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WinterWarm
Fireplace Insert
or System

Homeowner’s
Installation and
Operating Manual
For Use in North America

SAFETY NOTICE: IF THIS APPLIANCE IS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED, OPERATED AND MAINTAINED, A HOUSE FIRE MAY RESULT.
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE, FOLLOW THE INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. FAILURE TO
FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS MAY RESULT IN PROPERTY DAMAGE, BODILY INJURY OR EVEN
DEATH. CONTACT LOCAL
0941 BUILDING OFFICIALS ABOUT RESTRICTIONS AND INSTALLATION
INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS
IN YOUR
Winter Warm
CoverAREA.

3/01

Do Not Discard This Manual: Retain for Future Use
2000941 3/07 Rev. 17

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System

Introduction
Thank you for purchasing a Vermont Castings’ WinterWarm, an efﬁcient ﬁreplace carefully engineered to bring you the
latest in wood combustion principles and modern foundry technology.
The WinterWarm masonry Fireplace Insert turns a traditional masonry ﬁreplace into a powerful heater; the WinterWarm Fireplace System combines an insulated metal cabinet with the Fireplace Insert so that it may be installed in
close-clearance situations where no masonry ﬁreplace and chimney exists.
Whichever you have purchased, you can count on years of comfortable heating and pleasureable ﬁre viewing if you
treat it properly and operate it according to the directions in this owner’s guide.
The WinterWarm Fireplace Insert, and the WinterWarm Fireplace System that utilizes the WinterWarm Fireplace
Insert, are listed by Underwriter’s Laboratories of Canada, and are in compliance with the standards set forth by the
Federal Environmental Protection Agency, 40 CFR Part 60.532(b), as stated on the permanent label attached to each
appliance.
This manual describes the installation and operation of the WinterWarm catalytic-equipped wood heater. This heater
meets the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s emission limits for wood heaters sold after July 1, 1990. Under
speciﬁc test conditions this heater has been shown to deliver heat at a rate ranging from 10,300 to 30,000 Btu’s/hr.
For more complete details on WinterWarm performance and speciﬁcations, please refer to page 3.
The WinterWarm is designed, tested and listed for burning wood. Do not burn other fuels.
We recommend that you hire a professional installer certiﬁed by Wood Energy Technical Training (WETT) to install
your WinterWarm, or to advise you on the installation should you attempt to install it yourself.
Please read the appropriate sections of this manual before you install and use your WinterWarm. For information on
the installation of a WinterWarm into a masonry ﬁreplace, read Sections III and V. To learn how to install the WinterWarm and its Cabinet that make up the ﬁreplace system, read Sections IV and V. For information on Operation and
Maintenance of the WinterWarm, read Sections I and II.
Failure to follow instructions may result in property damage, bodily injury or even death.
Save These Instructions For Future Reference

Table of Contents
Introduction .................................................... 2
Speciﬁcations ................................................ 3
Operation ....................................................... 4
Maintenance .................................................. 9
Preparing a Masonry Chimney .................... 16
Installing the Fireplace System Cabinet ...... 21

Before you begin, here’s a timesaving tip
on using this manual.
• To learn how to operate and maintain the WinterWarm, read Sections I and II.
• To install a WinterWarm Fireplace Insert into a
masonry ﬁreplace, read Sections III and V.
• To install a WinterWarm Fireplace System, read
Sections IV and V.

Appendices .................................................. 38
Proposition 65 Warning: Fuels used in gas, woodburning or oil ﬁred appliances, and the products of
combustion of such fuels, contain chemicals known
to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects and other reproductive harm.
California Health & Safety Code Sec. 25249.6

2000941

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System

Speciﬁcations
WinterWarm
*Under speciﬁc test conditions used during EPA emissions standard testing.
**This value can vary depending on how the unit is
operated, and the type and moisture content of the fuel
used. Figure shown is based on maximum fuel consumption obtained under laboratory conditions and on
average efﬁciencies.
***These values are based on operation in buildingcode conforming homes under typical winter climate
conditions in New England. If your home is of nonstandard construction (e.g. unusually well insulated, not insulated, built under ground, etc.) or if you live in a more
severe or more temperate climate, these ﬁgures may
not apply. Since so many variables affect performance,
consult your Vermont Castings’ Authorized Dealer to
determine realistic expectations for your home.

Range of heat output* ............. 10,300 - 30,000 BTU/hr
Maximum heat output** ..........................50,000 BTU/hr
Area heated*** ................ Up to 1500 sq. ft. (140sq. m)
Size of wood splits ....................... 20-24” (508-610 mm)
Fuel Capacity .......................................... 40lbs. (18 kg)
Loading ..................................................................Front
Flue size .................................................... 8” (203 mm)
Fireplace Insert weight ........................ 475lbs. (216 kg)
Fireplace System weight ..................... 840lbs. (380 kg)
Primary Air Control ........................Manual/thermostatic
Secondary Air Control ............................Self-regulating
Glass panel ......................... High-temperature ceramic
Flue exit position ..................................................... Top
Blower rating ...............................106cfm. (115V, 60Hz)

37���"
(959 mm)

21���"
(553 mm)

8" (203 mm)

4���"
(121 mm)
6���"
(172 mm)
7���"
(200 mm)

33” (838 mm)

15���"
(394 mm)

26���"
(676 mm)
12���"
(327 mm)

12���"
(327 mm)

7���" (191 mm)
36"
(914 mm)

Top View / System Cabinet

41"
(1041 mm)
13���"
(349 mm)
7���"
(200 mm)

29���"
(759 mm)

23���"
(603 mm)
15���"
(403 mm)
25���"
(648 mm)

18���" (470 mm)

Fig. 1 WinterWarm dimensions.

2000941

0941
Winter Warm
Specs

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System

Section I Operation
Your WinterWarm’s Controls
and What They Do

Primary Air Control (Top Lever)
Fan Speed Control
(Rheostat) (Bottom
Lever)

Three controls regulate the performance of your WinterWarm: A primary air control supplies oxygen for the
ﬁre, a damper directs air ﬂow within the ﬁreplace, and
a variable-speed fan control, or rheostat, regulates the
warm air ﬂow into the room. (Fig. 2)

Damper Control

Primary Air Control
A single air control regulates the amount of heat the ﬁre
will produce and how long it will burn.
The primary air control is located above the upper left
corner of the door. It is the top-most of the two brasscapped controls located there (the brass knob on the
bottom regulates the fan), and is the primary source of
air for starting, maintaining, and reviving the ﬁre.
Generally, more air entering the stove makes the ﬁre
burn hotter and faster, while less air prolongs the burn.
The WinterWarm’s air supply is open to the maximum
when the control lever is moved to the left, and closed
when moved to the far right. It may be set anywhere
between the two extremes, however, depending on the
amount of heat desired.

FP1070

Optional Outside
Air Control

Door Handle

Fig. 2 All WinterWarm controls are located conveniently on
the front.

FP1070
Winter Warm Controls
3/01

Damper
Open

To complement the manual setting of the air control, the
WinterWarm has an internal automatic thermostat that
ensures an even delivery of heat at the manual setting
you select.

The Damper
The damper directs air ﬂow within the ﬁreplace.
The damper is operated by moving the lever located
above the upper right corner of the door. It has two
positions: Open, to start or revive the ﬁre (Fig. 3); and
closed (Fig. 4), for normal operation. The damper is
open when the lever is to the far left, and closed when
to the far right. There are no intermediate settings for
damper position.
When the damper is closed, the front door automatically
locks to prevent the door being inadvertently opened
when the ﬁreplace is in its catalytic mode. This could
cause smoke to spill into the room.

FP1071

Fig. 3 The damper is open; Smoke is vented directly to the
chimney.

FP1071
WW
damper open
3/27/01 djt

Damper Closed

Catalytic
Combustor

To open the damper, lift up on the lever and move it
to the far left. The lock will disengage, allowing you to
open the front door.
To close the damper, move the lever to the right,
continuing past the resistance to lock the damper in
position. (The door handle must be positioned vertically
before the lock mechanism will engage.)

FP1072

Fig. 4 Damper is closed: Smoke is channelled through the
catalytic combustor where much of it can be burned.

2000941

FP1072
WW

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System
The Fans
Two fans deliver a steady stream of warm air.
Heated air from your WinterWarm is forced into the
room by two internal fans. The control for the fans is
below the brass primary air control knob, just above the
upper left corner of the door. (Fig. 5)
“Off” is to the far left.
“High” is just to the right of “Off.”
“Low” is to the far right.
Variable adjustment of the fans is possible with any setting between “high” and “low.”
For best results, coordinate fan speed with the setting
of your thermostat. For example, when the thermostat
lever is set at “low,” also set the fans at “low.” With the
thermostat set for maximum heat, set the fans at “high.”
Medium
Air Control Lever,
High Air Setting

Low Air Setting

Wood should be stored under cover to maintain dryness, and should be dried at least six months for
optimum heating and ﬁre-viewing performance. Even
for short-term storage, however, keep wood a safe
distance from the heater and keep it out of the areas
around the heater used for refueling and ash removal.

Use the Air Control Settings
that Work Best for You
No single air control setting will ﬁt every situation. Each
installation will differ depending on the quality of the
fuel, the amount of heat desired, and how long you wish
the ﬁre to burn.
The control setting also depends on your particular
installation’s “draft,” or the force that moves air from the
stove up through the chimney. Draft is affected by such
things as the length, type, and location of the chimney,
local geography, nearby obstructions, and other factors.
Too much draft may cause excessive temperatures in
the WinterWarm, and could even damage the combustor. On the other hand, too little draft can cause
backpufﬁng into the room and/or the “plugging” of the
chimney or combustor.
How do you know if your draft is excessively high or
low? Symptoms of too much draft include an uncontrollable burn or a glowing-red part of the WinterWarm
front. A sign of inadequate draft is smoke leaking into
the room through the stove or chimney connector joints,
low heat, and dirty glass.

Fan Control
Lever (Fan Off)

Fan On
FP1073

Fig. 5 Variable settings for both the fans and the air control
are possible between the two extreme settings.

Burn Only High-Quality Wood

FP1073
The WinterWarm
is designed to burn natural wood
only; do not burn
fuels other
than that for which it was
Winter
Warm
designed.
fan/air settings

You’ll enjoy the best results when burning wood that
3/27/01
djt Avoid burning “green”
has been adequately
air-dried.
wood that has not been properly seasoned.
The best hardwood fuels include oak, maple, beech,
ash, and hickory that has been split, stacked, and airdried outside under cover for at least one year.
For areas that do not have a supply of hardwood, commonly burned softwoods include tamarack, yellow pine,
white pine, Eastern red cedar, ﬁr, and redwood. These
too should be properly dried. Your WinterWarm will
accept wood up to 24” (610mm). Longer wood pieces
work better than short ones.

2000941

In some newer homes that are well-insulated and
weather-tight, poor draft may result from insufﬁcient air
in the house. In such instances, an open window near
the stove on the windward side of the house will provide
the fresh air needed.
Another option for getting more combustion air to the
stove is to duct air directly from the outside to the stove.
In fact, in some areas provisions for outside combustion
air are required in all new construction.
Your WinterWarm is designed so that it is possible to
incorporate outside air for combustion. Directions for
installing the optional outside air duct may be found
beginning with Step 4 on Page 31.
When ﬁrst using the stove, keep track of the settings
of the air controls. You will quickly ﬁnd that a speciﬁc
setting will give you a ﬁxed amount of heat. It may take
a week or two to determine the amount of heat and the
length of burn you should expect from various settings.
Most installations do not require a large amount of
combustion air, especially if adequate draft is available.
Do not for any reason attempt to increase the ﬁring
of your heater by altering the air control adjustment
range outlined in these directions.

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System
Use the following air control settings as a starting point
to help determine the best settings for your installation.
Each is described as a fraction of the total distance the
lever may be moved from right to left.
WinterWarm Control Settings
Burn Rate
Low
Medium
High

Primary Air Control
From far right to 1/3
the distance to left
From 1/3 to 2/3 the distance
to left
From 2/3 the distance
to left to far left

for kindling purposes. Never burn coal; doing so can
produce soot or large ﬂakes of char or ﬂy ash that can
coat the combustor and cause smoke to spill into the
room. Coal smoke also can poison the catalyst so that it
won’t operate properly.
In general, the ﬁre must be sufﬁciently well-established
to ensure that catalytic activity is initiated. When ﬁrst
starting a ﬁre, a medium- to high- ﬁring rate must be
maintained for at least twenty minutes. This ensures
that the stove, catalyst, and fuel are all stabilized at the
proper operating temperatures.

A WinterWarm leaves the factory with the combustor
installed.

Even though it is possible for the ﬁre to get quite hot
within a few minutes after a ﬁre is started, the combustor may stop working or the ﬁre may go out if the ﬁre
is allowed to die down immediately as a result of the
damper being closed. Once the combustor starts working, heat generated by burning the smoke will keep it
working.

In the United States, it is against the law to operate this
wood heater in a manner inconsistent with operating
instructions in this manual, or if the catalytic combustor
is deactivated or removed.

To determine whether the combustor is operating, observe the amount of smoke leaving the chimney when
the damper is activated and when it is not. This procedure is described on Page 12.

High-Efﬁciency Wood Burning
with Catalytic Combustion

Starting and Maintaining a Wood Fire

How To Build a Wood Fire and
Keep It Going

The components of the catalytic combustion system in
your WinterWarm work together to produce optimum
conditions for secondary combustion.
When the damper is closed, smoke is directed through
the catalytic element, which causes ignition of smoke
at temperatures of 500-600°F (260-315°C), half the
temperature normally required for unaided secondary
combustion.
The catalytic element is a ceramic “honeycomb” coated
with the catalytic material. The element is located in
the secondary combustion chamber, molded from a
special high-temperature insulating refractory material. The design of the chamber provides the correct
environment necessary for secondary combustion of
the fuel (smoke).

Burn solid wood fuel only in the WinterWarm, and
burn it directly on the grate. Do not elevate the fuel.
Do not burn coal or other fuels.
Cast iron is a superior material for solid fuel stoves but
it must be treated with respect. It is extremely strong,
but can be broken with a sharp blow from a hammer or
from the thermal shock of rapid and extreme temperature changes.
The cast plates expand and contract with changes in
temperature. Minimize thermal stress by allowing the
plates to adjust gradually during an initial break-in ﬁre
by following Steps 1-3 below.

Catalytic combustion is activated by closing the damper, thereby exposing the smoke to the combustor.

Always be certain that the damper is open when starting a ﬁre or when refueling. This rule is easy to remember, as the WinterWarm’s integrated door/damper
interlock design does not permit opening the door unless
the damper is already open. To open the damper, lift up
on the lever and move it to the left. (Fig. 6)

Closing the stove damper may also reduce the draft, so
to avoid putting out the ﬁre or deactivating the combustor, close the damper only when a ﬁre is well-established. When starting a ﬁre, wait until the ﬁre is well
established and there is an ember bed of at least 3-4”
(76 - 102mm) before closing the damper.

WARNING: Operate your WinterWarm only with
the door fully closed and either the glass panel or
spark screen in place. If the door is left partially
open, gas and ﬂame may be drawn out of the
ﬁreplace opening, creating risks of both ﬁre and
smoke.

Never kindle a ﬁre with colored paper or paper that
has colored ink or a glossy surface, and never burn
treated wood, garbage, solvents, or trash. All of these
may poison the catalyst and prevent it from operating
properly. Never burn cardboard or loose paper except
6

2000941

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System

Open

Closed
Damper Control Lever

FP1074

Fig. 10 When the damper is closed, the front door automatically locks to prevent opening while a ﬁre is burning.

1. Open the stove damper, and open the primary air
control fully.
2. Lay someFP1074
crumpled newspapers on the bottom
grate. Place on the paper six or eight pieces of dry,
Warm
ﬁnely-splitWinter
kindling. On
the kindling lay two or three
larger sticks of split dry wood approximately 1-2”
damper settings
(25-51mm).

3/27/01or ﬂuids
djt to start the ﬁre. Do
Do not use chemicals
not burn garbage or ﬂammable ﬂuids such as gasoline, naptha, or engine oil.
Also, never use gasoline-type lantern fuel, kerosene,
charcoal lighter ﬂuid, or similar liquids to start or “freshen up” a ﬁre in this heater. Keep all such liquids well
away from the heater while it is in use.
3. Light the newspaper and close the door. Gradually
build up the ﬁre by adding a few 3-5” (76 - 127mm)
diameter splits.
If this is your initial break-in ﬁre, let the ﬁre burn brightly,
but not to excess. Control the ﬁre’s intensity by adjusting the air control lever. After an hour or so stop adding
wood so that the ﬁre dies out gradually.

NOTE: Some chimneys need to be “primed,” or
warmed up, before they will draw sufﬁciently to start
a ﬁre. To correct this situation, roll up a couple pieces
of newspaper, place them on top of the kindling and
toward the back of the stove, light them, and close the
doors. This should heat the chimney enough to initiate
a draft.
Once the draft is established, open the front door and
light the rest of the fuel from the bottom. Do not light the
main bed of fuel until the chimney begins drawing, and
repeat the procedure as often as necessary if the initial
attempt is unsuccessful.
4. Once a good ember bed of at least 3-4” (76 102mm) has formed, close the damper to activate
the combustor. To ensure continued operation of the
combustor, let the ﬁre burn hot for an additional ten
to ﬁfteen minutes after the damper is closed.
5. Close the primary air control to a medium-low setting, or about 1/3 the distance from right to left in
its travel range as described on Page 4. The ﬁre
volume will diminish immediately, but the WinterWarm will continue to heat up. Maintain control of
the ﬁre using the primary air control, and remember:
reduce the setting for less heat, increase the setting
for more heat. Refer back to the air control settings
chart on Page 4 for recommended settings at different burn rates.
DO NOT OVERFIRE THIS HEATER. Overﬁring may
cause a house ﬁre, or can result in permanent damage
to the stove and to the catalytic combustor. If an exterior part of the WinterWarm glows, you are overﬁring.

Reloading and Reviving a Wood Fire
Open the stove damper, set the air control on “High,”
and wait at least ﬁfteen seconds for the draft to increase. Open the door slowly.

For ongoing operation after the initial break-in, continue
to add a few sticks at a time of a progressively larger
size. Be sure to keep the fuel load behind the front
grate bar at all times. Continue until you have a live
ember bed at least 3-4” (76 - 102mm) deep. This may
take an hour or longer, particularly when the WinterWarm is vented to an exterior masonry chimney or
when you are just starting a ﬁre.

Check the ash level, and empty the ash pan if necessary. Replace the pan.

You’ll soon ﬁnd out that the WinterWarm is HOT WHILE
IN OPERATION! KEEP CHILDREN, CLOTHING, AND
FURNITURE AWAY. CONTACT MAY CAUSE SKIN
BURNS.

If you have an ember bed of at least 3 - 4” (76 102mm), leave the damper open and the thermostat
set on “high” for 10-15 minutes, then close the damper.
If the ember bed is less than 3 - 4” (76 - 102mm), you
may have to let it burn longer.

Add the fuel, smaller pieces ﬁrst. If it is necessary to
use wood smaller than the 24” (610mm) optimum size,
be sure to ﬁll the ﬁrebox as completely as possible
by loading the wood pieces alternately on the left and
right. Split wood will ﬁll the ﬁrebox more completely and
reduce the frequency of reloading.

Finally, adjust the air control and fan speed for your
desired heat level.

2000941

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System
NOTE: If the charcoal bed is relatively thick and your
fuel is well-seasoned, it is possible to add fresh fuel
(smaller pieces ﬁrst), close the door and damper, and
reset the air control within ﬁve minutes.

Special Tactics for Cold-Climate Heating
The WinterWarm is capable of producing up to 50,000
Btu’s/hour and heating an area of up to 1,500 ft.2 (140
m2) However, many factors affect heating performance
and can inﬂuence the extent to which the WinterWarm
can heat a given area.
A well-insulated home, located in a moderate climate
and with the WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or Fireplace
System located centrally in an open ﬂoor plan, will be
easier to heat than a drafty home in the far north in
which a WinterWarm is installed on an exterior wall at
the end of a long house.
In Fireplace Insert installations, over-sized chimneys
can produce less effective results than those that are
properly sized, and interior chimneys usually perform
better than those located outside the house.
Different results may be experienced even in the same
installation if you switch from burning good, dry wood to
wood that is partially rotted or inadequately seasoned.
To compensate for these factors in cold climates, it may
be necessary to operate the WinterWarm for longer
periods of time than described above before closing the
damper, or to leave the air control set to a higher level
more of the time.

Open-Fire Viewing
with the Screen Cassette
The cassette screen that was included with your WinterWarm is interchangeable with the glass cassette, enabling you to convert from closed-door wood burning to
protected open-ﬁre viewing. Always leave the damper
open when operating the WinterWarm with the screen
in the open-ﬁre mode.

• Examine the gasket that seals the cassette to the
•
•

perimeter of the door frame. Contact your local
dealer if you need a replacement gasket.
Check the bottom channel of the door frame for
debris, and clean if necessary.
Insert the new cassette, bottom edge ﬁrst, then
the top edge.

IMPORTANT: The glass used in your WinterWarm is
coated with a special material on one side that reﬂects
heat back into the ﬁre chamber. Before replacing a
glass cassette that has been removed, examine the
metal frame. One side has smooth, mitered corner
joints; the other side has rough weld marks.
To install the glass correctly, the smooth mitered
corners must be facing the gasket and the rough weld
marks must be positioned toward the ﬁre chamber.

• Replace the two retainer clips, applying just
enough pressure to secure the cassette evenly
against the gasket.

Remove and Store Ash Safely
Check the ash pan before reloading the stove, and
empty if necessary using the following procedure:

• Open the damper
• Open the load door (Fig. 7)
• Pull open the ash chamber door with the hooked
end of the fall-away handle.

• If the ash level is nearing the top, place the

•

removable cover over the pan and make sure it is
completely engaged. Ash may contain hot coals
and must be treated with extreme care.
Take the pan outdoors and empty the ash into
your ash container.

To change cassettes, use this procedure:
Let the WinterWarm cool completely

• Open the door
• Loosen the two short retainer clips, one at each
•
•

top corner of the cassette frame, and turn them to
clear the frame.
Tilt the top edge of the cassette away from the
door frame.
Carefully remove the cassette, being especially
careful with the glass cassette. Store the unused
cassette for future use.

FP1075

Fig. 7 Carefully remove ash pan.

FP1075
Remove ash pan
3/28/01 djt

2000941

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System
• Before replacing the ash pan, clear away any ash
•

that has spilled over the sides and back of the
pan.
Replace the ash pan and close the ash door and
front door.

Empty the ash pan regularly, typically every one to
three days. The frequency will vary depending on how
you operate your WinterWarm: You burn more wood
at higher heat output settings, and ash will accumulate
faster.
Ash should be removed frequently and placed outdoors
in a metal container with a tight-ﬁtting lid. The closed
container of ash should be placed on a noncombustible
ﬂoor or on the ground, well away from all combustible
materials, pending ﬁnal disposal. If the ash is disposed
of by burial in soil or otherwise locally dispersed, it
should be retained in the closed container until all cinders have thoroughly cooled. -Wood ash may be used
as a garden fertilizer.
CAUTION: Never use your household or shop vacuum
cleaner to remove ash from the ﬁreplace; always remove and dispose of the ash properly.

Section II Maintenance
Keep your WinterWarm Looking New
and Working Its Best
Care of the Cast Iron Surface
An occasional dusting with a dry rag will keep the
painted cast iron of your WinterWarm looking new.
If the paint needs retouching, ﬁrst allow the surface
to cool completely. Wire-brush areas needing to be
painted. Touch-up with high temperature stove paint
available from your local dealer. Apply the paint sparingly. Two light coats are better than one heavy one.

Care of the Porcelain Enamel Surface
Use a soft brush as necessary. Do not use water or
other liquids on your WinterWarm. Fingerprints usually
can be buffed off porcelain enamel with a dry, soft cloth.
If marks remain, allow the WinterWarm to cool completely, then buff with a slightly damp, soft cloth. Dry
completely before starting a ﬁre to avoid streaking.
Never use abrasives or harsh chemical cleaners on the
porcelain enamel ﬁnish. The enamel may scratch and
expose the cast iron, which can then stain or rust. If
you must remove spills or stains from porcelain surfaces, make sure that the ﬁre is out and that the WinterWarm has cooled completely before cleaning. Use a
kitchen appliance cleaner and polish especially formulated for enamel surfaces. Apply the cleaner sparingly
with a soft cloth, and buff away all traces.

Cleaning the Glass
The WinterWarm glass system requires a minimum
amount of cleaning. Most carbon deposits that accumulate will burn off during hot ﬁres.
Ash residue that accumulates on the glass should be
removed periodically to prevent etching. To clean the
glass, follow this procedure:

• Be sure the glass is completely cool.
• Cleaning with water will work in most cases. Use

•
•

a glass cleaner especially made for this purpose
only if deposits are especially heavy. (If heavy
deposits are a frequent occurrence, however,
evaluate your operating techniques.)
Rinse the glass thoroughly.
Dry the glass completely.

NOTE: The WinterWarm glass is coated with a
special material on one side that helps reﬂect heat
back into the ﬁre chamber. Do not attempt to remove this coating.

2000941

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System
Adjust the Door Latch Periodically

How to Replace Gaskets

The front door of the WinterWarm should close securely
to prevent accidental opening and should close tightly
to prevent air from leaking into the ﬁre chamber. The
door handle will be positioned vertically when the door
is closed.

Your WinterWarm uses rope-type ﬁberglass gaskets
to make a tight seal between some parts. With use, particularly on those parts that move, gaskets can become
brittle and compressed and can begin to lose their effectiveness. These will need periodic replacement.

Over a period of time, the gasket around the door will
compress and the latch may need adjustment. To adjust
the handle, follow this procedure (Fig. 8):

All of the gaskets used are made of ﬁberglass. The
three sizes of replaceable gasket are listed below,
along with their application.

1. Loosen the small lock nut with a wrench.
2. Extend the striker screw one turn by turning it with
an Allen wrench.
3. Re-tighten the lock nut, while at the same time holding the striker screw with the Allen wrench to prevent
its turning.

Replaceable WinterWarm Fiberglass Gaskets

Test the door seal. Close the door on a dollar bill and
attempt to pull it free. If the bill is freed with little resistance, the gasket isn’t snug enough at that spot. Contin-

Gasket Size...

...And The Parts It Seals

1/2”

The door to the front (#1)

1/2”

The door to the front edge of
the grate (#2)

3/16”

The cassette glass seal to
the door (#3)

3/8”

The damper to the upper
ﬁreback (#4)

Pawl

Short Retainer Clips

Small
Locking Nut
Striker Screw
Welded
Corner
Toward
Firebox

Large
Locking
Nut

Set Screw

#3 Gasket
Handle Stub

ST531

Fig. 8 An adjustable latch lets you restore a tight seal to the
WinterWarm’s door.

ue to make small adjustments
until the setting is right.
ST531

If additional adjusting of theDoor
latch does
not enable the
Pawl
door to seal sufﬁciently in one area, try “adjusting” the
11/00
gasket in that area. Pack more cement or a smaller
diameter gasket into the channel beneath the gasket so
the main gasket is raised and makes contact with the
door frame. This procedure should solve the problem.
If it doesn’t, replace the gasket following the directions
below.

Long Retainer
Clips

#2 Gasket
#1 Gasket

FP1076

Fig. 9 Front door components allow replacement of the
glass, gaskets or both.

FP1076
Should you need to change
a replaceable gasket, wait
WinterWarm
until the ﬁre is out and
the stove has cooled. Be sure to
follow the standard safety
for working with
door procedure
parts
dusty materials: Wear
safety
goggles
3/28/01 djt and a dust mask.
The procedure for replacing gaskets is the same,
regardless of the gasket location. Four easily-accomplished steps are involved:
1. Remove the existing ﬁberglass gasket by grasping
an end and pulling ﬁrmly.
2. Use a wire brush or the tip of a screwdriver to clean
the channel of any remaining cement or bits of gasket.
3. Apply a thin bead of stove cement to the newlycleaned groove.
4. Pack a new gasket into the groove. Wait until you
have placed all but a couple inches from the end
before you trim the end to an exact ﬁt.
2000941

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System
Permanent WinterWarm Gaskets

Replacing the Door Gaskets
Remove the door by lifting it straight up off its hinge
pins. Lay it face down on a padded surface.
Follow steps 1-4 as described above.

Gasket size...
1/2”

The underside of the top plate to
the top edge of the air manifold

5/16”

The ﬂue collar to the top plate

5/16”

The right end of the air
manifold to the right side plate

5/16”

The left end of the ﬁrechamber to
the left end of the air manifold

5/16”

The bottom edge of the lower
ﬁrebackto the bottom plate

5/16” and 3/8”

#2 Gasket

FP1077

Fig. 10 Location of door gaskets.

Replacing the Damper Gasket

FP1077
Remove the front grate,
bottom grate, ash pan, and ash
pan frame.
Winter Warm
door gaskets
3/28/01 djt
#4 Gasket

Follow steps 1-4 as described above.

3/8” (10mm) Tail

FP1078

Fig. 11 Location of damper gaskets.

Other gaskets form seals between non-moving parts,
but these are not subject
to the same wear and deteFP1078
rioration as gaskets on moving parts. It is unlikely that
WinterWarm
you will ever need to replace these gaskets unless the
damperand
gasket
involved parts are disassembled
then put back
together. In any event, 3/28/01
this is a job that
djt should be done
only by qualiﬁed service personnel.

2000941

The ends of the upper ﬁreback to
the lower ﬁreback and to the ribs
of the right and left side plates

Replace Damaged Door Glass Immediately

#3 Gasket
#1 Gasket

...And The Parts It Seals

Do not operate the WinterWarm with a damaged glass
(or screen) cassette. Use the following procedure for
cassette replacement.
NOTE: Replace glass only with CFM Corporation high
temperature ceramic glass, available from your Vermont Castings’ Authorized Dealer.

• Open the door and loosen the two retaining clips, one
at each upper corner, which hold the cassette to the
door frame. Swing the clips out of the way. Tilt the cassette away from the door frame and lift up. Use caution
when handling a cassette that contains broken glass.
• Examine the gasket that seals the cassette to the
door frame. Replace if necessary with gasket obtained
from your local Vermont Castings’ Authorized Dealer.
See the directions for gasket replacement on page 9.
• Check the channel at the bottom of the door frame,
and clear away debris if necessary.
IMPORTANT: The glass used in your WinterWarm is
coated with a special material on one side that reﬂects
heat back into the ﬁre chamber. Before replacing a
glass cassette that has been removed, examine the
metal frame. One side has smooth, mitered corner
joints; the other side has rough weld marks.
To install the glass correctly, the smooth mitered
corners must be facing the gasket and the rough weld
marks must be positioned toward the ﬁre chamber.
• Secure the clips, being careful not to over-tighten. Be
sure the cassette is ﬁrmly seated against the gasket.
Close the door gently to conﬁrm that the clips have
been properly positioned. It is possible for the glass to
be damaged if the clips have been installed incorrectly
and the door is closed with force.

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System
Adjust the Damper as Needed
Examine your WinterWarm’s damper after the ﬁrst 50
hours of use and adjust it if necessary. Thereafter,
check the damper at least once a year and adjust as
needed.
Both ﬁne and coarse adjustments to the damper are
possible. Begin with the ﬁne adjustment, which modiﬁes
the pressure on the damper plate directly; it will take
care of most sealing problems. Proceed to the coarse
adjustment, which adjusts the pressure at the damper
latch, only if you cannot achieve a satisfactory seal with
the ﬁne adjustment.
To inspect how well the damper seals, ﬁrst make sure
that the ﬁre is out and that the WinterWarm is cool.
Open the front door, and close and lock the damper.
Visually inspect the seal between the damper plate and
the damper frame; there should be no gaps. Now, push
gently on the damper — there should be some give, but
no rattle. If there is a gap in the seal or a rattle, adjust
the damper.
Damper Adjustment Screw
Lock Nut

Damper

3. With the damper open, loosen the latch retaining
screw.
4. Move the latch approximately 1/8” (3mm) to the
right, and retighten the retaining screw.
5. Close and lock the damper, and check for gap and
rattle. Adjust the set screw as described under “Fine
Adjustment.”
Repeat the coarse adjustment if necessary.
For further assistnce, contact your Vermont Castings’
Dealer.
Damper Latch

Shroud

Latch Retaining Screw

Damper
Control
Rod

FP1081

Fig. 13 With the mantel removed, the damper latch is exposed for adjustment.

Care of the Catalytic Combustor

FP1081

Left
Throat Half
Throat Retainer Clip

Right Throat
Half
FP1080

Fig. 12 A view of the damper as seen through the front door.

FP1080
Winter Warm
Open the door.
Close and lock the damper.
Damper view
Locate the damper adjustment set-screw in the cen3/28/01 djt
ter of the damper plate, and loosen its lock nut.

Try the Fine Adjustment First
1.
2.
3.

4. Turn the set-screw 1/4 to 1/2 turn clockwise.
5. Check the damper seal for gap or rattle.
6. When the set screw position provides a good seal,
tighten the lock nut. Be careful not to overtighten the
set screw.
Use the Coarse Adjustment Only If Necessary
Follow Steps 1-3 of the ﬁne adjustment procedure,
then;
1. Turn the set screw counter-clockwise several full
turns.
2. Lift off the mantel piece to expose the damper latch.
12

This wood heater contains a catalytic combustor, which
needs regular inspection
and periodic replacement
WinterWarm
for proper operation. It is against the law in the United
States to operate thisdamper
wood heater in a manner inconsistent with operatingadjustment
instructions in this manual, or if
the catalytic element is deactivated or removed.
3/28/01
Under normal operating
conditions,djt
the catalytic combustor should remain active for two to six years (depending on the amount of wood burned). However, it
is important to monitor the combustor periodically to
ensure that it is functioning properly, as well as to determine when it needs to be replaced. A non-functioning
combustor will result in a loss of heating efﬁciency, and
an increase in creosote and emissions.
The combustor should be visually inspected “in place”
for ﬂy ash accumulation and physical damage three
times per year. Actual removal of the combustor is not
recommended unless a more detailed inspection is warranted because of diminished performance as outlined
below.
The refractory package that houses the catalytic combustor should be inspected annually for a build-up of ﬂy
ash and cleaned if necessary. This may be done during
examination of the catalytic combustor.
The catalytic combustion system includes an air supply
for secondary combustion. The probe which controls
the supply should also be inspected annually.
2000941

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System
When to Suspect a Combustor Problem
The best way to evaluate the performance of your
WinterWarm’s combustor is to observe the amount of
smoke leaving the chimney — both when the combustor has achieved “light-off” and when it has not. Follow
this simple two-step procedure:

• With a ﬁre going and the combustor properly acti-

4. Tip the lower ﬁreback forward, and remove it by lifting it up and toward you.
5. Carefully remove the access panel. (Fig. 15) It is
extremely delicate and should be handled as little as
possible.
6. Slide the catalytic element out. (Fig. 16) Handle it
carefully, as the element is fragile.

vated with the damper closed to route smoke through
it as described in the Operation Section, go outside and
observe the smoke leaving the chimney.
• Then, open the stove damper and once again observe the smoke leaving the chimney.
Signiﬁcantly more smoke should be observed after
the second step when the stove damper is open and
exhaust is not routed through the combustor. Be careful
not to confuse smoke with steam from wet wood.
If this test indicates a problem, consider other possible
factors as well, such as the time of year or a change
in the quality of your fuel. In spring and fall, draft is
weaker than it is in colder winter weather, and ﬁres can
burn sluggishly. Small, hot ﬁres are a good solution
under these conditions.
Burning “green” (insufﬁciently seasoned) wood will result in poorer performance than when burning properly
seasoned fuel. You may have to run your stove hotter
(more air) to achieve good performance if you are burning green or wet wood.
Also, consider any changes in your operating routine as
well.
Once you have ruled out any other possible causes
for a decline in performance, you may proceed with an
inspection of the combustor.

Ash Door

Grate
Front
Grate Bar
Throat Pieces

Lower
Fireback
Retainer
FP1079

Fig. 14 To reach the catalytic combustor, remove front grate
bar, grate, throat pieces and lower ﬁreback.

FP1079
Winter Warm
combustor
3/28/01 djt

Inspection and Removal of the Combustor
Before you begin, observe the basic safety precautions
for working with dusty materials: always wear safety
glasses, a recommended dust mask, and gloves. To
expose the combustor, ﬁrst remove the throat pieces by
tapping upward at the far left and right corners with a
soft-faced hammer. Leave the bolt in the retainer loose,
and leave the retainer in place.
Examine the top surface of the catalytic element, which
will be visible. A small mirror and ﬂashlight may provide
a better view. Unless the element shows a heavy ﬂy
ash accumulation or major damage, do not remove it.

Access Panel

FP1082

Fig. 15 Remove the access panel.

FP1082
WinterWarm
remove access panel
3/01

If combustor removal is necessary for cleaning or closer
inspection, follow these steps (Fig. 14):
1. Remove the front grate bar.
2. Remove the grate.
3. Remove the throat pieces as described above

2000941

FP1083

Fig. 16 Removing the catalytic element.

FP1083
WinerWarm
remove catalyst
3/01

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System
• Check the combustor and the bottom of the refractory
chamber for a build-up of ﬂy ash, and remove any ash
by taking the combustor outside and gently blowing air
through the element. Do not brush the surface, as this
could damage the element. Carefully vacuum ash from
the refractory chamber.

• Refer to the “Catalytic Combustor Appendix” on Page
37 for information on what kinds of damage or deterioration to look for. Although small hairline cracks will not
affect performance, the combustor should be essentially intact. If the combustor is broken in pieces or has
sections missing, it should be replaced. Call your local
Vermont Castings’ dealer for a replacement combustor,
item #30001152. Consult the warranty section at the
back of this manual for further information on catalytic
combustor replacement.
• While the catalytic element is removed, check the
condition of the secondary air probe. Use an inspection mirror to locate the probe within the combustion
chamber. (Fig. 17) The probe should extend 1 to 1¹⁄₂"
(25 - 38mm) into the chamber and show no signs of
deterioration, (warping, short length). Refer to the next
illustration. A damaged secondary air probe could affect
catalytic performance. If the probe needs to be replaced, call your local dealer.

5. Reinstall the throat pieces, center edges ﬁrst, then
outer edges. Tap the throat pieces downward ﬁrmly
to seat the lower ﬁreback.
6. Replace the grate.
7. Replace the front grate bar. With the horizontal bars
pointing down and away from you, angle the bar
inside the ﬁrebox to seat the right end. Then, bring
the left end forward and lower it into position.

Watch for Better Results
Finish up by cleaning the chimney and chimney connector. Then, use your WinterWarm in a typical manner for two weeks and observe its performance, taking
particular note of the smoke observation test described
on Page 11.
If a problem persists, contact your local dealer for further advice about your particular situation.

The Chimney System
A Clean Chimney System is
Safer and Works Better
Although the catalytic combustion system in your WinterWarm can reduce creosote formation dramatically, it
is not a substitute for regular inspection and cleaning of
the chimney and chimney connector.

Learn to Recognize —
and Avoid — Creosote
1"

ST559

Fig. 17 Use an inspection mirror to check the secondary
probe.

If the combustor is in good condition and clean, re-install it following thisST559
procedure:

Secondary
1. Slide the element
carefully back into the refractory
inspection
chamber, seatingProbe
it securely.
The element must be
11/00
fully to the rear of
the support slot.
2. Install the access panel, making sure that it is ﬂush
with the outer surface of the main refractory package.
3. Check the slot in the rear bottom plate for debris,
and clean if necessary.
4. Reinstall the lower ﬁreback by inserting the base
of the ﬁreback in the slot. Tip the ﬁreback up into
place.
14

Your WinterWarm has been 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 which combine to form creosote.
The creosote vapors 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 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” (3mm) 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.
2000941

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System
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 WinterWarm
cool completely. Then, using 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
ﬁrechamber must be removed to provide better viewing
access.
If it is necessary to remove the ﬁrechamber to inspect
or clean the chimney, this is how to do it:

• Let the WinterWarm cool.
• Disconnect the fan power cord.
• Remove the load door, grate bar, grate and ash
door.
• Retract all four levelling screws until they bear no
weight.
• If you installed the CFM Corporation Flex Connector
System, bend the four retaining tabs on the Starter
Piece until they are straight. Push the Starter Piece
upward until it is clear of the shroud.
• Slide the ﬁrechamber forward until you have access
to the ﬁreplace opening.
• Remove any sealing plates and the chimney connector from the ﬁreplace damper frame area.
You can now inspect the smoke shelf area and the
chimney. Before replacing the WinterWarm, this area
should be inspected for signs of deterioration and
cleaned thoroughly with a chimney brush.
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 through the cleanout door.

WinterWarm Maintenance Schedule
Fireplace:
Daily:

• Ash should be removed before the level reaches the
top of the pan. Check each time you re-load, or at
least once a day.
• Keep the area around the ﬁreplace clear of any combustible material.
Yearly Spring Cleaning:

• Remove ash from the ﬁre box and replace with a
moisture-absorbing material (such as Kitty Litter) to
keep the interior of the ﬁreplace dry.
Touch up painted surfaces with black paint.

•
Flex Connector:
Two Weeks:

• Inspect the chimney and ﬂex connector. Clean the
system if necessary.
YEARLY SPRING CLEANING:

• Disassemble the ﬂex connector and take it outdoors
•

for inspection and cleaning. Replace weak sections
of connector.
Inspect the chimney for signs of deterioration.
Repairs to a masonry chimney should be made by
a professional mason. Replace damaged sections
of prefabricated chimney. Your local Vermont Castings’ dealer or a chimney sweep can help determine
when replacement is necessary.

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 can’t do the chimney inspection yourself, contact your local Vermont Castings’ Authorized Dealer, or
engage a professional chimney sweep to perform the
inspection and cleaning of the chimney.
If you are the owner of a WinterWarm Fireplace System, the prefabricated chimney used with your ﬁreplace
should be cleaned from above using an 8” round brush
and the appropriate number of extension rods for complete access.
The chimney cap ﬁrst must be removed following the
procedure recommended by the manufacturer. After
thoroughly cleaning the chimney, reinstall the chimney
cap according to the manufacturer’s directions.
2000941

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System
Large WinterWarm Wiring Diagram

LEFT
FAN

21
13

Wireway

9
13

RIGHT
FAN

24
On Body Assembly

SH2

SH4

SH2

PH2

PH4

P H2

Field Cover

5
10

12
7

Legend

On Front Assembly

Black Wire (Hot)

RHEOSTAT
B

White Wire (Neutral)
Green Wire (Ground)

Female Terminal
Loop Terminal

1
H

Wirenut

Wire Number

15
Left Receptacle

Ground Screw (Green)
SH

Socket Housing

Pin Housing

Socket

Right
Receptacle

N
GI

FP1301
WinterWarm
wiring diagram
2/7/03 djt

2000941

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System

Section III: Preparing a Masonry Chimney
Installing the WinterWarm into a masonry ﬁreplace is an
effective way to add an efﬁcient heater to your home.

Requirements for the
Existing Masonry Fireplace
The WinterWarm Fireplace Insert is listed only for
installation within a properly built masonry or heat
circulating, masonry-type ﬁreplace that is constructed in
accordance with the requirements of recognized building codes. A heat-circulating masonry-type ﬁreplace
must conform to building code standards for masonry
ﬁreplaces, and must consist of a factory-built metal
ﬁrebox with air circulation pathways that are surrounded
by masonry materials.
NOTE: The WinterWarm is not listed for use in
“zero-clearance” prefabricated ﬁreplaces, except
when used as part of the Vermont Castings’ WinterWarm Fireplace system, including the WinterWarm
Fireplace Energy Cabinet, item #2110 (referred to on
the WinterWarm safety label as Fireplace Cabinet
Model 1283).
The ﬁreplace and chimney must be clean and structurally sound. Have it inspected by a qualiﬁed professional
chimney sweep, a mason, or your Vermont Castings’
Authorized Dealer before the WinterWarm is installed.
Any deterioration (cracks, loose mortar or loose bricks)
must be repaired.
The ﬁreplace should not be modiﬁed to install the WinterWarm without ﬁrst checking with your local building
inspector or ﬁre marshal. Do not remove bricks or mortar that may jeopardize the compliance of the ﬁreplace
with local building codes.

Requirements of your
Existing Masonry Chimney
Your ﬁreplace chimney must be well-constructed and
must meet minimum code requirements. The chimney
ﬂue should have a code-approved liner made of masonry or pre-cast refractory tiles, straight or ﬂexible stainless steel pipe, or a poured-in-place liner. An unlined
chimney must be relined professionally. Chimney height
should be no less than 15’ (4.6m) above the hearth and
no more than 35’ (10.7m).

ﬂue, for example, may not heat up enough to sustain
an adequate draft. Such a ﬂue can often be improved if
it is relined to reduce its size and/or insulated to keep it
warmer.
The chimney should extend at least 3’ (914mm) above
the highest point where it passes through a roof, and at
least 2’ (610mm) higher than any portion of a building
within 10’ (3m). (Fig. 18)
0 To 10'
2' Min.

3'
Min.

0 To 10'
2' Min.

3'
Min.

Reference
Point

AC617

Fig. 18 The 2’3’10’ rule for chimneys.

Existing masonry ﬁreplace chimneys, especially older
AC617
ones, may have one or
more openings used at an
RLTSKC8
earlier time to connect2/11/98
stoves in different rooms to the
ﬁreplace chimney. These openings must be sealed with
masonry to the thickness of the chimney wall. Unused
openings sealed with pie plates or wallpaper are a hazard. In the event of a chimney ﬁre, ﬂames and smoke
may be forced out of these unused openings.
Do not connect your WinterWarm ﬁreplace insert to
a chimney ﬂue serving another appliance.

Minimum Fireplace Dimensions
The WinterWarm Fireplace Insert will ﬁt most masonry
ﬁreplaces. To conﬁrm that it will ﬁt yours, measure the
lintel depth, plus the height, width, and depth of your
ﬁreplace and your hearth. Compare them to the measurements in the accompanying chart. If you choose to
install a new hearth over an existing ﬁreplace hearth,
be sure to take its thickness into consideration when
measuring both front and back height of the ﬁreplace.

The chimney must have a nominal ﬂue size of 8” x 8”
(203 x 203mm) or larger, with a maximum size of 12”
x 12” (305 x 305mm). Some chimneys originally designed for ﬁreplace use may perform differently when
used to vent an air-controlled appliance such as your
WinterWarm. A chimney on an outside wall with a large

2000941

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System
A
B
D,J

E
B

A,I

Fireplace Minimums
A. Width at Face 34” (864 mm)
B. Width at
18¹⁄₂” depth
22” (559 mm)
19” (483 mm)
C. Depth1
D. Height at Face 24” (610 mm)
E. Height at
19¹⁄₂” depth
16” (406 mm) D,J
2
5” (127 mm)
F. Damper Width
G. Damper Length2 14” (356 mm)

Measure side
trim clearance
from here

F,G

X
H

Fireplace Maximums
H. Lintel depth
6³⁄₄” (172 mm)
I. Width3
51” (1295 mm)
J. Height3
36” (914 mm)

FP1084

1. The minimum depth must be maintained from the ﬂoor of the
ﬁreplace to a height of 16” (416 mm).
FP1084
2. These are the minimum damper dimensions required for use of
winterwarm
the Vermotn Castings
Flex Connector System.
3. Though the WinterWarm
Fireplace
Insert will
ﬁt into larger ﬁreminimum
dimensions
fireplace
places, the decorative surround panels will not completely cover the
ﬁreplace opening 3/01
if these dimensions are exceeded. Custom made
trim may be used.

Fig. 19 Use thes measurements to conﬁrm that the WinterWarm will ﬁt into your masonry ﬁreplace.

Clearance Requirements
After conﬁrming that your ﬁreplace is the right size,
check the clearances to combustibles. First mark with
tape the exact center of your ﬁreplace opening on the
hearth. Measure the side clearance from this point.
Measure the top trim and/or mantel clearances from the
ﬁnished hearth surface. Measure the front clearance (to
furnishings, etc.) from the ﬁreplace face.
NOTE: The clearance between the WinterWarm Fireplace Insert and the mantel, top trim and side trim cannot be reduced by installing shields.
Another clearance requirement to consider is that
for movable items such as tables, bookcases, rugs,
furnishings, and your woodbox. All combustible materials of this type should be a minimum of 48” (1219 mm)
from the front surface of the WinterWarm. Be sure that
family members are aware of this requirement as well,
so they too will keep objects a safe distance from the
WinterWarm.
18

C
FP1085

Fireplace Clearances
Masonry
Fireplace System
Fireplace
Cabinet
A. Mantel*
38¹⁄₂” (978 mm)
43” (1092 mm)
B. Top Trim*
38¹⁄₂”
(978 mm)
43” (1092 mm)
FP1085
C. Side Trim** 24”WinterWarm
(610 mm)
24” (610 mm)
clearances
*The mantel and/or top trim must be 9” (229 mm) in depth or less.
For the WinterWarm System,
3/01 measure from the supplied trim

panel forward.
**Where side trim extends more than 2” (52mm) from the ﬁreplace
facing, the side clearance must be no less than 42” (1067 mm).
Measure the side clearance (C) from the exact center of your ﬁreplace opening on the hearth (X). Measure the top trim (B) and/or
mantel clearances (A) from the ﬁnished hearth surface. Measure
the front clearance (to furnishings, etc.) from the ﬁreplace face.

Fig. 20 Observe these clearances to combustible trim.

Hearth Requirements
In some ﬁreplaces, the hearth in front of the ﬁreplace
opening is brick, stone, slate, or some other non-combustible material that is in direct contact with concrete
poured over earth. These are the only hearths that are
considered noncombustible.
In other ﬁreplaces, the brick or concrete hearth in front
of the ﬁreplace opening is supported by heavy wooden
framing. Because neither brick nor concrete has good
insulating properties, heat radiated by the ﬁre will pass
downward through the hearth to the wooden framing.
Such hearths are considered combustible.
Unless the ﬁreplace and hearth are constructed over a
completely noncombustible surface (such as unpainted
concrete over dirt), a ﬂoor protector must be used in
WinterWarm Fireplace Insert installations in front of and
to the sides of the door as protection against spilled
coals and embers.
Floor protectors must extend at least 8” (203 mm) from
the side of the door opening, making the protector 40”
(1016 mm) wide. In addition, the ﬂoor protector must
extend from the front door opening a minimum of 16”
(410 mm) in the United States and 18”(457 mm) in
Canada.
2000941

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System
That is, when using brick for the hearth extension, the
brick must be a minimum of 2.6” (65 mm) thick.
Flue
Collar
Glass
Door

United States
A. 16“ (410 mm)
B. 8” (203 mm)
FP1086
C. 40” (1016 mm)
WW

Canada
18” (457 mm)
8” (203 mm)
40” (1016 mm)

Hearth
NOTE: Measuring from the door
opening of the insert to the ﬁreplace opening adds 3¹⁄₂” (90mm) to the total depth of the hearth
protector.
FP1086

Fig. 21 Unless your ﬁreplace and hearth are constructed
over a dirt ﬂoor (or unpainted concrete over dirt), you must
use a ﬂoor protector that satisﬁes the above requirements.

Once you know the K factor of a given material, you
can use this same formula to calculate its required
thickness for approved hearth protection.
NOTE: Any ﬂoor protector thicker than 9/16” (14mm)
will require elevating the ﬁrechamber on a solid, approved ﬂoor protector to provide enough clearance for
the door to open. This in turn will require a higher ﬁreplace opening to permit installation of the ﬁre chamber.

The Chimney Connector
Connect your WinterWarm Fireplace Insert to the
chimney ﬂue with a “positive ﬂue connection.” Such a
connection provides a direct passageway for smoke
and exhaust gases leading from the ﬂue collar of the
WinterWarm to the ﬁrst chimney lining tile. Positive
ﬂue connections are required in many areas before an
installation can be approved.
The chimney connector itself should have a minimum
cross-sectional area of 50 square inches (320 square
centimeters), equivalent to an 8” (203 mm) diameter
opening, and must be 24 gauge or heavier.

Sealing Requirements

The approved construction of a ﬂoor protector calls for
24 gauge galvanized sheet metal covered with a listed
ﬂoor protector material that is at least 7/16” (11 mm)
thick (such as Wonderboard® or Durock®). The ﬂoor
protector may be covered with a noncombustible decorative material if desired. (Fig. 21)

It is important to seal off the ﬂue completely from the
room air for proper operation of your WinterWarm.
There are three ways to accomplish this:

Custom-made ﬂoor protectors may be used if they offer

3. Have your chimney professionally re-lined and connect the liner directly to the WinterWarm.

NEW
thickness
K of new as
material
(per inch) ﬂoor protector
the same protection
the approved
required =
of listed
x
described in the preceding paragraph, which
in testing
thickness
material
K of listed material (per inch)

was found to have a standard K value of 0.84. Custombuilt ﬂoor protectors must have a K value equal to, or
less than, 0.84, meaning that heat will transfer at the
same rate or more slowly than the tested standard.
IWF291
To calculate the thickness required for an alternate
MBUF
material to result in a K value of 0.84, ﬁrst determine
6/19/96

the alternate material’s K factor. This information should
be available from your local building supply yard. Then,
calculate the following formula:
(K factor
of alternate
material)
(0.84)

X (7/16" [11mm]) =

(Required thickness of
alternate material)

Let’s use brick as an example, since it is a commonly
used hearth material. Its K factor is 5.0.
(5.0)
(0.84)

2000941

X (7/16" [11mm]) = 2.6" (65mm)

1. Install a CFM Corporation Flex Connector system;
2. Install a customized seal at the damper level;

Of these three choices, the Flex Connector not only
provides an effective seal but usually is the easiest to
install.

The Flex Connector System
The Flex Connector bends the chimney connector
through angled smoke chambers and narrow damper
frames, and its Block-off plate makes a tight seal at the
damper frame. (Fig. 22)
To determine the suitability of the Flex Connector for
your ﬁreplace, carefully examine the ﬁreplace damper
area. The damper opening must be unobstructed
and must measure at least 5” x 14” (127 x 356 mm) to
accommodate the Flex Connector and the Block-off
Plates. An undersized opening, or an opening obstructed by heat exchanger tubes or damper components,
may prevent the Flex Connector from extending up to
the ﬂue or may be possible only after special work has
been done.

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System

1/4” (6mm) Bolt

Flex Connector

1/4” (6mm)
Nut

Pipe
Support

There are a number of ﬁttings available from your Vermont Castings’ Authorized Dealer that are designed to
form the connection between your WinterWarm and an
8” (203mm) diameter chimney liner. Your dealer as well
as your local chimney sweep can advise you on the
types of lining systems currently available.

Preliminary Steps for Installing the
WinterWarm into a Masonry Fireplace

Block-Off
Plate

1. Remove the Masonry Fireplace Damper
The existing damper plate within your ﬁreplace must
be removed or, if that is not possible, must be fastened
securely in a fully-open position. Many dampers can
be removed simply by removing a cotter pin and/or set
screw.

1/4”
(6mm)
Screw
1/4” (6mm)
Washer

2. Install the Flex Connector

1/4” (6mm)
Wing Nut

A Relined Chimney

Starter Piece
(Optional)
FP1087

Fig. 22 Components of the Flex Connector System.

Consult a Vermont Castings’
Authorized Dealer for inFP1087
stallation suggestions. It may
be possible to enlarge the
WW
opening by removing or modifying the damper frame,
Flex connector
but do this only if it won’t weaken the ﬁreplace. Check
3/30/01
djt modiﬁcawith your local building inspector
to be sure
tions comply with local codes.
Although the Flex Connector is designed to be installed
by any mechanically competent person, wide variations
in ﬁreplace and damper construction can complicate
the installation. You may wish to have the job done
by a professional installer. Complete detailed installation instructions are included with the Flex Connector
components.

Following the installation instructions that are packed
with the Flex Connector, unfold the template that came
with the WinterWarm. (Fig. 23) Carefully glue the template onto a large piece of sturdy cardboard or plywood,
making sure that the fold lines have been ﬂattened. Cut
along the edges of the template and use it to place the
Flex Connector components correctly in your ﬁreplace.
Custom Fabrication:
Be sure any chimney connector or adapter is properly
installed and secured in place. There should be a slip
joint near the WinterWarm so that the connection can
be easily disengaged for removal and cleaning of the
unit.

A Custom Damper Seal
If the design of your ﬁreplace damper prohibits the use
of the CFM Corporation Sealing Package, an alternative is to fabricate a custom sealing plate at or below
the ﬁreplace damper frame. The plate can be fastened
securely to the lintel (the structural piece spanning the
ﬁreplace opening) and to the surrounding masonry, or
be securely fastened to the damper frame. A section
of chimney connector, attached to the WinterWarm
ﬂue collar, must make a positive ﬂue connection where
required by code.

Template
FP1088

Fig. 23 Using the template that came with the WinterWarm
will help you positionFP1088
Flex Connector.

WinterWarm
template
3/30/01 djt

2000941

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System
3. Reverse the Flue Collar (If Necessary)
The ﬂue collar of the WinterWarm is reversible to allow
for installation into ﬁreplaces with different lintel depths
and different damper orientations. It is shipped in the
rear-most position (the deep lintel position), which accommodates lintel depths up to 6³⁄₄” (172 mm). The
fore-most ﬂue collar position will accomodate lintels as
shallow as 4³⁄₄” (121 mm) in depth.
Taking into account the location of the damper frame,
choose the ﬂue collar position that enables the chimney
connector to be installed using the most gradual bend
possible.
To reverse the ﬂue collar, remove the ﬂue collar insert panel located on top of the shroud by removing
the sheetmetal screws around the panel’s perimeter.
Remove the two fasteners that attach the ﬂue collar to
the insert panel, then remove the panel. You then have
access to the top plate and to the ﬂue collar.
Remove the four fasteners that attach the ﬂue collar
to the top plate of the WinterWarm. Lift the ﬂue collar away from the top plate. Position the ﬂue collar in
the desired orientation, and reinstall the four fasteners.
Make sure the ﬂue collar is seated ﬁrmly against the
gasket material.

Custom-made surround panels may be made from any
noncombustible material, with the following restrictions:
The maximum suggested thickness of the surround
material is determined by both ﬂue collar position and
lintel depth. For installations using the front ﬂue collar
position, the maximum suggested surround thickness
is 4" (102 mm) minus the lintel depth. For example, a
3" (75 mm) lintel would result in a maximum surround
thickness of 1" (25 mm) .
There is no need to attach the surround panels to the
insert or to the ﬁreplace. The modular surrounds are
sized to stand without additional support or attachment;
they are simply trapped between the ﬁreplace insert's
cast-iron front, and the face of the ﬁreplace.
For rear exit ﬂue positions, the suggested position
would allow a surround thickness of 3¹⁄₂" (88 mm).
With these preliminary steps completed, you can now
proceed to install the WinterWarm ﬁrechamber and
front. That information is located in Section V, “Completing the WinterWarm Installation,” and begins on
Page 29.

51¹⁄₂" (1308mm)

Replace the ﬂue collar insert panel. Fasten the ﬂue
collar to the panel, and re-install the sheet metal screws
around the panel’s perimeter.

43⁷⁄₈" (1114mm)

4. Install the Floor Protector
Make sure the ﬂoor protector satisﬁes the requirements
discussed on Pages 17 and 18.
5. Assemble the Optional Surround Panel and Lean
it against the Front of the Fireplace

35⁹⁄₁₆"
(903mm)
31³⁄₄"
(806mm)

If your installation will include the optional surround
panels, assemble them according to the instructions
packed with the panels. Lean the ﬁnished assembly
against the chase front.
The CFM Specialist Home Products modular Surround
Panels cover gaps up to 4⁵⁄₈" (116 mm) using a single
panel, and up to 9¹⁄₄" (231 mm) using double panels.
Surround Panel kit #3014 has outside measurements of
31³⁄₄" tall by 43⁷⁄₈" wide (806mm tall x 1114 mm wide);
by combining Kit #3014 with extension kit #3015, the
resulting surround is 35⁹⁄₁₆" tall by 51¹⁄₂" wide (903 mm
tall by 1308 mm wide).

2000941

Kit #3014
Kit #3015

FP1089

Fig. 24 CFM Corporation #3014 and #3015 Optional Surround Trim Kits.

FP1089
WinterWArm
trim sizes
3/28/01 djt

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System

Section IV: Installing the Fireplace System Cabinet
The insulated metal cabinet included with the WinterWarm Fireplace System enables the WinterWarm
Fireplace Insert to be installed in minimum-clearance
situations and where no masonry ﬁreplace or chimney
exists, such as in new home construction or in renovation.
Use only CFM Corporation WinterWarm ﬁrechamber Model #2100 in this ﬁreplace cabinet. Do not
use other products not speciﬁed for use with this
ﬁreplace. The two (2) vent ducts supplied with the
energy cabinet must be installed as described in
this manual. Never install the energy cabinet without installing the vent ducts.

Carefully Observe Local Building Codes
Meeting the requirements of your local building codes is
an important part of planning your WinterWarm installation. Because the ﬁnal approval for an installation is
always granted by local ofﬁcials, and because codes
vary in different areas, involving your local ofﬁcials
in the planning stage can help facilitate the approval
process. Review your plans with them before beginning
the installation.
Ask your Vermont Castings’ Authorized Dealer for help
in providing the necessary information to local ofﬁcials.
In the pages that follow you’ll ﬁnd information on planning, construction, and clearance for almost all installations. If you need further assistance, refer to the National Fire Protection Association ANSI/NFPA 211-1988
Standard for Chimneys, Fireplaces, Vents and Solid
Fuel Burning Appliances, or, in Canada, CSA B365.
Your local Vermont Castings’ Authorized Dealer or your
local building ofﬁcial may have a copy.

LU584-1a

Fig. 25 The WinterWarm Fireplace System offers a variety of
siting options.

Structural Considerations
of the
Installation
LU584-1
Locating unit
Chase
Dimensions

2/4/99 djt
The WinterWarm Fireplace System installs in an opening just 28¹⁄₂" (724 mm) deep, 39¹⁄₂" (1003 mm) wide,
and as little as 89" (226 cm) high. (Fig. 26) The enclosing chase will be wider by the thickness of studding and
drywall, or other wall ﬁnish material. The basic trim
package requires an overall enclosure width of at least
48" (1219 mm), plus the width of any edge molding to
be applied. The chase must be at least 89" (226 cm)
high.

Selecting a Location for Your Fireplace

28¹⁄₂"
(724mm)

Centrally located installations circulate the heat most
effectively and take full advantage of the WinterWarm’s
powerful heating capability. (Fig. 25)
An interior chimney is preferred, as it stays warmer
and provides a more reliable draft than a chimney on
the outside of the building. Locating the chase on an
exterior wall has the advantage of reducing the existing
ﬂoor space required by the installation, however, and
an exterior chimney can be enclosed in a chase built to
resemble a traditional ﬁreplace and insulated to keep it
warmer.

39¹⁄₂" (1003mm)
Trim 48" (1219mm)
FP1090

Fig. 26 Minimum dimensions for framing the WinterWarm
FP1089
Fireplace System when the chase is oriented perpendicular
WinterWArm
to wall.
trim sizes
3/28/01 djt

2000941

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System

E
F

D F

m
3m
68
(1

66
"(
16
83
m

"
66

)

A
B

27"
(686mm)

39¹⁄₂"
(1003mm)

27"
(686mm)

93¹⁄₂" (237cm)
FP1091

Fig. 22 Minimum dimensions required for framing a corner
installation of the chase.
2” x 4” or Smaller
FP1089
WinterWArm
trim sizes
3/28/01 djt

E
G

E
F
G
I

12” (305 mm)
9³⁄₄” (248 mm)
12¹⁄₈” (308 mm)
28¹⁄₂” (724 mm)

Fig. 29 Suggested framing and dimensions for venting the air
ducts through the chase front.

39¹⁄₂” (1003 mm)
FP1092
62” (1575
mm)
WinterWarm
Side
vent framing
89” (2260
mm)
dimensions
28” (711 4/2/01
mm) djt
12” (305 mm)

Chimney Requirements

Chase Front

Chase Side
F
G
H
I

9³⁄₄” (248 mm)
12¹⁄₈” (308 mm)
9³⁄₄” (248 mm)
28¹⁄₂” (724 mm)
FP1092

Fig. 28 Suggested dimensions and framing for side-venting
the air ducts of the chase.

Duct and Vent Placement
The WinterWarm offers great ﬂexibility in positioning
the hot air ducts. The ducts can vent through the side of
the chase, through its front, or one each through both
the side and the front. Either or both ducts also may be
vented into a room behind, beside or above the room
in which the WinterWarm is installed. Both ducts must
be installed in order to properly vent the hot air inside the energy cabinet. Failure to connect the vent
ducts could result in overheating of the cabinet
and surrounding construction. The ducts must be
installed at least 12” (305 mm) from the ceiling and
no lower than the cabinet top.

2000941

39¹⁄₂” (1003 mm)
FP1093
62” (1575
mm)
WinterWarm
Front
vent framing
89” (2260
mm)
dimensions
28” (711 4/2/01
mm) djt

Figures 28 and 29 show construction dimensions for
some of the common duct placements.

A
B
C
D
E

A
B
C
D

Chase Side

FP1093
F

Chase Front

For proper draft and best performance, the chimney
should extend at least 15’ (4.6 m), and not more than
35’ (10.6 m), above the hearth surface. If the chimney
above the roof line is enclosed in a chase, the chimney
must extend at least 3’ (914 mm) above the top of the
chase. The chimney must be supported either from
the roof or from the ﬂoor joists above the WinterWarm.
The cabinet is not intended to be the sole support of
the chimney. Support systems are available from the
chimney manufacturer.
An installation with a straight, vertical chimney will have
the best draft and is the easiest to clean.
If structural components such as ﬂoor joists or roof rafters are obstacles to the chosen location, however, up
to four 30° elbows may be connected directly to each
other. Used in pairs, the elbows will return the chimney
pipe to vertical after it has passed the obstacle. (In
some instances ﬂoor joists can be cut and boxed in for
reinforcement, but engineered roof trusses should never
be cut.) The ﬁrst offset must be at least 8’ (2.5 m) above
the hearth. Elbows may not be used within the chase.
The WinterWarm Fireplace System is listed for use in
the United States with seven 8” (203 mm) diameter
chimney systems that have been listed to High Temperature (H.T.) Chimney Standard UL-103-1985 (2100°F).

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System
Chimney Cap
Flashing

Storm Collar
Roof Support Package

Firestops

cut-out panel on the WinterWarm shroud, and it should
terminate at an outside air source. It may not terminate
in a garage or basement, nor near another fuel-fed appliance. The air inlet must be covered by a wire mesh
screen (not included) with openings not larger than 1/4”
x 1/4” (6 x 6 mm) to prevent rodents from entering from
the outside. The optional duct kit includes a valve to
close off incoming air when the WinterWarm is not in
use.

Wall Band

Hearth Requirements
Unless the Fireplace System Cabinet will be installed
on a completely noncombustible surface such as
unpainted concrete over earth, a ﬂoor protector must
be used in the installation for protection against radiated heat as well as protection against spilled coals and
embers.

Offset

Firestop
Chimney Section
Anchor Plate

Front

Floor protectors must extend at least 8” (203 mm) from
the side of the door opening, making a total width of 40”
(1016 mm). In addition, the ﬂoor protector must extend
from the front door opening a minimum of 16” (410 mm) in
the United States and 18”(460 mm) in Canada. (Fig. 31)

89"
(2260mm)
Cabinet

FP1094

Fig. 30 Typical chimney components used in the installation
of a WinterWarm Fireplace System.

The listed chimneys FP1094
and their manufacturers are:
WW
American Metal Products
Ameri-Tec Model HS
chimney components
Condensation
4/2/01 djt
Engineering Corp.
Model HS
GSW Building Product Co.
Model SC
Metal Fab, Inc.
Model TG
Security Chimneys Ltd.
Model ASHT
Selkirk Metalbestos
Model SSII
Simpson Dura-Vent
Model SDP
In the United States, do not use any other chimney
system with the WinterWarm Fireplace System.
In Canada, the WinterWarm Fireplace System is listed
for use with any 200 mm diameter prefabricated chimney tested and listed to the High Temperature (650°C)
Chimney Standard, ULC S-629.

Guidelines for an Outside Air Supply
Outside air may be introduced to the WinterWarm at
either of two available ports: at the lower left corner of
the back of the cabinet (as viewed from the front), or at
the lower left corner of the left side panel.
An outside air duct must be 3” (75 mm) in diameter,
must be no longer than 20’ (6 m), and must not have
more than three elbows. No part of the outside air duct
(including the outside air inlet) may be higher than the

Flue
Collar
Glass
Door

FP1086
C

United States
A. 16“ (406 mm)
B. 8” (203 mm)
C. 40” (1016 mm)
FP1086

Canada
18” (457 mm)
8” (203 mm)
40” (1016 mm)

Hearthopening of the insert to the ﬁreNOTE: Measuring from the door
place opening adds 3¹⁄₂” (90mm) to the total depth of the hearth
protector.

Fig. 31 A ﬂoor protector must satisfy these requirements.

2000941

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System
Custom-made ﬂoor protectors may be used if they offer
the same protection as the approved ﬂoor protector
described in the preceding paragraph, which in testing
was found to have a standard K value of 0.84. Custombuilt ﬂoor protectors must have a K value equal to, or
less than, 0.84, meaning that heat will transfer at the
same rate or more slowly than the tested standard.
To calculate the thickness required for an alternate material to result in a K value of 0.84, ﬁrst determine the
alternate material’s K factor. This information should be
available from your local building supply yard. Then,
calculate the following formula:
(K factor
of alternate
material)
(K factor of
Wonderboard)

(Thickness of
(Required thickness
Wonderboard =
of alternate material)
required)

Let’s use brick as an example, since it is a commonly
used hearth material. Its K factor is 5.0.
(5.0)
X (7/16” [11 mm]) = 2.6” (65 mm)
(0.84)

That is, when using brick for the hearth extension, the
brick must be a minimum of 2.6” (65 mm) thick.
Once you know the K factor of a given material, you
can use this same formula to calculate its required
thickness for approved hearth protection.

Flush with the Floor or Laid Over It?

Over-laid Floor
Protector
24ga. Galvanized Sheet
Metal

Ventilated
Plinth
Spark
Protector
Strip
Cabinet
Base

Finished
Floor

Sub-ﬂoor
Plywood Shim

FP1109

Fig. 32 The components of a raised hearth. The ﬂoor protector is placed over the ﬁnished ﬂoor and extends completely
under the ventilated plinth.
FP1109
WinterWarm
raised hearth
Inlaid Floor 4/05/01 djt
Ventilated
Protector

Plinth

24ga. Galvanized Sheet
Metal

Spark
Protector
Strip

Finished
Floor

Cabinet
Base

Generally, it is easier to lay ﬂoor protectors over the ﬁnished ﬂoor in existing homes. In new construction, ﬂush
installations are a popular alternative.
When placed over a ﬁnished ﬂoor, the ﬂoor protector
extends completely under the ventilated plinth. (Fig.
32) The cabinet is elevated by an amount equal to the
thickness of the ﬂoor protector so that the plinth and
cabinet are at the same level. This is necessary for a
proper ﬁt between the WinterWarm front and the plinth.
If you raise the cabinet more than 1” (25 mm), a corresponding increase in the height of the framed chase is
required to retain adequate clearance.
When the ﬂoor protector is installed ﬂush, the WinterWarm cabinet rests on plywood shimming that brings it
level with the ﬁnished ﬂoor. (Fig. 33)
Whichever method you choose, the ﬂoor protector must
satisfy the requirements outlined above, and the 3” x
38” (76 x 965 mm) sheet metal spark protector strip
(included) must be laid under the junction of the cabinet
and the ventilated plinth.

2000941

Sub-ﬂoor
Plywood Shim

FP1110

Fig. 33 The components of a ﬂush hearth. The ﬂoor protector
is inlaid ﬂush with the ﬁnished ﬂoor.

FP1110
Important
Reminders:
WinterWarm

1. INSTALL ONLY
ILLUSTRATED.
FlushAS
hearth
4/05/01
djt
2. Elevating the cabinet requires a corresponding increase in the height of the chase to retain adequate
clearances. Refer to the chase speciﬁcations on
Page 20 and double-check that all clearances will be
satisﬁed.
3. The air inlet through the ventilated plinth must not be
blocked.
4. A 3” x 38” (76 mm x 965 mm) strip of sheet metal
(included in your Fireplace System) must be placed
as a spark protector painted-side up underneath the
joint between the front of the cabinet and the ventilated plinth.
25

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System
Electrical Requirements
The WinterWarm Cabinet has a removable junction box
located on the bottom front corner of the left side. This
enables the wiring to be completed before the cabinet is
installed if desired.
The junction box houses two receptacles, one for the
WinterWarm column fans and the other for the optional
cabinet blower. The cabinet blower is especially recommended when the WinterWarm will be installed in a
conﬁned area that requires additional heat circulation.
A 115V, 15 or 20A electric service line is required. If installing the optional cabinet blower, decide on the location for the blower control switch and mount a standard
single-switch box to the chase framing.

Customizing the Finished Appearance

37³⁄₈"
(949mm)
Combustible
Limits
Notch for
Power Cord

40³⁄₈" (1025mm)
FP1111

Fig. 34 Keep combustible wall ﬁnish materials outside these
limits.

The Trim Panels supplied with the WinterWarm System
fasten the cabinet to the chase framing and give a ﬁnished appearance to the gap between the WinterWarm
and the cabinet. They also provide a noncombustible
transition surface to join with the combustible wall ﬁnish
material, which must not extend inside the combustible
limits.

FP11111
WinterWArm
wall finish material limits
4/5/01 djt
29"
(737mm)

33���"
(845mm)

The trim panels may be used without additional facing
material, or with a surface to complement a speciﬁc
decor.
Many attractive, noncombustible ﬁnish materials can be
applied over the trim panels, including veneer brick, tile,
stone and plaster. The limitations are:

• The materials must be noncombustible.
• Their maximum thickness, including noncombustible
•
•

backing and adhesive, should not exceed 13/16”
(20 mm).
Combustible edge molding must not protrude into
the room more than 2” (51 mm) from the panel surface.
To allow insertion of the ﬁre box, the opening must
be at least 33¹⁄₄" (845 mm) wide, and 29" (737 mm)
high. To ensure coverage of the trim inner edges by
the installed WinterWarm ﬁre chamber, the opening
must be not more than 35¹⁄₄" (895 mm) wide, and
33¹⁄₄" (845 mm) high. Figure 25 demonstrates these
dimensions.

33���" (845mm)
35���" (895mm)

FP1112

Fig. 25 The ﬁreplace opening must conceal the inner edges
of the trim as well as accomodate the insert.

• Plaster. A ﬁnish skim coat
of plaster may be applied
FP1112
•

over tile backer board or WinterWArm
Wonderboard®, or over
wallcoat.
facings
expanded metal lath andMin/Max
a scratch
4/5/01
djt
Stone. Marble, granite, soapstone, slate, or other
cut stone may be used. (Fig. 38) Stone may be ceWinterWarm
Trim Piece
“J”
Bead

Cabinet

Choosing a Facing Material
A variety of alternative facing materials can be used to
enhance the ﬁreplace. Bear in mind, however, that the
total maximum thickness of any trim material, including
backing materials and adhesive is 13/16”. Here are a
few possibilities: (Refer to Figures 34-39 for detail.)

• Basic. The trim pieces, painted as desired, but otherwise unadorned.
26

FP1113

Fig. 36 Top view of basic metal trim.

2000941

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System
it is entirely permissible to extend noncombustible
facing materials beyond those limits to achieve a
particular decorative effect.
5. Despite the most careful planning and the latitude
provided by the maximum and minimum opening
dimensions, it still may be necessary to cut some
tiles to achieve a balanced appearance. Your tile
supplier or local tool rental outlet should be able
to supply the necessary equipment and explain
how to use it properly.

Finish Coat
Backer Board
or Metal Lath

Consult your Vermont Castings dealer for advice and
suggestions for this process.
FP1114

Fig. 37 Top view of plaster ﬂush-ﬁnished trim.

•

mented directly to the trim panels, or over noncombustible backing to shim it out relative to the ﬁnished
wall surface. Be sure the height of the side pieces
is between 29” (740 mm) and 33¹⁄₄" (845 mm), and
that the thickness of backing, adhesive, and stone
combined is not more than 13/16" (20 mm).
FP1114
Tile. There are many tile
options from which to
choose. Here is one method
WWof determining a satisfactory arrangement:
Total thickness less
than 13/16” (20mm)

plaster trim
4/5/01 djt

Observe
Tile
combustible
limits 2” (51mm)
maximum

Backer Board

FP1117

Fig. 39 Top view of tile and wooden (combustible) trim installed over backer board.

Observe
Combustible
Limits

Use the Right Adhesives
The adhesive must be suitable to the chosen material and have a temperature rating of at least 400°F
FP1117
(204°C). High temperature
silicone is an example.

WW to the Mantel
Maintain a Safe Clearance
FP1115

Fig. 38 Top view of stone facing material and wooden (combustible) trim cemented directly to a noncombustible backing.
The trim must protrude no more than 2” (51mm).

tile/wood
trim
The clearance to the mantel
and/or top
trim must be at
least 43” (1090mm), measured
from the
5/23/01
djtﬁnished hearth
surface. This clearance cannot be reduced by adding
shields.

1. Draw the maximum and minimum ﬁreplace opening dimensions on a large sheet of cardboard.
2. Place it on the ﬂoor and experiment with laying
the tiles around the opening, varying within the
limits to determine FP1114
the best arrangement.
3. Trace and cut out aWW
silhouette of the insert. Lay it
over the tiles to show how the insert will cover the
plaster trim
tiles when it is installed.
4/5/01
djt cut an
4. On another large piece
of cardboard,
opening to represent the limits for combustible
material, and position that on top of the tile layout. Keep in mind that while combustible material
must not be brought inside the combustible limits,
2000941

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System
Prepare and Install WinterWarm Cabinet
1. Unpack the carton.
2. Install the ﬂex connector. Install the ﬂex connector
and attached ﬂue ﬂange to the underside of the cabinet
top using eight #10-1/2” hex head sheet metal screws.
The connector should point forward with the long axis of
the oval running from side to side. (Fig. 40)

4. Install the spark protector strip. To install the 3” x
38” (76mm x 965mm) spark protector strip, ﬁrst draw a
line on the hearth parallel and 2” (51mm) in front of the
chase opening. Center the spark protector strip in the
chase opening, with the outside edge on the line. Nail
or screw the strip down, painted side up, so that the
fastener heads are ﬂush with the surface of the spark
protector strip. (Fig. 42)

Anchor Plate

Flexible Chimney
Connector

20° Offset Piece

2" (50mm)

Flue Collar

Chase
FP1120

Spark Protector

Fig. 42 Install spark protector.

FP1118

Fig. 40 Proper position of the chimney connector, offset slip
piece and anchor plate.

FP1118
3. Mark and drill
the anchor plate. Fit the chimney
system anchorChimney
plate appropriate
to your chosen preconnector
fabricated chimney over the ﬂue outlet at the top of the
5/23/01 djt
cabinet and mark the attaching hole centers; remove
the anchor plate and drill the fastener holes. (Fig. 41)
Do not install the plate at this time.

5. Attach the trim pieces to the cabinet. (Fig. 43)
FP1120
The parts supplied for this
procedure include 16 sheet
protector
metal screws and one Spark
each of
the following: an up5/23/01
per trim panel, a left trim panel djt
and a right trim panel.
You will also need an electric drill equipped with a 1/8”
(3mm) bit and a 5/16” (8mm) head driver, and a felt tip
pen for marking.
a. Align the 5 holes in the left trim panel with the corresponding holes in the left edge of the ﬁreplace
opening on the cabinet. The notch in the ﬂange
should align with the notch in the cabinet front, approximately 4” (102mm) from the bottom.
b. With the electric drill and the hex head driver, secure
the trim panel using 5 of the hex head sheet metal
screws provided.

Convection
Air Outlets

c. Repeat this procedure to install the right panel.
d. Position the upper trim panel on top of the side panels and centered on the face of the cabinet.
e. With the felt tip pen, mark through the 3 holes on
each ﬂange of the upper trim panel on the cabinet,
and drill 1/8” (3mm) holes. Secure the panel to the
cabinet with 6 sheet metal screws.

Flue Opening

FP1119

Anchor Plate

Front

Fig. 41 The anchor plate mounts on top of the cabinet and
secures the chimney to the chimney connector.

2000941

FP1119

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System
In addition, combustible edge molding must not protrude into the room more than 2” (51mm) from the panel
surface.

Cabinet

37³⁄₈"
(950mm)
Combustible
Limits

Notch for
Power Cord

Notch
Base

FP1121

Fig. 43 The trim panels fasten the cabinet to the chase framing and give the installation a ﬁnished appearance.
FP1121

6. Move the cabinetfront
into
trim the chase and fasten the
trim panels to the chase framing.
NOTE: The chase ﬂoor must be the same height as the
hearth and must provide uninterrupted support. Push
the cabinet carefully into the chase opening until the
ends of the upper trim panel and the outer edges of the
side panels rest against the studs forming the front of
the chase. IMPORTANT: If the cabinet does not slide
easily into position, DO NOT force it; doing so could
damage the “standoffs” that ensure adequate clearance
from combustibles. Instead, double-check your framed
chase dimensions before proceeding to make sure you
have allowed enough clearance.
WARNING: DO NOT PACK REQUIRED AIR SPACES
WITH INSULATION OR OTHER MATERIALS.
a. Attach the upper trim panel. Refer to the combustible
limits illustration and the required dimensions, and
locate one hole through each end of the upper panel
into the studding behind. Make sure the holes are
located outside the combustible limits where they
will be hidden by wall covering or additional facing
material. Drill the holes, check carefully for square
one last time, and secure the panels with drywall
screws driven home to make ﬂush with surface.
b. Attach the side panels. Drill 2 holes in each side
panel, also outside the combustible limit, and secure
the panels to the studding with additional drywall
screws.
NOTE: Drywall or other combustible wall covering applied to overlap the outer edge of the trim panels MUST
NOT extend inside the combustible limits. These limits
also apply to any combustible edge molding used to
trim the raw edge of the drywall.
2000941

FP1122

40³⁄₈" (1026mm)

Fig. 44 Make sure you secure the ends of the upper trim
panels to studding located outside the combustible limits.
FP1122
c. After the cabinet has been installed to its proper
upper trim panel ends
depth, check all standoffs
once
5/23/01
djtagain for proper

clearance. Screw the cabinet to the ﬂoor through the
eight drilled holes with eight of the #10 Phillips pan
head sheet metal screws provided.
d. Connect the electric service cable to the cabinet’s
junction box if the wiring has not previously been
completed. (NOTE: Since the cabinet’s junction box
is removable, the wiring can be done outside the
cabinet either before the cabinet arrives or after it
has been installed.)
Remove the cover plate from the junction box in the
cabinet. Pull the electric service cable (and the switch
cable if installing the optional Cabinet Convection
Blower Kit) into the cabinet junction box and wire the
junction box as shown in the illustration below.
Figure 45 shows the required wiring for an installation
using the optional cabinet convection blower kit. If your
installation does not use the optional blower, ONLY the
upper receptacle will be live.
Secure and tighten the strain relief.
e. Install the required chimney anchor plate to the top
of the cabinet. Use a 1/8” (4mm) bead of gasket cement
to seal the ﬂange to the cabinet. Install the chimney
according to the manufacturer’s instructions; follow the
instructions exactly.
7. Install the air ducts. Before installing the air duct
boxes, you may wish to paint the inner surfaces with
high temperature stove paint (or other high temperature
paint) to reduce the glare from reﬂected light.
29

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System
To switch for optional cabinet blower
12" (300mm)
Min.

Duct Box

Ducting
Ground

Duct
Box

Duct work
may not be
routed below
cabinet level

Service
Cable

Cabinet

Upper Receptacle for Insert
Firebox Fan

Lower receptacle
for cabinet blower
power cord only

FP1125

FP1123
Junction box
5/23/01 djt

Electrical
bridge
removed

Trim Panel

Fig. 46 In addition to installation on the front, duct boxes may
be mounted on the sides of the chase or vented into adjacent
rooms, but in no case below the top of the cabinet.
Electrical
Bridge

FP1123/24

Fig. 45 Wiring for an installation using the optional cabinet
convection blower kit. When the kit is not used, only the upper
receptacle is live.

Install the two air duct boxes in their framed openings.
(Fig. 46)
If desired, paint the inner surface of each air duct tube
for about 6” (152mm) to eliminate reﬂected glare; attach
this end to the air duct box ﬂange.
Cut and ﬁt the air duct tubing between the air duct
boxes and the top of the cabinet. NOTE: The ducting used to connect the duct outlets on the enclosure
cabinet to the remote duct boxes is Class O/Class I.
Use no other class of ducting for this application. In
certain areas, local building codes may prohibit the use
of ﬂexible ducting in enclosed spaces. In such cases it
is acceptable to use solid cutting that meets local code
requirements.
Cut the tubing a few inches too long with a serrated
kitchen knife - it can be compressed during installation.
The duct tubing must ﬁt onto both the duct box and the
cabinet ﬂanges the full length of the ﬂanges 2” (51mm)all the way around.
Secure each end of the ducting to the appropriate
ﬂange with three of the sheet metal screws provided.
30

Base

Holes for the screws mustFP1125
be drilled ﬁrst around the
perimeter through both theairduct
tubing and the ﬂange
ducts
with a 1/8” (3mm) drill bit. Space the holes as evenly as
possible around the ﬂange.
8. Install the elevated base. Slide the base into the
cabinet until it contacts the rear wall.
9. Install the optional cabinet convection blower kit.
The blower kit is an integrated unit housed in a metal
shell. ON the front side there is a ﬂange perpendicular
to the housing. When properly installed, this ﬂange
rests on the elevated platform and is fastened to it with
screws.
The back side of the blower housing has a ﬂange that
rises parallel to the back side panel. This ﬂange is fastened with screws to the rear panel of the cabinet.
The power cord is routed to the left where it can be connected to the lower receptacle of the cabinet junction
box.
10.Finish the wall surface surrounding the chase.
Cover the room’s wall area surrounding the chase with
a material of your choice, but carefully observe the
noncombustible limits as described in Step 6b - drywall
or other combustible wall covering applied to overlap
the outer edge of the trim panels must not extend inside
the combustible limits. These limits also apply to any
combustible edge molding used to trim the raw edge of
the drywall.
In addition, combustible edge molding must not protrude into the room more than 2” (51mm) from the panel
surface.
2000941

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System
Use drywall screws to fasten the wall covering to the
metal standoff and drywall stops at the cabinet. Drill
pilot holes through the wall covering material and one
thickness of the sheet metal with a #40 (.098”) drill bit.
Tape and ﬁll holes and/or seams and decorate your
chase wall at this time.
11.Install the vent grilles. Position the cast grilles over
the duct box openings, and mark for the four screw
holes in each. Using a 5/32” (4mm) bit, drill through the
drywall and duct box ﬂanges, and install the grilles with
the Phillips ﬂat head black oxide screws.
Once the vent grilles have been installed, you are ready
to complete the installation by installing the ﬁre chamber and the front.

Optional
Blower

Elevated Base
Junction Box

FP1126

Fig. 47 Slide the elevated base platform into the cabinet until
it contacts the back panel.

FP1126
Convection
Flange attaches
Optional
BlowerCabinet
Blower Housing
to cabinet rear
wall

Flange
attaches to
base

Convectiion
Blower Power
Cord
Elevated Base

FP1127

Fig. 48 The cabinet convection blower in place behind the
base.

FP1126
blower housing
5/24/01 djt

2000941

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System

Section V: Completing the WinterWarm Installation
Prepare and Install the
WinterWarm Firechamber
1. Uncrate the WinterWarm Fire Chamber. Uncrate
the WinterWarm Firechamber and place it mounted on
its shipping pallet about 24” (610mm) in front of its ﬁnal
destination — a masonry ﬁreplace if you’re installing the
Fireplace Insert, or the cabinet if you’re installing it as a
part of the Fireplace System. (If the pallet height does
not place the Fire Chamber slightly above the level of
the cabinet’s elevated platform in a Fireplace System
installation, the pallet itself must be raised.)
The WinterWarm ﬁrechamber is shipped with the
reversible ﬂue collar in the rearmost position. The ﬂue
collar MUST be in this position for use in the Fireplace
System.
DO NOT REVERSE THE FLUE COLLAR ON THE
FIRE CHAMBER IF YOU ARE INSTALLING IT INTO
THE CABINET OF THE WINTERWARM FIREPLACE
SYSTEM.
Locate the damper control handle in the parts bag on
top of the ﬁrechamber — it’s the biggest of the three
rods at 3/8” (9mm) — and screw it into place (refer to
Page 3, Fig. 27). Lift up on the handle and move it to
the left to open the damper. Open the fuel loading door.
NOTE: The door will not open unless the damper is
open.
Expose the levelling bolts (and lighten the Fire Chamber for easier handling) by removing the load door, the
front grate bars, the ash grate, the ash pan, and the ash
door. (Fig. 49)

2. Install the Levelling Bolts. Remove the two 5/16”
(8mm) lag bolts that secure the WinterWarm to the pallet. Slide the WinterWarm forward on the pallet until the
front levelling screw holes are accessible; screw in the
missing front levelling screws (located in the ﬁnish bag).
All four levelling screws should be positioned so they do
not protrude below the plane of the shroud bottom.
3. Install an Optional Probe Thermometer. The
WinterWarm is designed to accept a catalytic probe that
monitors the temperature in the secondary combustion
chamber. Your dealer can provide details on the probes
that are available.
If you have purchased a probe, install it at this time.
Remove the twelve hex head sheet metal screws that
secure the WinterWarm shroud to its bottom panel and
the two 1/4-20 hex head cap screws on the ﬂue collar.
Remove the probe plug from the upper center of the
cast WinterWarm back. Select a drill bit corresponding to the size of the probe you have purchased; spin
the drill bit gently by hand through the exposed refractory material. Insert the probe carefully into the hole all
the way to the probe’s end. Route the probe lead right
or left, but on top of the rib cast into the WinterWarm
side, until the lead protrudes out the front. Replace and
refasten the shroud and the ﬂue collar.
4. Install the Air Box of the Outside Air Kit. The
Outside Air Kit may be used with either the WinterWarm
Fireplace Insert or the WinterWarm Fireplace System,
and introduces outside air to the ﬁre chamber for combustion. Outside air for combustion is especially desirable in some modern, super-insulated homes that have
little air inﬁltration.
The kit consists of an air box, a 3” x 24” (76 x 610mm)
air tube for Fireplace System installations, and a ﬂange
for connecting the pipe to the cabinet. The air box
mounts on the left side of the ﬁre chamber, and may be
vented either from the rear or from the side.

Front
Grate Bar
Ash Grate
Ash Pan

Adhere to the following guidelines when installing the
outside air kit:

Ash Door
Door

FP1128

Fig. 49 Expose the levelling bolts by removing these parts.

FP1128
Front view
close up

IMPORTANT: When using the Outside Air Kit in a masonry ﬁreplace installation, modiﬁcations to the ﬁreplace
may be necessary. Be sure to meet with your local
building code inspector before beginning the installation
to determine whether your plans meet code requirements. Contact your local Vermont Castings’ Authorized
Dealer for advice.

• Do not terminate the duct in a garage, attic, basement, or near another fuel-fed appliance.
• No portion of the outside air duct may be higher than
the primary air inlet of the ﬁrechamber.
2000941

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System
• The outside air duct’s inlet must be lower than the
primary air inlet of the ﬁrebox, to prevent air inﬁltration.
• The air inlet must be covered by a wire mesh screen
with openings not larger than 1/4” x 1/4” (6 x 6mm) to
prevent rodents entering from the outside.
a. With the WinterWarm ﬁre chamber on its shipping
pallet in front of either the ﬁreplace or the installed
Fireplace System Cabinet, remove the four (4) screws
holding the outside air cover plate to the left side of the
WinterWarm shroud. You may discard the cover plate,
but save the four screws.
b. (Fireplace System only) Remove from the cabinet
the cover plates over the air supply port you will be using; leave the other port sealed.
There is an inner and an outer plate for each port, each
held in place by four sheet metal screws. The rear port
is located on the lower left section of the cabinet’s rear
panel, while the side port is on the left panel of the cabinet. Cut the insulation out of the uncovered hole with a
sharp utility knife. You may discard the plates, but save
the screws.
c. The outside air duct is shipped with a cover plate
over its access port for side venting. If your installation
will be side venting, remove the cover plate from the
side of the air duct and re-fasten it over the rear-venting
access port. (Fig. 50)

e. Loosely fasten the air duct to the shroud with two
screws (one upper front and one lower rear). Place a
level on the Outside Air Duct and level it before tightening these two screws.
f. Mark on the shroud the locations where you will drill
the four remaining holes to fasten the Outside Air Duct
(two upper and two lower holes). Remove the duct
from the shroud and drill holes in the shroud with a
1/8” (3 mm) drill bit. Install the Outside Air Duct on the
shroud using a total of eight screws. Check the level of
the Duct once more before tightening the screws.
5. Move the Fire Chamber all but a few inches into
its installed position.
FIREPLACE SYSTEM ONLY:
Push the Fire Chamber into the cabinet, leaving about
2”-3” (51 - 76mm) between the upper shroud ﬂange and
the front face of the cabinet. Remove the pallet.
6. Connect the Outside Air Duct to the Air Box.
FIREPLACE SYSTEM ONLY:
After ﬁnal installation of the WinterWarm into the cabinet, slide the outside air duct into the 4” (102mm) diameter access port either in the rear or on the side of the
cabinet (depending on your preferred location for the
outside air delivery system), orienting the duct parallel
to the ﬂoor. (Fig. 51) Continue to insert the duct until its
crimped end plugs into the corresponding port in either
the rear or the side of the air box. Attach the air duct
ﬂange to either the rear or the side of the cabinet with
the four remaining screws.
Complete the outside air adapter installation by securing the ﬂange to the pipe. Drill 1/8” (3mm) holes in the
pipe through at least two of the four ﬂange holes and
secure with sheet metal screws.
Flue Collar

Air Box

Shroud

Flange

Air Box
Air Tube

3” (75mm) Air
Tube

Side-vent Cover Plate
KT227

Fig. 50 The outside air duct box may be vented to the rear,
as shown here, or from the side.
KT227

d. Position the Outside Air Duct against the left side of
Outside Air Duct
the shroud so that its control
roddjt
extends to the front.
5/21/01
The rod must be passed throught the latticework panel
when you install the front. (Refer to Page 32, Step 7)

2000941

KT228

Flange

Fig. 51 The ﬁnal connection of the outside air duct to the air
box is made once the ﬁre chamber is in its ﬁnal position.

KT228
top view
outside air adapter
5/22/01 djt
33

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System
Prepare and Install the WinterWarm Front
Do not remove the WinterWarm Front from its shipping container until the directions indicate to do so. The
installation of the front is much easier if you partially
assemble some of the components before removing it
from the container.
Refer to the Figure 52 for the location in the shipping
container of the various parts. Also clear a “grab-space”
nearby where you can keep handy the tools you’ll be
using (Phillips-head screwdriver, 11/32” (9mm) wrench,
7/16” (11mm) wrench, 9/16” (14mm) wrench and utility
knife) as well as the various parts you’ll be removing.
Top Grille
Spandrel

Air Dividers (Do
not overlook
them!)

3. Loosen the Bolts in the Spandrel and the Top
Grille. The solid top cross-piece of the front (the “spandrel”) is attached to the column sides with four bolts,
two per side. Also, the top grille of the front is secured
to the spandrel with two bolts. These fasteners should
be loosened (not removed) while installing the front so
that it will be easier to align the sides. These bolts must
be re-tightened once the sides are in their permanent
position.
4. Remove the Packing Straps and Discard Them.
These ﬂat steel bars are secured by one bolt on each
side to the base of the column. Once you have removed the bolts, lift the top of the WinterWarm front
and drag it slightly forward until it rests on the edge of
the shipping carton. This will create enough room in the
carton to slide the packing straps off the bottom of the
front column. The packing straps will not be used again
and may be discarded.
5. Unpack the Remaining Parts.
Slice open the bubble pack with your utility knife and
remove the electric cord, the hardware package, and
the two mantel end caps.

Mantel End
Cap

Open the boxes containing the mantel and latticework
panels and remove the contents. Set all of these items
aside.
6. Empty the Contents of the Hardware Package
onto your Grab Space.
Steelband
Packing
Strap

WinterWarm Front

7. Attach the Front to the Fire Chamber.

Electric Cable
Hardware Pack
Mantel End Cap
FP1130

FP1130
Fig. 52 The WinterWarm front
and&its
related parts are shown
WW front
parts
here after three separate boxes
6/01 containing the mantel and

latticework panels have been removed. For easiest assembly
and installation, follow the sequence of the directions exactly.

With assistance, lift the front into position against the
Fire Chamber, starting with the left side. Move it behind
the protruding load door hinge halves. Swing the right
side into position.
It may be necessary to adjust one of the levelling
screws to align the clevis of the front to the ﬁre chamber.

1. Open the Shipping Container. Remove the straps
securing the shipping container and then remove
its top. Among the parts you’ll see in the box is the
WinterWarm front (lying face down) a bubble-pack of
parts, and boxes containing the mantel and latticework
panels. To orient yourself for the following directions,
stand so that the bubble pack is nearest your feet and
the solid top cross-piece of the front (the “spandrel”) is
farthest away.
2. Unpack the Mantel, Latticework Panels, and Air
Dividers. Remove the large box on top containing the
mantel, and the two boxes beneath it containing the
latticework panels, and set them aside. Also remove
the two air dividers that are packed in the edge of the
carton next to the top of the front.

5
4

Control
Rod
Correct
slot is
5th from
bottom

3
2
1

Latticework Panel

KT226

Fig. 53 To ﬁnd the correct space in the latticework panel for
the outside air control rod, locate the second vertical row of
“diamonds” from the left and
count ﬁve spaces up from the
KT226
rod thru lattice
bottom.
5/21/01 djt

2000941

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System
If you have installed the optional outside air kit, pass
the control rod through the latticework at this time. (Fig.
53)
Seat the front against the Fire Chamber assembly, and
attach with the six 1/4-20 X 3/4” (19mm) hex head cap
screws and washers that are provided. There are two
for each side and two for the top.
Make sure the front seats properly before tightening
the cap screws; the edge of the front should be almost
even with the side and top plates, protruding no more
than 1/16” (2mm).
Tighten the left and right sides before tightening the top
screws. Tighten the cap screws that attach the upper
grille. NOTE: If the front has been installed too far forward, the door gasket may not make the required seal
and the ﬁre may be difﬁcult to control.
Step 8. Attach the Rheostat Rod Linkages
Untape the rheostat linkage rod from the left side of the
ﬁrechamber. Remove the nut from the threaded end.
Insert the rod end into the drilled hole in the rheostat lever. The rheostat box is located on the inside of the left
front column. Thread the rod nut back on and tighten.
NOTE: The rheostat lever must be tilted towards the
outside of the left column in order to attach the nut.
After connecting the linkage, the lever must be tilted
towards the inside of the column before installing the
left column air divider. It remains in this inside position
during operation. (Fig. 54)

Rheostat Rod
Linkage
Rheostat Lever

9. Connect the Wiring.
The two-pronged cable for column fans and the fourpronged wireway cable connect to the metal wire boxes
on each side of the front with snap connector plugs, two
on each side. The power cord must be plugged in as
well.
First expose the receptacle for the power cord by removing the metal plate on the wire box. It is secured by
two Phillips pan head machine screws. Also remove the
nylon cord set clamp from the top of the spacer on the
left wire box, and lay it aside for completing this step.
NOTE: The power cord always connects to the wire
box on the left side in Fireplace System installations.
For Fireplace Insert installations, it may connect to the
wire box on either the right side or the left.
Next, plug the power cord into the wire box receptacle.
Secure the cord by slipping the nylon cord set-clamp
over the cord and fastening it to the top of the spacer
with a 1/2” (13mm) Phillips pan head machine screw.
For Fireplace Insert installations that have the power
cord connected to the right side, mount the nylon cord
clamp and spacer on the right wire box rather than the
left.
Connect the two-pronged column fans plug and the
four-pronged wireway plug to the wire boxes on both
the right and left sides. (Fig. 55)
2-Prong
Fan Plug

4-Prong Wireway Plug

FP1132

Fig. 55 The snap connectors only ﬁt their respective sockets.

Rheostat Rod
Nut
Rheostat Box Shaft
Power Cord
4-Prong “Wireway” Plug
2-Prong Column Fan Plug
Spacer
FP1131

Nylon Clamp

Fig. 54 The rheostat lever must be tilted ﬁrst toward the outside of theFP1131
left column to attach the nut, and then tilted toward
the inside of the column before installing the left column air
divider. Rheostat wiring

2000941

7/01

Plug the power cord into its electric service receptacle,
FP1132
either a wall outlet in Fireplace Insert installations, or
Snap
into the cabinet junction
boxconnectors
in Fireplace System installations. FIREPLACE7/01
SYSTEM NOTE: Remember,
connect the power cord to the UPPER receptacle in the
cabinet junction box. The lower receptacle will not be
live unless you are using the optional Cabinet Convection Blower Kit.
If you are unsure of how to make any of these connections contact your local Vermont Castings’ Authorized
Dealer.

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System
10. Install and Adjust the Controls.

• Tighten the two hex nuts against the levers. The pri-

The rods that operate the WinterWarm’s primary air,
fan, and damper should be installed before mounting
the column capitals and mantel. Two of the rods are
1/4” (6mm) and are controls for the fan and the primary
air. The third rod is 3/8” (9mm) and controls the damper.
Install the rods by following this procedure: (Fig. 56)
Blind-Tapped Hole
Control Lever
Brass
Knob

1/2” (13mm)
Through-Tapped Hole

L-Bracket

FP1133

Fig. 56 Adjsut the controls so the primary air control rod, on
the top, overhangs the fan control rod by 1/2” (13mm)

FP1133
• Check for proper position ofcontrols
the hex nuts on the
threaded rods. The larger hex
nut ondjt
the 3/8” (9mm)
7/2/01

diameter rod should be positioned all the way to the
end of the thread on the longer of the two threaded
ends. The two smaller hex nuts on the 1/4” (6mm)
rods should be positioned as follows: One should
be positioned as far up the thread as possible; the
other should stop approximately 1/2” (13mm) from
the end.
• Install the fan control rod by inserting the 1/4” (6
mm) diameter rod with the nut all the way at the end
of the thread into the bottom control lever on the
WinterWarm’s left side. Install the rod all the way up
to the nut.
• Tighten the hex nut against the lever.
• Thread the two remaining control rods into the remaining two control levers. The lever above the fan
control accepts the remaining 1/4” (6mm) rod; this is
the primary air control. The lever on the right side of
the WinterWarm accepts the 3/8” (9mm) rod; this is
the damper control.
When installing the damper rod, look from above at the
damper linkage. Note that the linkage should be ﬂexed
towards the rear. Make sure the linkage is in this orientation. The damper will not operated properly with the
linkage ﬂexed to the front.

mary air and fan controls will be offset 1/2” (13mm)
to allow for smooth adjustment.
11. Install the Air Divider.
Install the two vertical
sheet metal air dividers
which guide the incoming
and outgoing convection
air. (Fig. 57) They are not
interchangeable: the curved
ﬂange goes downward and
faces the ﬁrebox. The two
punchouts go toward the
front.

Air
Divider

Angle the front edge into
position in the notch at the
top of the column, while
guiding the curved ﬂange at
the bottom so that it slides in
FP1134
on top of the curved horizonFig. 57 Seat the entire
tal ﬂange that is cast into the
length of the air divider
ﬁrebox side.
in the notch between the
bosses shown here as a
The top edge of the air
dotted line.

FP1134
air divider
7/01

Cast WinterWarm Flange

3. Push in
Here

Air Divider
Flange

1. Seat Here

2. Adjust
Bottom
Here

Boss

Notch
FP1135

Fig. 58 1. Seat entire length of air divider in notch. 2. Adjust
the seated air divider so its bottom ﬂange is just above cast
ﬂange of WinterWarm. 3. Push the opposite side of the air
divider so it snaps into place.

divider must be ﬂush with theFP1135
top of the boss in the cast
air area
divider
column, as shown in the circled
in Figure 58.

topairview
Push the rear edge in until the
divider is perpendicular to the column.
7/01

• Thread each rod into the lever until it reaches the nut.

2000941

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System
12. Move the Entire Unit the ﬁnal few inches into
the Cabinet.
Move the WinterWarm the ﬁnal few inches into the
cabinet, making sure the surround panels are properly
aligned. If you are using the CFM Corporation Flex
Connector System, reach up into the ﬂue collar area
to grasp the Starter Piece and pull it down into the ﬂue
collar. Bend the retaining tabs 90° against the bottom of
the ﬂue collar.
13. Install the Latticework Panels.

15. (Fireplace Systems only) Install the Plinth.
The plinth assembly consists of a pre-assembled plinth
center and front, two plinth end caps, two plinth connectors, and six hex head screws (1/4-20 x 1/2” (13mm).
Invert the plinth center and front assembly on a ﬂat
surface. Unpack the two end caps and invert them also,
placing one at each end. Make sure the decorative
fronts of the end caps are in line with the front of the
plinth. (Fig. 60)
Place the stem end of the plinth connector on the plinth

The two panels are not interchangeable. Each is labeled with a designating letter cast into the iron next to
the tab — “L” for left and “R” for right. The corner cutouts must be positioned on the back edge. The panels
are anchored at the bottom by a single tab that is
bolted on. (Fig. 59) At the top, the panels are retained
by the overhang of the mantel.

Latticework
Panel

Preassembled
Plinth Center/
Front

Preassembled
Plinth Center/
Rear
Plinth Connector

Hex
Head
Screws
Plinth End
Cap

Corner Cut-out
FP1137

Bolted-on Tab

FP1136

Fig. 59 A single tab at the bottom anchors the latticework
panel, while the top of the panel is held in place by the mantel
overhang.

Lower the panel and seatFP1136
it on the base so the anchor
tab locks behind the rib cast
in the anchors
base plate. Secure
Bottom
it in place temporarily by holding it or with tape until the
7/01
mantel is installed.
14. Install the Mantel.

Place the mantel ﬂat side down on the ﬂoor. Lift the
mantel slightly and slip the drilled and tapped ends
of the column capitals under each end of the mantel.
Align the two tapped holes in each capital with the two
holes in each end of the mantel, and thread in two 3/4”
(19mm) hex head cap screws and two washers. Do not
tighten these cap screws with a wrench; leave them
ﬁnger tight. Use care during this assembly process,
especially with enamelled parts. Forcing the mantel or
capitals into position may cause chipping or cracking.

FP1576
Fig. 60 Before attaching the end caps, make sure their
plinth
decorative fronts line up with the front of the plinth.
4/05

with the connector hole centered over the tapped hole
in the plinth. The other two holes in the plinth connector should line up with the two tapped holes in the end
caps. (If they do not line up, remove the plinth connector and ﬂip it over.)
Repeat this process for the other side. Attach the plinth
connectors with the six (6) hex head cap screws provided.
Set the assembled plinth in the upright position, in front
of and centered on the WinterWarm. Adjust the levelling
bolts on the bottom front of the ﬁre chamber so that the
plinth will ﬁt, slide the plinth into its ﬁnal position, and
center it. Adjust the levelling bolts downward to lower
the WinterWarm onto the plinth.
Step 16. Replace the Ashpan and Ash Door, Front
Grate Bars, Bottom Grate and Load Door.

Install the mantel and capital assembly by raising it
into position and tilting it to the rear against the upper
shroud ﬂange, with the ﬂange on the shroud in front
of the back rib on the mantel. Push against the ﬂange
slightly before lowering the front edge of the assembly
onto the upper trim piece.
2000941

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System

118

117

121 Assembled
(120 + 117 + 124)

141
59

37
58

129

119

52
52

35
119

120
47

124

38
126
38
53

83
53

119

134
135

57a
54

56
57

135

133
49

34 71 72

106

105

68
6

41
33

54
36

7 34
40

140

127

69
67

125

90
105

114

115

103

109

101
99

88
13

123

131
13

7
54

110

94
89

22
27

17 18

140

11
25

128

111
113
112
5

19a

107

97
102

108

104

0941

CFM Corporation reserves the right to make changes in design, materials, speciﬁcations, prices and discontinue colors and products at any time,
without notice.

WinterWarm Large Insert
Model 2100
38

0941
WinterWarm
Large parts
8/14/02 djt

2000941

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System

WinterWarm Large Insert
Model 2100 (continued)

Item Description
Part Number
1. Bottom Only
1301150
2. 5/16 Fiberglass Medium Density (sold by the foot)
1203588
3. 3/8-16 x 2” Hex Head Leveller Bolt
1201742
4. 1/4-20 x 5/8” Phillips Flat Head Screw
1200865
5. Left Fan Heat Shield
1301151
6. Right Fan Heat Shield
1301152
7. 1/4-20 x 1/2” Hex Head Cap Screw
1201338
8. 1/4-20 x 1/2” Phillips Round Head Screw 1200894
9. Ash Grate
1301256
10. Bar Grate
1301275
11. Left Side Firebox
1301280
12. Half Hinge, Body Upper
1604281
13. 1/4-20 x 1/2” Hex Head Leveller Bolt
1201347
14. Right Side Firebox
1301264
15. Damper Door Interlock
1301299
16. Interlock Door/Damper Wire
1601568
17. 1/4-20 x 1³⁄₄” Phillips Flat Head
Screw Black
1200830
Primary Air Box Assembly
(Includes Item #’s 7,8, and 18 thru 34)
5000343
18. Primary Air Box
1301281
19. Thermostat Assembly
5005470
19a. Friction Spring
1201846
20. Jump Ring
1201985
21. Thermostat Disc
1301269
22. 1/4-20 x 5/8” Phillips Round Head Screw 1200896
23. Washer, Flat 1/4 #304 SS
.294 id x .63 od x .047 Thick
1202471
24. Ball Chain Fitting
1201972
25. #6 Nickel Ball Chain, 21 Balls,
Attach Chain @ 19 Balls (sold by the foot) 1201960
26. Thermostat Valve
1301268
27. Thermostat Flap
1301265
28. 7/16 x 5/8” Cotter Pin
1203027
29. Thermostat Flat Wire
1604503
30. Thermostat Acutator
1301258
31. 1/4-20 x 1/4” Socket Set Screw
1200417
32. Bell Crank
1301263
33. Crank Pin
1600524
34. Damper Tab
1601488
35. Thermostat Control Arm
1301284
36. 1/4-20 Plain Hex Nut
1203210
37. 3/8-16 Threaded Should Bolt,
1/2 x 1¹⁄₄” Body
1201319
38. Washer, Flat 1/2 SAE
1202491
39. Lower Thermostat Wire Link
1604501
40. #8-32 Hex Top Lock Nut
1203275
41. Upper Thermostat Wire Link
1604502
42. 5/16” Hole Plug
1201899
43. Firebox Back
1301251

2000941

Item Description
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.
57a.
58.
59.
60.
61.
62.
63.

64.
65.
66.
67.
68.
69.
70.
71.
72.
73.
74.
75.
76.
78.
79.
80.
81.
82.
83.
84.
85.
86.

Part Number

Secondary Thermostat
10-24 x 1/4” Phillips Pan Head Screw
Secondary Air Flap
Shim Ring, 18 Ga Nickel
Secondary Air Link
Secondary Air Coverplate
1/4-20 x 3/8” Phillips Pan Head Screw
Firebox top
Control Shim
Control Spacer
Washer, Standard Flat 1/4 - Z
.313 od x .742 od x .06 Thick
1/4-20 x 1” Hex Head Cap Screw
Gasket, 1/2” Low Density Black
(sold by the foot)
Tie Rod Set (includes 4 of 1601640
Tie Rods & 4 of 1203210 Plain Hex Nuts)
1/4-20 Top Lock Hex Nut
Flue Collar
1/4-20 x 3/4” Hex Head Cap Screw
Refractory Assembly
(Includes #1602511 Access Panel)
Catalyst (Old PN 1602505 in a carton)
Lower Fireback
Upper Fireback
Upper Fireback & Damper Assy
(Includes Items #7, 34, 36, 63, 65,
69 to 72, 79 to 82)
1/4-20 x 1” Hex Head Cap Screw - Black
1/4-20 x 1¹⁄₂” Hex Head Cap Screw
1/4-20 Nut Plate
Left Throat
Right Throat
Throat Clamp
1/4-20 Square Nut
Damper
Gasket, 3/6” Low Density 6ND
(sold by the foot)
Damper Operating Rod
Washer, Thick Flat
.52 id x .875 od x .085 Thick
Damper Swing Arm
3/16 x 1” Stainless Steel Damper Rod Pin
Washer, Flat 3/8 - Z
.442 id x 1 od x .074 Thick
Damper Swing Arm Retainer
Washer, Narrow Flat 1/4
.275 id x .5 od x .063 Thick
1/4-20 x 3/4” Socket Head Cap Screw
1/4-20 x 1¹⁄₄” Socket Set Screw
Damper Actuator Link Stop
Damper Actuator Link
Damper Rod Retainer
Door Air Manifold
Door Assembly (Includes Item #’s 13, 56,
87 to 92, 94 to 99, 101, 102, 103, 105)

1601489
1200980
1601490
1201986
1601486
1604505
1200993
1301253
1604338
1201781
1202474
1201326
1203564
5007499
1203213
1301276
1201374
1602510
30001152
1301252
1301260
5000044
1201376
1201386
1203105
1301296
1301297
1301298
1203329
1301259
1203589
1604522
1202492
1301282
1201839
1202488
1301270
1202475
1200461
1200446
1604507
1301283
1301271
1301274
5006079

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System

WinterWarm Large Insert
Model 2100 (continued)
87.
88.
89.
90.
91.
92.
94.
95.
96.
97.
98.
99.
101.
102.
103.
104.
105.
106.
107.
108.
109.
110.
111.
112.
113.

Item Description
Door
Half Hinge, Door (No pin) Upper
Glass Cassette (Approx. 22” x 13”)
Gasket, 3/16 Fiberglass 4ND Black
Glass Retainer, Lower
Glass Retainer, Upper (2 required)
10-24 x 3/8” Phillips Pan Head Screw
Brass Trim, Top
Brass Trim, Left
Brass Trim, Upper Right
Brass Trim, Lower Right
8-32 x 1/2” Phillips Flat Head Screw
8-32 x 1¹⁄₄” Phillips Flat Had Screw
(Upper Brass Trim -Center Screw)
Handle Stub Assembly w/Shaft, Gold
Pawl Assembly Short Adjustment
1/4-20 x 3/16” Socket Set Screw
3/8-16 Top Lock Hex Jam Nut
Striker Plate
Ash Pan Assembly
(Includes Item #’s 108, 109)
Ash Pan Only
Ash Pan Cover with Handle
Ash Pan Bracket
Ash Pan Swing Pin, 3/8” od
3/8-16 Hex Jam Nut
Washer, Narrow Flat 3/8

Part Number
1301257
1604280
5002617
1203556
1601403
1601409
1200985
1402504
1402505
1402507
1402508
1202041
1202045
5004273
30002362
1200415
1203290
1301273
5005746
1601025
1601027
1601039
1600523
1203157
1202560

114.
115.
116.
117.
118.
119.
120.
121.
123.
124.
125.
126.
127.
128.
129.
131.
133.
134.
135.
140.

141.

Item Description
Part Number
Ash Pan Door Clamp
1301272
Decorative Ash Door
1301277
1/4-20 x 5/8” Hex Head Cap Screw
1201372
Shroud Top
1402445
Shroud Flue Connector Plate
1403363
#10 x 1/2 Phillips Pan Head
Sheet Metal Screw - Black
1202058
Shroud Sides and Back Assembly
1402450
Shroud Assembly
(Includes Item #’s 117, 120, 124, 119)
5000043
Shroud Bottom
1402448
Outside Air Cover
1402453
Wireway Assembly
5002779
Rheostat Contol
1301255
Lower Rheostat Wire Link
1604511
Upper Rheostat Wire Link
1604512
Spark Screen (Inserted in Door
after removing glass cassette)
1206343
Listing Label, UL, ULC, EPA, Safety
N/A
Wire Handle 1/4” Diameter
(Fans & Thermostat)
1604504
Wire Handle 3/8” Diameter (Damper)
1604514
Gold Ball for Wire Handles
1602470
Fan Assembly
5002771
Fan Mounting Bracket
1601244
Silicone Suspension Tubes
for Mounting Fans
1601245
Washer, Flat #10 SAE
1202423
8-32 Hex Nut
1203273
8-32 x 2” Round Head Slotted Screw - Z 1201243
Handle Package Fallaway
0004349

Shell Enamel Parts - WinterWarm Large Insert
Model 2100
Part Name
Classic
Sand
Midnight
Mantel
1301278
1321278
1341278
Left Cap
1301289
1321289
1341289
Right Cap
1301290
1321290
1341290
Outer Trim
1301303
1321303
1341303
Spandrell II
30001401 30001403 30001405
Column II
30001402 30001404 30001406

2000941

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System

8TG AP

8 SP

8T-AP

9201

Starter

9216

8HS-6

8H-SCS36

JSC 8 SA3

8TG 36

8 L3

8T-36

9206

8HS-12

8H-SCS24

JSC 8 SA2

8TG 24

8 L2

8T-18

9219

8HS-18

8H-SCS18

JSC 8 SA1

8TG 18

8 L18

8T- 9

9214

8HS-24

8H-SCS12

8TG 12

8 L1

8T- 6

9221/9221SS

8HS-36

8H-SCS6

8TG 6

8 L8

8T- 3

9217/9217SS

8HS-015

8H-SEL15

8TG A15

8 E15

8T-EL15

9264

8HS-030

8H-SEL30

8TG A30

8 E30

8T-EL30

9266

8HS-AIS

8H-AJS

JSC 8 AIS

8TG IS

8 RSA

8T-AIS

9244

8HS-FSA

8H-RJS

JSC 8 FRS

8TG RSH

8T-JS

9946

8H-FJS

JSC 8 FAIS 8TG FSA

8T-WS

9980A

8T-TCS

9980B

Chimney sections

Elbows

Firestops/shields

JSC 8 SE

8H-WS

Simpson Dura-vent
Dura-Plus

JSC 8 AP

Selkirk Metalbestos
Model SSII

8H-SP

Security Chimneys,
Ltd.
Model ASHT

8HS-AP

Metal Fab, Inc.
Model TG

GSW Building Product Co.
Model SC

Anchor/base plate

American Metal Products
Ameri-Tec Model HS

Condensation Engineering
Corp.
Vitroliner HS-2100

Appendix:Approved Chimney Components

9980C

Storm collar

8SC

8H-CSC

JSC 8 ASC

8HS-RES

8H-CRCA

JSC 8 DRC 8TG C
JSC 8 RC

Caps
Wall band

8TG SC
8TG RC

8 FC

8T-SC

9959

8 CPR

8T-CT

9284

8 CC
8 CPE

8HS-SBA

8H-CGR

JSC 8 WB

8TG WB

8BM

8T-WB

9268/9268SS

8H-CFF

JSC 8 ATC

8TG F

8T-TF

9251

8FT

8H-CFLC

JSC 8 AAF

8TG 15

8FPA

8T-AF6

9249

8H-CFM

JSC 8 AF2

8TG F24

8FPB

8T-AF12

9250

8H-CFH

JSC 8 AF3

8TG FT

8FA

8T-AF24

9281

8FB

8T-AF36

9252

8ST

8T-RSP

9262*

8T-FSP

Flashings

8H-CFS

8FBB

Supports

8HS-CSA

8H-SSL9

JSC 8 DCS 8TG RS

8HS-RSA

8H-SRL9

8TG SB

9260*
*Can only
accept
chimney
above it, not
below.

2000941

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System

Appendix: Catalytic Combustor
In any chemical reaction, including the combustion
process, there are certain conditions which must be
met before the reaction can take place. For example, a
reaction may require a certain temperature, or a certain
concentration of the reactants (the combustion gases
and oxygen), or a certain amount of time. Catalysts,
though not changed themselves during the reaction,
have the ability to act at a molecular level to change
these requirements. In the secondary combustion
chamber of the WinterWarm, the catalyst reduces the
temperature at which secondary combustion can start
from the 1000 - 1200°F (540 - 650°C) range to the 500
- 600°F (260 - 315°C) range, increasing efﬁciency, and
reducing creosote and emissions.
The catalytic reaction, though advantageous, does
have some limitations of its own. Primary among these
is that the reactants (the gases) come into close physical contact with the catalyst itself.
To ensure the necessary contact, the catalytic element
in your WinterWarm is composed of a ceramic base
in the shape of a honeycomb. On each of the honeycomb’s many surfaces a coating of the catalyst (usually
a noble metal such as platinum or palladium) is applied.
The large surface area exposed in this conﬁguration
ensures the combustion gases have the greatest opportunity to come in contact with the catalyst.
Loss of catalytic activity will be apparent in several
ways. First you may notice an increase in fuel consumption. Second, there will be a visible increase
in the rate at which creosote builds up in your chimney connector system. You may also notice a heavy
discharge of smoke from the chimney. There are a
number of catalytic problems which can cause loss of
activity:

Blockage
While the honeycomb pattern ensures good contact, it
also increases the resistance to ﬂow of the combustion
gases, and, because of the many surfaces, provides
more places for creosote and ﬂy ash to deposit. It is
important to follow the operating instructions in order
to minimize these deposits, and to periodically inspect
your catalyst for signs of blockage.

Masking and Poisoning
While the catalyst itself does not enter into the combustion process, it is possible for certain elements, such
as lead and sulfur, to attach to the active sites on the
surface of the honeycomb. Though the catalyst is still
there, it is covered, or masked, by the contaminant,
and cannot function. To avoid this situation, it is important not to burn anything in your WinterWarm that
is a source of these contaminants. Particularly avoid
painted or treated wood, coal, household trash, colored papers, metal foils, or plastics. Chemical chimney
cleaners may also contain harmful elements. The safest
approach is to burn only untreated, natural wood.

Flame Impingement
The catalytic element is not designed for exposure to
direct ﬂame. If you continually overﬁre your WinterWarm, the chemistry of the catalyst coating may be
altered, inhibiting the combustion process.
Thermal degradation of the ceramic base may also occur, causing the element to disintegrate. Stay within the
recommended guidelines of the Operation section.

Mechanical Damage
If the element is mishandled, damage may occur.
Always treat the element carefully. Remember the catalyst is made of a ceramic material; treat it as you would
ﬁne china. Hairline cracks will not affect the performance of the catalyst, as long as the steel sleeve holds
the element in the proper position.

Peeling
Peeling of the surface coat may occur if the catalytic
element is frequently subjected to excessive temperatures. Follow the operating instructions carefully to
avoid this type of damage.
Every Vermont Castings’ product is equipped with either
a Corning “Long-Life”® or a Technical Glass Products
“Honeycomb”®. The products are equivalent. If for any
reason you must ship your catalytic element, remember its fragile nature. Place the element in a plastic
bag, and package it with a generous amount of shock
absorbing material.

2000941

WinterWarm Fireplace Insert or System

Warranty
Limited 3 Year Warranty
CFM Corporation warrants that this woodburning stove will
be free of defects in material and workmanship for a period
of three years from the date you receive it, except that the
catalyst, thermostat assembly, handles, glass door panels,
cement, and gasketing shall be warranted as described
below.
CFM Corporation will repair or replace, at its option, any part
found to be defective upon inspection by a CFM Corporation
Authorized Dealer. The customer must return the defective
part or the stove, with shipping prepaid, to the Authorized Dealer or pay for any Authorized Dealer in-home travel fees or service charges for in-home repair work. It is the dealer’s option
whether the repair work will be done in the customer’s home or
in the dealer’s shop. If, upon inspection, the damage is found to
be the fault of the manufacturer, repairs will be authorized at no
charge to the customer for parts and/or labor.

4.
5.

Any woodburning stove or part thereof that is repaired or
replaced during the limited warranty period will be warranted
under the terms of the limited warranty for a period not to
exceed the remaining term of the original limited warranty or six
(6) months, whichever is longer.

Limited 1 Year Warranty
The following parts of the woodburning stove are warranted to
be free of defects in material and workmanship for a period of
one year from the date you receive it: The thermostat assembly, handles, glass door panels, cement, and gasketing. Any of
these items found to be defective will be repaired or replaced at
no charge, upon the return of the part with postage prepaid to a
CFM Corporation Authorized Dealer.
Any part repaired or replaced during the limited warranty period
will be warranted under the terms of the limited warranty for a
period not to exceed the remaining term of the original limited
warranty or six (6) months, whichever is longer.

Exclusions & Limitations
1. This warranty is transferable; however, proof of original retail
purchase is required.
2. This warranty does not cover misuse of the this stove. Misuse includes overﬁring which will result if the stove is used
in such a manner as to cause one or more of the plates to
glow red. Overﬁring can be identiﬁed later by warped plates
and areas where the paint pigment has burned off. Overﬁring in enamel ﬁreplaces is identiﬁed by bubbling, cracking,
chipping and discoloration of the porcelain enamel ﬁnish.
CFM Corporation offers no warranty on chipping of enamel
surfaces. Inspect your woodburning stove prior to accepting
it for any damage to the enamel.
3. This warranty does not cover misuse of the stove as described in the Owner’s Guide, nor does it cover any stove
which has been modiﬁed unless authorized by a CFM Cor-

2000941

poration representative in writing. This warranty does not
cover damage to the stove caused by burning salt saturated
wood, chemically treated wood, or any fuel not recommended in the Owner’s Guide.
This warranty does not cover a stove repaired by someone
other than a CFM Corporation Authorized Dealer.
Damage to the unit while in transit is not covered by this
warranty but is subject to a claim against the common
carrier. Contact CFM Corporation Authorized Dealer from
whom you purchased your stove or CFM Corporation if the
purchase was direct. (Do not operate the stove as this may
negate the ability to process the claim with the carrier.)
Claims are not valid where the installation does not conform
to local building and ﬁre codes or, in their absence, to the
recommendations in our Owner’s Guide.
The salt air environment of coastal areas, or a high-humidity environment, can be corrosive to the porcelain enamel
ﬁnish. These conditions can cause rusting of the cast iron
beneath the porcelain enamel ﬁnish, which will cause the
porcelain enamel ﬁnish to ﬂake off. This warranty does not
cover damage caused by a salt air or high-humidity environment.
CFM Corporation shall have no obligation to enhance or
update any unit once manufactured.

IN NO EVENT SHALL CFM CORPORATION BE LIABLE FOR
INCIDENTAL AND CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS, ARE LIMITED
TO THE DURATION OF THIS WRITTEN WARRANTY. THIS
WARRANTY SUPERCEDES ALL OTHER ORAL OR WRITTEN
WARRANTIES.
Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitations of incidential and consequential damages or limitations on how long an
implied warranty lasts, so the above limitations may not apply to
you. This warranty gives you speciﬁc rights and you may have
other rights which vary from state to state.

How to Obtain Service
If a defect is noted within the warranty period, the customer
should contact a CFM Corporation Authorized Dealer or CFM
Corporation if the purchase was direct with the following information:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Name, address, and telephone number of the purchaser.
Date of purchase.
Serial number from the label on the back.
Nature of the defect or damage.
Any relevant information or circumstances, e.g., installation, mode of operation when defect was noted.

A warranty claim will then start in process. CFM Corporation
reserves the right to withhold ﬁnal approval of a warranty claim
pending a visual inspection of the defect by authorized repre-

CFM Corporation
410 Admiral Blvd. • Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5T 2N6
800-668-5323 • www.cfmcorp.com

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