate heater with flue damper

open.

Figure 5 - Heat Resistant Material (Slate, Marble, Tile, etc.) Above Fireplace

See Betw een 8"

extend material,

10

Figure 6 - Minimum Mantel Clearances Without Using Hood

Figure 7 - Minimum Mantel Clearances When Using Hood

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