Saturday, July 4, 2009

Maintaining your Regency unit

Gas or Wood

Gas Model Maintenance:

NOTE: Always turn off the gas valve before cleaning. For relighting, refer to lighting instructions. Keep the burner and control compartment clean by brushing and vacuuming at least once a year. When cleaning the logs, use a soft clean paint brush as the logs are fragile and easily damaged.

Cleaning

Clean appliance and door with a damp cloth (never when unit is hot). Never use an abrasive cleaner. The glass should be cleaned with a gas fireplace glass cleaner. The glass should be cleaned when it starts looking cloudy. Note: Never operate the appliance without the glass properly secured in place.

The appliance and venting system must be inspected before use, and at least annually, by a qualified field service person, to ensure that the flow of combustion and ventilation air is not obstructed. Do not use this appliance if any part has been under water. Immediately call a qualified service technician to inspect the appliance and to replace any part of the control system and any gas control which has been under water.

Verify operation after servicing.

General Vent Maintenance

Have an inspection of the venting system semi-annually. Recommended areas to inspect as follows:

Check the Venting System for corrosion in areas that are exposed to the elements. These will appear as rust spots or streaks, and in extreme cases, holes. These components should be replaced immediately.

Remove the Cap, and shine a flashlight down the Vent. Remove any bird nests, or other foreign material.

Check for evidences of excessive condensation, such as water droplets forming in the inner liner, and subsequently dripping out the joints, Continuous condensation can cause corrosion of caps, pipe, and fittings. It may be caused by having excessive lateral runs, too many elbows, and exterior portions of the system being exposed to cold weather.

Inspect joints, to verify that no pipe sections or fittings have been disturbed, and consequently loosened. Also check mechanical supports such as Wall Straps, or plumbers' tape for rigidity.

Gold Plated or Brass Louvers

The 24 carat gold-plated or brass finish on the louvers and trim requires little maintenance, and need only be cleaned with a damp cloth. DO NOT use abrasive materials or chemical cleaners, as they may harm the finish and void the warranty. Clean any fingerprints off before turning the unit on.

Gold-Plated or Brass Trim

The 24 carat gold plated or brass finish on the trim requires little maintenance, and need only be cleaned with a damp cloth. DO NOT use abrasive materials or chemical cleaners, as they may harm the finish and void the warranty. Clean any fingerprints off before turning the unit on. If the top louvers start to discolour, check the door gasket seal and replace if necessary.

Log Replacement

The unit should never be used with broken logs. Turn off the gas valve and allow the unit to cool before opening door and carefully remove the logs. (The pilot light generates enough heat to burn someone.) If for any reason a log should need replacement, you must use the proper replacement log. The position of these logs must be as shown in the diagrams under Log Installation.

Note: Improper positioning of logs may create carbon build-up and will severely alter the unit's performance which is not covered under warranty.

Door Glass

Your FPI fireplace is supplied with high temperature, 5 mm Neoceram ceramic glass that will withstand the highest heat that your unit will produce. If your glass requires cleaning, we recommend using an approved glass cleaner available at all authorized dealers. Do not use abrasive materials. Do not clean the glass when hot.

In the event that you break your glass by impact, purchase your replacement from an authorized FPI dealer only, and follow our step-by-step instructions for replacement.

Warning: Do not operate the appliance with the glass panels removed, cracked or broken. Replacement of the glass panels should be done by a licensed or qualified service person.

Wood Model Maintenance

It is very important to carefully maintain your fireplace stove, including burning seasoned wood and maintaining a clean stove and chimney system. Have the chimney cleaned before the burning season and as necessary during the season, as creosote deposits may build up rapidly. Moving parts of your stove require no lubrication.

Creosote

When wood is burned slowly, it produces tar and other organic vapours, which when combined with moisture, form creosote. The creosote vapours condense in the relatively cool chimney flue of a slow burning fire. As a result, creosote residue accumulates on the flue lining. When ignited, this creosote can result in an extremely hot fire.

WARNING: Things to remember in case of a chimney fire:

1. Close all draft and damper controls.

2. Call the Fire Department.

Ways to Prevent and Keep Unit Free of Creosote

  1. Burn stove with the draft control wide open for about 10-15 minutes every morning during burning season.
  2. Burn stove with draft control wide open for about 10 - 15 minutes every time you apply fresh wood. This allows the wood to achieve the charcoal stage faster and burns up any unburned gas vapours which might otherwise be deposited within the system.
  3. Only burn seasoned wood! Avoid burning wet or green wood. Seasoned wood has been dried at least one year.
  4. A small hot fire is preferable to a large smouldering one that can deposit creosote within the system.
  5. Check the chimney at least twice a month during the burning season for creosote build-up.
  6. Have chimney system and unit cleaned by competent chimney sweeps twice a year during the first year of use and at least once a year thereafter or when a significant layer of creosote has accumulated (3 mm/1/8" or more) it should be removed to reduce the risk of a chimney fire.


Latch Adjustment

The door latch may require adjustment as the door gasket material compresses after a few fires. Removal of the spacer washer, shown in the diagram below, will allow the latch to be moved closer to the door frame, causing a tighter seal. Remove and replace the nuts, washer and spacer as shown.

Door Gasket

If the door gasket requires replacement 7/8" diameter material must be used. Regency uses AMATEX # 10-863KR 7/8" dia. gasket. A proper high temperature gasket adhesive is required. See your Regency Dealer.

Glass Maintenance

Your Regency stove is supplied with 5 mm Neoceram ceramic glass that will withstand the highest heat that your unit will produce. In the event that you break your glass by impact, purchase your replacement from an authorized Regency dealer only, and follow our step-by-step instructions for replacement. Allow the stove to cool down before cleaning the glass, do not clean the glass when it is hot. Do not use abrasive cleaners.

Glass Replacement

Allow the stove to cool before removing or replacing glass. Remove the door from the stove and remove the glass retainer. Use caution when removing broken glass to avoid injury. When placing the replacement glass in the door, make sure that the glass gasketing will properly seal your unit. Replace the retainer, it should rest on the gasket not the glass, and tighten securely, but do not wrench down on the glass as this may cause breakage.

Do not use substitute materials. If your glass does break, do not continue to use your unit until it has been replaced.

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