Vermont Casting 1945 - Manual (Page 33)

33
Defiant Woodburning Stove
30001693
7. Press the gasketed part firmly against its normal
mating surface to seat the gasket evenly in its chan-
nel. Close and latch the door to do this, or tap other
parts with the rubber mallet (or hammer/block of
wood).
8. Clean any excess cement from around the channel,
then let the cement that holds the new gasket dry
thoroughly.
Adjust the Door Latch If Necessary
The stove’s doors may need adjustment after you have
regasketed them. Initially, it may require loosening
the latch to accommodate the new gasket; after a few
weeks, it may need tightening to compensate for com-
pression of the new gasket. The directions for adjusting
the latches are on page 28.
Permanent Defiant Gaskets
Other gaskets form seals between non-moving parts,
but these are not subject to the same wear and dete-
rioration as gaskets on moving parts. It is unlikely that
you will ever need to replace these gaskets unless the
involved parts are disassembled and then put back
together. If this is the case, the job should be done only
by a qualified service technician.
5/16” diameter gasket seals the following parts:
• The lower fireback to the back panel
• The left and right air plates (inner sides)
The Chimney System
Creosote
Your Defiant is designed to reduce creosote build-up
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 of a slow-burning fire. As a result, creo-
sote residue accumulates on the flue lining. When ignit-
ed, this creosote makes an extremely hot fire within the
flue system that can damage the chimney and overheat
adjacent combustible material. If a significant layer of
creosote has accumulated —1/8” (3 mm) or more — it
should be removed to reduce the risk of a chimney fire.
If you do experience a chimney fire, act promptly to:
• Close the damper and thermostat lever.
• Get everyone out of the house.
• Call the Fire Department.
Inspect the system every two weeks during the heat-
ing 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 you cannot in-
spect the flue system in this fashion, the stove must be
disconnected to provide better viewing access.
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.
Clean the chimney connector by disconnecting the sec-
tions, taking them outside, and removing any deposits
with a stiff wire brush. Reinstall the connector sections
after cleaning, being sure to secure the joints between
individual sections with sheet metal screws.
If you cannot inspect or clean the chimney yourself,
contact your local Vermont Castings dealer or a profes-
sional chimney sweep.
Annual Maintenance
Every Spring, at the end of the heating season, perform
a thorough cleaning, inspection and repair:
• Thoroughly clean the chimney and chimney connec-
tor.
• 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.
• Check gasketing for wear or compression, and re-
place if necessary.
• Inspect and clean the catalytic element. Lightly clean
the refractory assembly that houses the element
but be careful not to damage the refractory material,
which is very fragile.
• Clean the glass. Ash left on the glass can etch it,
resulting in a chalky appearance. Also check for
cracking; replace if needed.
• Check door and damper handles for tightness. Ad-
just if needed.
• Check heat shield screws. Tighten as necessary.
• Clean dust from the inner sides of bottom, rear and
connector heat shields.
• Use a clean, dry, fine-bristle wire brush to remove
any built-up accumulation on the top of the griddle. It
is normal for the griddle to darken with use, and this
is not treatable.
• Remove ashes from the ash pan and replace with
moisture absorbing material (such as cat litter) to
keep the stove interior dry.
• Touch up the paint on black stoves.