22
Vermont Castings Vigilant
2000898
Adjust the Chain Length
1. Make the initial chain adjustment when the stove is
cold. With the lever pointing straight up, connect the
ball chain to the air intake shutter so the shutter is
half open. This setting will work well for most instal-
lations.
2. Replace the back heat shield if there was one in-
stalled originally.
3. Check these three important points when the stove
is hot:
•
The chain should be long enough so the air in-
take shutter can close all the way.
•
The chain should be short enough so that even
at high temperatures the air intake shutter can be
opened a little.
•
The lever should always be accessible over the
stove top.
KT448
bend lever
3/18/04 djt
KT448
Fig. 28
Hold the bar in place as you bend the new lever into
position.
KT449
chain adjust
3/18/04 djt
KT449
Fig. 29
On a cold stove, a properly adjusted thermostat
assembly will draw the shutter half open when the lever is
straight up.
The Chimney System
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 coal is burned, the products of combustion
combine with moisture to form a soot residue which
accumulates on the flue lining. When ignited, this soot
makes an extremely hot fire. The chimney connector
and chimney should be inspected at least once every
two weeks during the heating season to determine if a
soot buildup has occurred. If soot has accumulated, it
should be removed to reduce the risk of a chimney fire.
Fly ash, carried from the fuel bed by draft in the chim-
ney, should also be removed from the chimney and
chimney connector. While these particles are non-com-
bustible, they may accumulate enough to reduce the
size of the flue, and restrict draft. This will affect stove
performance, and is a potentially hazardous situation.
(See Safety Tips). Reduce the risk of restricting draft
by keeping the system clean. In addition, fly ash con-
tains an acid which, when combined with moisture, can
cause rapid deterioration of metal or tile chimney walls.
To inspect the chimney, let the stove cool completely.
Then, using a strong light, sight up through the flue col-
lar into the chimney flue. If it is not possible to inspect
the flue system in this fashion, the stove must be dis-
connected to provide better viewing access.
Clean the chimney using a specially designed 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. The chimney
connector should be cleaned 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 individual sec-
tions with sheetmetal screws.
If you feel any uncertainties about chimney inspection,
contact your local Vermont Castings Authorized Dealer,
or engage a professional chimney sweep in your area
to perform the inspection and cleaning of the chimney.
