Vanguard Flame-Max VYS18PWA Specification sheet

UNVENTED (VENT-FREE)
PROPANE/LP GAS LOG HEATER
®
Save this manual for future reference.
WARNING: If the information in this manual
is not followed exactly, a fire or explosion
may result causing property damage, per-
sonal injury, or loss of life.
— Do not store or use gasoline or other
flammable vapors and liquids in the
vicinity of this or any other appliance.
— WHAT TO DO IF YOU SMELL GAS
• Do not try to light any appliance.
• Do not touch any electrical switch; do
not use any phone in your building.
• Immediatelycallyourgassupplierfrom
a neighbor’s phone. Follow the gas
supplier’s instructions.
• If you cannot reach your gas supplier,
call the fire department.
— Installation and service must be per-
formed by a qualified installer, service
agency, or the gas supplier.
WARNING:Improperinstallation,adjust-
ment,alteration,service,ormaintenance
can cause injury or property damage.
Refer to this manual for correct installa-
tionandoperationalprocedures.Foras-
sistance or additional information con-
sultaqualified installer,serviceagency,
or the gas supplier.
WARNING:Thisapplianceisforinstalla-
tiononlyinasolid-fuelburningmasonry
or UL127 factory-built fireplace, or in an
approved ventless firebox. It is design
certified for these installations in accor-
dancewithANSIZ21.11.2.Exception:Do
not install this appliance in a factory-
built fireplace that includes instructions
stating it has not been tested or should
not be used with unvented gas logs.
WARNING: This is an unvented gas-fired heater. It uses air (oxygen) from the room in
which it is installed. Provisions for adequate combustion and ventilation air must be
provided. Refer to Air for Combustion and Ventilation section on page 4 of this manual.
P
I
L
O
T
O
F
F
O
N
LO
OFF
ON
AUTO
HI
FLAME-MAX®
Models VYS18PWA,
VYS24PWA, and
VYS30PWA (Millivolt)
Remote Ready
VARIABLE MANUALLY-CONTROLLED MODELS ALSO
DESIGN-CERTIFIED AS VENTED DECORATIVE APPLIANCES
OWNER’S OPERATION AND INSTALLATION MANUAL
Patent Pending
* Aftermarket: Completion of sale, not for purpose of resale, from the manufacturer
This appliance may be installed in an aftermarket*, permanently located, manufactured
(mobile) home, where not prohibited by local codes.
This appliance is only for use with the type of gas indicated on the rating plate. This
appliance is not convertible for use with other gases.

2
105190
UNVENTED PROPANE/LP GAS LOG HEATER
VANGUARD
DANGER: Carbon monoxide
poisoning may lead to death!
CarbonMonoxidePoisoning:Earlysignsof
carbonmonoxidepoisoningresembletheflu,
with headaches, dizziness, or nausea. If you
havethese signs, theheatermay notbework-
ing properly. Get fresh air at once! Have
heater serviced. Some people are more af-
fectedbycarbonmonoxidethanothers.These
includepregnantwomen,peoplewithheartor
lungdisease or anemia,those underthe influ-
ence of alcohol, and those at high altitudes.
Propane/LP Gas: Propane/LP gas is odor-
less.Anodor-makingagentisaddedtothegas.
The odor helps you detect a gas leak. How-
ever, the odor added to the gas can fade. Gas
may be present even though no odor exists.
Makecertainyoureadandunderstandallwarn-
ings. Keep this manual for reference. It is your
guidetosafeandproperoperationofthisheater.
WARNING ICON G 001
WARNINGS
IMPORTANT: Read this owner’s
manual carefully and completely
before trying to assemble, oper-
ate, or service this heater. Im-
properuseofthisheatercancause
seriousinjuryordeathfromburns,
fire, explosion, electrical shock,
and carbon monoxide poisoning.
WARNING: Any change to
this heater or its controls can be
dangerous.
WARNING: Do not allow fans
toblowdirectlyintothefireplace.
Avoidanydraftsthatalterburner
flame patterns. Ceiling fans can
create drafts that alter burner
flame patterns. Altered burner
patterns can cause sooting.
WARNING: Do not use a
blower insert, heat exchanger
insert,orotheraccessorynotap-
proved for use with this heater.
SAFETY
INFORMATION
Due to high temperatures, the
appliance should be located out
oftrafficand awayfrom furniture
and draperies.
Do not place clothing or other
flammable material on or near
the appliance. Never place any
objects on the heater.
Heater base assembly becomes
very hot when running heater.
Keep children and adults away
from hot surface to avoid burns
or clothing ignition. Heater will
remain hot for a time after shut-
down. Allow surface to cool be-
fore touching.
Carefully supervise young chil-
dren when they are in the room
withheater.Whenusingthehand-
held remote accessory, keep se-
lector switch in the OFF position
to prevent children from turning
on burners with remote.
Youmustoperatethisheaterwith
a fireplace screen in place. Make
sure fireplace screen is closed
before running heater.
Keeptheapplianceareaclearand
free from combustible materials,
gasoline, and other flammable
vapors and liquids.
1. This appliance is only for use with the
typeof gasindicated onthe rating plate.
Thisappliance isnot convertiblefor use
with other gases.
2. Do not placepropane/LPsupply tank(s)
insideany structure. Locatepropane/LP
supply tank(s) outdoors.
3. To prevent performance problems, the
use of a propane/LP tank of less than
100 lbs. capacity is not recommended.
4. If you smell gas
• shut off gas supply
• do not try to light any appliance
• do not touch any electrical switch; do
not use any phone in your building
• immediately call your gas supplier
from a neighbor’s phone. Follow the
gas supplier’s instructions
• ifyou cannotreach yourgas supplier,
call the fire department
5. This heater shall not be installed in a
bedroom or bathroom unless installed
as a vented appliance (see Installing
Damper Clamp Accessory for Vented
Operation, page 10).
6. Before installing in a solid fuel burn-
ingfireplace, thechimneyflue andfire-
box must be cleaned of soot, creosote,
ashes and loose paint by a qualified
chimney cleaner. Creosote will ignite
if highly heated. Inspect chimney flue
for damage. If damaged, operate heater
with flue damper closed.
7. If fireplace has glass doors, never op-
eratethis heater withglass doorsclosed.
Ifyou operateheater with doorsclosed,
heat buildup inside fireplace will cause
glass to burst. Also if fireplace open-
ing has vents at the bottom, you must
open the vents before operating heater.
8. This log heater is designed to be smoke-
less.If logsever appeartosmoke, turnoff
heater and call a qualified service person.
Note: During initial operation, slight
smokingcouldoccurduetologcuringand
heater burning manufacturing residues.
9. To prevent the creation of soot, follow
the instructions in Cleaning and Main-
tenance, page 21.
10. Before usingfurniturepolish, wax,car-
pet cleaner, or similar products, turn
heater off. If heated, the vapors from
theseproducts maycreate a whitepow-
der residue within burner box or on
adjacent walls or furniture.
11. Thisheaterneeds fresh,outside airven-
tilation to run properly. This heater has
an Oxygen Depletion Sensing (ODS)
safety shutoff system. The ODS shuts
down the heater if not enough fresh air
is available. See Air for Combustion
and Ventilation, pages 4 through 6. If
heater keeps shutting off, see Trouble-
shooting, pages 17 through 19.
12. Do not run heater
• where flammable liquids or vapors
are used or stored
• under dusty conditions

3
105190
OWNER’S MANUAL
13. Do not use this heater to cook food or
burn paper or other objects.
14. Do not use heater if any part has been
exposedto orunder water.Immediately
call a qualified service technician to in-
spectthe room heaterandto replace any
part of the control system and any gas
control which has been under water.
15. Do not operate heater if any log is bro-
ken. Do not operate heater if a log is
chipped (dime-sized or larger).
16. Turn heater off and let cool before ser-
vicing,installing, or repairing. Make sure
the selector switch is in the OFF posi-
tion. Only a qualified service person
should install, service, or repair heater.
17. Make sure the selector switch is in the
OFF position when you are away from
home for long periods of time.
18. Operating heater above elevations of
4,500 feet could cause pilot outage.
19. Provide adequate clearances around air
openings.
SAFETY
INFORMATION
Continued
LOCAL CODES
Install and use heater with care. Follow all
localcodes.Intheabsenceoflocalcodes,use
the latest edition of The National Fuel Gas
Code ANSI Z223.1/NFPA 54*.
*Available from:
American National Standards Institute, Inc.
1430 Broadway
New York, NY 10018
National Fire Protection Association, Inc.
Batterymarch Park
Quincy, MA 02269
Note: Where listed vented decorative logs
are required, thermostat operation is not
permitted.
PRODUCT
FEATURES
OPERATION
This heater is clean burning. It requires no
outside venting. There is no heat loss out a
vent or up a chimney. Heat is generated by
realistic,dancingyellowflames.Thisheater
isdesignedforvent-freeoperationwithflue
damper closed. It has been tested and ap-
proved to ANSI Z21.11.2 standard for
unvented heaters. State and local codes in
some areas prohibit the use of vent-free
heaters.Thisheatermay also beoperated as
aventeddecorative (ANSI Z21.60)product
byopeningthefluedamper(non-thermostat
operation only).
SAFETY PILOT
ThisheaterhasapilotwithanOxygenDeple-
tion Sensing (ODS) safety shutoff system.
TheODS/pilotisarequiredfeatureforvent-
free room heaters. The ODS/pilot shuts off
the heater if there is not enough fresh air.
PIEZO IGNITION SYSTEM
This heater has a piezo ignitor. This system
requires no matches, batteries, or other
sources to light heater.
UNPACKING
CAUTION: Do not remove the
metal data plates from the grate
assembly.Thedataplatescontain
important product information.
1. Remove logs and heater base assem-
bly from carton. Note: Do not pick up
heater base assembly by the burner.
This could damage heater. Always
handle base assembly by grate.
2. Remove all protective packaging ap-
plied to logs and heater for shipment.
3. Check all items for any shipping dam-
age. If damaged, promptly inform
dealer where you bought heater.
REMOTE CONTROL
ACCESSORIES
Thereare four optionalremote controlsthat
can be purchased separately for this log
heater:
• wall switch
• wall thermostat
• hand-held ON/OFF remote
• hand-held thermostat remote
See Accessories, page 24.
The wall thermostat or hand-held thermo-
stat may not be used where vented decora-
tive listing is required.
AUTO
OFF
ON
O
F
F
P
I
L
O
T
O
N
H
I
L
O
H
I
L
O
AUTO
ON
OFF
COOLER
WARMER
TEMP
PRODUCT
IDENTIFICATION
Figure 1 - Product Identification
Flame-Max®
Vintage Oak Logs
Control Knob
Piezo
Ignitor
One Piece
Log Set
Base Assembly
Optional
Remote
Control
Flame Adjustment Knob
Optional
Selector
Switch

4
105190
UNVENTED PROPANE/LP GAS LOG HEATER
VANGUARD
PROVIDING ADEQUATE
VENTILATION
The following are excerpts from National
Fuel Gas Code ANSI Z223.1/NFPA 54, Sec-
tion5.3,AirforCombustionandVentilation.
Allspacesinhomesfallintooneofthethree
following ventilation classifications:
1. Unusually Tight Construction
2. Unconfined Space
3. Confined Space
The information on pages 4 through 6 will
help you classify your space and provide
adequate ventilation.
Unusually Tight Construction
The air that leaks around doors and win-
dows may provide enough fresh air for
combustion and ventilation. However, in
buildings of unusually tight construction,
you must provide additional fresh air.
Unusually tight construction is de-
fined as construction where:
a. walls and ceilings exposed to the
outside atmosphere have a con-
tinuous water vapor retarder with
a rating of one perm (6x10-11 kg
per pa-sec-m2) or less with open-
ings gasketed or sealed and
b. weather stripping has been
added on openable windows and
doors and
c. caulking or sealants are applied
to areas such as joints around
window and door frames, be-
tween sole plates and floors,be-
tween wall-ceiling joints, be-
tween wall panels, at penetra-
tionsfor plumbing,electrical,and
gas lines, and at other openings.
If your home meets all of the three
criteria above, you must provide ad-
ditional fresh air. See Ventilation Air
From Outdoors, page 6.
If your home does not meet all of the
three criteria above, proceed to De-
termining Fresh-Air Flow For Heater
Location , page 5.
Confined and Unconfined Space
TheNational Fuel GasCode, ANSIZ223.1/
NFPA 54 defines a confined space as a
space whose volume is less than 50 cubic
feet per 1,000 Btu per hour (4.8 m3per kw)
of the aggregate input rating of all appli-
ances installed in that space and an uncon-
fined space as a space whose volume is not
less than 50 cubic feet per 1,000 Btu per
hour (4.8 m3per kw) of the aggregate input
rating of all appliances installed in that
space.Roomscommunicating directly with
the space in which the appliances are in-
stalled*, through openings not furnished
with doors, are considered a part of the
unconfined space.
*Adjoiningroomsarecommunicatingonly
iftherearedoorlesspassagewaysorventila-
tion grills between them.
AIR FOR
COMBUSTION AND
VENTILATION
Today’s homes are built more energy effi-
cient than ever. New materials, increased
insulation, and new construction methods
helpreduceheatlossinhomes.Homeowners
weatherstripandcaulkaround windows and
doorstokeepthecoldairoutandthewarmair
in. During heating months, home owners
want their homes as airtight as possible.
While it is good to make your home energy
efficient,yourhomeneedstobreathe.Fresh
air must enter your home. All fuel-burning
appliances need fresh air for proper com-
bustion and ventilation.
Exhaustfans,fireplaces,clothesdryers,and
fuel burning appliances draw air from the
house to operate. You must provide ad-
equate fresh air for these appliances. This
will insure proper venting of vented fuel-
burning appliances.
WARNING: This heater shall
notbeinstalledinaconfinedspace
or unusually tight construction
unless provisions are provided
foradequatecombustionandven-
tilation air. Read the following in-
structions to insure proper fresh
air for this and other fuel-burning
appliances in your home.

5
105190
OWNER’S MANUAL
DETERMINING FRESH-AIR FLOW FOR HEATER LOCATION
Determining if You Have a Confined or Unconfined Space
Use this work sheet to determine if you have a confined or unconfined space.
Space: Includestheroominwhichyouwillinstallheaterplusanyadjoiningroomswithdoorlesspassagewaysorventilationgrillsbetween
the rooms.
1. Determine the volume of the space (length x width x height).
Length x Width x Height = _____________ cu. ft. (volume of space)
Example: Space size 20 ft. (length) x 16 ft. (width) x 8 ft. (ceiling height) = 2560 cu. ft. (volume of space)
If additional ventilation to adjoining room is supplied with grills or openings, add the volume of these rooms to the total volume of
the space.
2. Multiply the space volume by 20 to determine the maximum Btu/Hr the space can support.
_______________ (volume of space) x 20 = (maximum Btu/Hr the space can support)
Example: 2560 cu. ft. (volume of space) x 20 = 51,200 (maximum Btu/Hr the space can support)
3. Add the Btu/Hr of all fuel burning appliances in the space.
Vent-free heater _____________ Btu/Hr
Gas water heater* _____________ Btu/Hr
Gas furnace _____________ Btu/Hr
Vented gas heater _____________ Btu/Hr
Gas fireplace logs _____________ Btu/Hr
Other gas appliances* + _____________ Btu/Hr
Total = _____________ Btu/Hr
* Do not include direct-vent gas appliances. Direct-vent draws combustion air from the outdoors and vents to the outdoors.
4. Compare the maximum Btu/Hr the space can support with the actual amount of Btu/Hr used.
_________________ Btu/Hr (maximum the space can support)
_________________ Btu/Hr (actual amount of Btu/Hr used)
Example: 51,200 Btu/Hr (maximum the space can support)
71,500 Btu/Hr (actual amount of Btu/Hr used)
ThespaceintheaboveexampleisaconfinedspacebecausetheactualBtu/HrusedismorethanthemaximumBtu/Hrthespacecansupport.
You must provide additional fresh air. Your options are as follows:
A. Rework worksheet, adding the space of an adjoining room. If the extra space provides an unconfined space, remove door to adjoin-
ing room or add ventilation grills between rooms. See Ventilation Air From Inside Building, page 6.
B. Vent room directly to the outdoors. See Ventilation Air From Outdoors, page 6.
C. Install a lower Btu/Hr heater, if lower Btu/Hr size makes room unconfined.
If the actual Btu/Hr used is less than the maximum Btu/Hr the space can support, the space is an unconfined space. You will need no
additional fresh air ventilation.
AIR FOR
COMBUSTION AND
VENTILATION
Continued
Continued
WARNING:Iftheareainwhichtheheatermaybeoperatedissmallerthanthatdefinedasanunconfinedspace
or if the building is of unusually tight construction, provide adequate combustion and ventilation air by one of
themethodsdescribedinthe NationalFuelGasCode,ANSIZ223.1/NFPA54,Section5.3 orapplicablelocalcodes.
Example:
Gas water heater 40,000 Btu/Hr
Vent-free heater + 31,500 Btu/Hr
Total = 71,500 Btu/Hr

6
105190
UNVENTED PROPANE/LP GAS LOG HEATER
VANGUARD
AIR FOR
COMBUSTION AND
VENTILATION
Continued
VENTILATION AIR
Ventilation Air From Inside
Building
Thisfreshairwouldcomefromanadjoining
unconfined space. When ventilating to an
adjoining unconfined space, you must pro-
vide two permanent openings: one within
12" of the ceiling and one within 12" of the
floor on the wall connecting the two spaces
(seeoptions1and2,Figure2).Youcanalso
remove door into adjoining room (see op-
tion 3, Figure 2). Follow the National Fuel
Gas Code ANSI Z223.1/NFPA 54, Section
5.3, Air for Combustion and Ventilation for
required size of ventilation grills or ducts.
Ventilation Air From Outdoors
Provide extra fresh air by using ventilation
grills or ducts. You must provide two per-
manent openings: one within 12" of the
ceiling and one within 12" of the floor.
Connecttheseitemsdirectlytotheoutdoors
orspacesopentotheoutdoors.Thesespaces
include attics and crawl spaces. Follow the
NationalFuelGasCodeANSIZ223.1/NFPA
54, Section 5.3, Air for Combustion and
Ventilation for required size of ventilation
grills or ducts.
IMPORTANT: Donot provideopenings for
inlet or outlet air into attic if attic has a
thermostat-controlledpowervent.Heatedair
enteringtheatticwillactivatethepowervent.
Figure 3 - Ventilation Air from Outdoors
Figure 2 - Ventilation Air from Inside Building
Outlet
Air Ventilated
Attic
Outlet
Air
Inlet
Air
Inlet Air Ventilated
Crawl Space
To
Crawl
Space
To Attic
Or
Remove
Door into
Adjoining
Room,
Option
3
Ventilation Grills
Into Adjoining Room,
Option 2
Ventilation
Grills
Into Adjoining
Room,
Option 1
12"
12"

7
105190
OWNER’S MANUAL
INSTALLATION AND
CLEARANCES (Vent-Free
Operation Only)
WARNING:Maintainthemini-
mum clearances. If you can, pro-
vide greater clearances from
floor, ceiling, and adjoining wall.
WARNING: Never install the
heater
•in a bedroom or bathroom un-
less installed as a vented ap-
pliance, see page 10
•in a recreational vehicle
•where curtains, furniture,
clothing, or other flammable
objectsarelessthan42inches
from the front, top, or sides of
the heater
•in high traffic areas
•in windy or drafty areas
INSTALLATION
WARNING: A qualified ser-
vice person must install heater.
Follow all local codes.
WARNING: Before installing
in a solid fuel burning fireplace,
thechimneyflueandfireboxmust
be cleaned of soot, creosote,
ashes and loose paint by a quali-
fied chimney cleaner. Creosote
willigniteifhighlyheated. Adirty
chimneyflue maycreateand dis-
tribute soot within the house. In-
spectchimneyfluefordamage.If
damaged,operateheaterwithflue
damper closed.
WARNING: Seal any fresh air
vents or ash clean-out doors lo-
catedonfloororwalloffireplace.
If not, drafting may cause pilot
outage or sooting. Use a heat-
resistant sealant. Do not seal
chimney flue damper.
CAUTION: This heater cre-
ates warm air currents. These
currents move heat to wall sur-
faces next to heater. Installing
heater next to vinyl or cloth wall
coverings or operating heater
where impurities (such as, but
not limited to, tobacco smoke,
aromatic candles, cleaning flu-
ids,oilorkerosenelamps,etc.)in
the air exist, may discolor walls
or cause odors.
IMPORTANT: Vent-freeheatersaddmois-
ture to the air. Although this is beneficial,
installing heater in rooms without enough
ventilation air may cause mildew to form
from too much moisture. See Air for Com-
bustion and Ventilation, pages 4 through 6.
CHECK GAS TYPE
Useonlypropane/LPgas.Ifyourgassupply
isnotpropane/LP,donotinstallheater.Call
dealer where you bought heater for proper
type heater.
NOTICE:Stateorlocalcodesmay
onlyallowoperationofthisappli-
ance in a vented configuration.
Check your state or local codes.
NOTICE: This heater is intended
foruseassupplementalheat.Use
this heater along with your pri-
mary heating system. Do not in-
stall this heater as your primary
heatsource. Ifyouhaveacentral
heating system, you may run
system’scirculatingblowerwhile
usingheater.Thiswillhelpcircu-
late the heat throughout the
house. In the event of a power
outage, you can use this heater
as your primary heat source.
LOG SIZING REQUIREMENTS
Log Minimum Firebox
Size Height Depth Front Rear *
Width Width
18" 17" 14" 24" 20"
24" 17" 14" 28" 21"
30" 17" 14" 34" 24"
MINIMUM FIREPLACE
CLEARANCE TO
COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS
Log Size Side Wall Ceiling
18", 24", 16" 42"
and 30"
* Measured at 14" depth.
Carefullyfollowtheinstructionsbelow.This
will ensure safe installation into a masonry,
UL127-listed manufactured fireplace, or
listed vent-free firebox.
Minimum Clearances For Side
Combustible Material, Side Wall,
and Ceiling
A. Clearances from theside ofthe fireplace
cabinetto anycombustible materialand
wall should follow diagram in Figure 4.
Example: Thefaceofamantel,bookshelf,
etc. is made of combustible material and
protrudes 3 1/2" from the wall. This com-
bustiblematerial mustbe 4"fromthe side
of the fireplace cabinet (see Figure 4).
Note: When installingyour gas logsinto
a manufactured firebox, follow firebox
manufacturer’sinstructionsforminimum
clearances to combustible materials.
B. Clearancesfrom thetop of thefireplace
openingto theceiling shouldnot beless
than 42 inches.
Continued
Figure 4 - Minimum Clearance for Com-
bustible to Wall
*Minimum 16 inches from Side Wall
*
Example

8
105190
UNVENTED PROPANE/LP GAS LOG HEATER
VANGUARD
INSTALLATION
Continued
Minimum Noncombustible
Material Clearances
If Not Using Mantel
Note: If using a mantel, proceed to If Using
Mantel. If not using a mantel, follow the
information below.
You must have noncombustible material(s)
above the fireplace opening. Noncombus-
tible materials (such as slate, marble, tile,
etc.) must be at least 1/2 inch thick. With
sheetmetal,youmusthavenoncombustible
material behind it. Noncombustible mate-
rial must extend at least 8" up (for all mod-
els). If noncombustible material is less than
12", you must install the fireplace hood
accessory (24" and 30" models only). See
Figure 5 at right for minimum clearances.
IMPORTANT: If you cannot meet these
minimum clearances, you must operate
heater with chimney flue damper open. Go
to Installing Damper Clamp Accessory for
Vented Operation, page 10.
Figure 5 - Heat Resistant Material (Slate, Marble, Tile, etc.) Above Fireplace
Heat Resistant
Material (A)
Noncombustible Requirements for
Material Distance (A) Safe Installation
12" or more Noncombustible material OK.
Between 8" and 12" 24"or30"Models:Installfireplace hood accessory
(GA6050, GA6052, or GA6053 see Accessories ,
page 24).
18" Model: Noncombustible material OK.
Less than 8" Noncombustible material must be extended to at
least 8". See Between 8" and 12" , above. If you
cannot extend material, you must operate heater
with flue damper open.
If Using Mantel
You must have noncombustible material(s)
above the fireplace opening. Noncombus-
tible materials (such as slate, marble, tile,
etc.) must be at least 1/2 inch thick. With
sheetmetal,youmusthavenoncombustible
material behind it. Noncombustible mate-
rial must extend at least 8 inches up (for all
models). If noncombustible material is less
than12",youmustinstallthefireplacehood
accessory (24" and 30” models only). Even
if noncombustible material is more than
12", you may need the hood accessory to
deflect heat away from your mantel shelf.
SeeFigure5andFigures6and7,page9, for
minimum clearances.
IMPORTANT: If you cannot meet these
minimum clearances, you must operate
heater with chimney flue damper open. Go
to Installing Damper Clamp Accessory for
Vented Operation, page 10.
NOTICE: Manual control heaters
maybeusedasaventedproduct.
Ifso, youmustalwaysrunheater
with chimney flue damper open.
If running heater with damper
open, noncombustible material
above fireplace opening is not
needed. Go to Installing Damper
Clamp Accessory for Vented
Operation , page 10

9
105190
OWNER’S MANUAL
INSTALLATION
Continued
MANTEL CLEARANCES
Inadditiontomeetingnoncombustiblemate-
rial clearances, you must also meet required
clearances between fireplace opening and
mantel shelf. If you do not meet the clear-
ances listed below, you will need a hood.
Determining Minimum Mantel
Clearance
If you meet minimum clearance between
mantel shelf and top of fireplace opening, a
hood is not required (see Figure 6).
Determining Minimum Mantel
Clearance When using a Hood
If minimum clearances in Figure 6 are not
met, you must have a hood. When using a
hoodtherearestillcertainminimummantel
clearancesrequired.Followminimumclear-
ances shown in Figure 7 when using hood.
NOTICE:Surfacetemperaturesof
adjacent walls and mantels be-
comehotduringoperation.Walls
and mantels above the firebox
may become hot to the touch. If
installedproperly,thesetempera-
turesmeettherequirementofthe
national product standard. Fol-
low all minimum clearances
shown in this manual.
NOTICE:If yourinstallation does
notmeettheminimumclearances
shown, you must do one of the
following:
•operate the logs only with the
flue damper open
•raise the mantel to an accept-
able height
•remove the mantel
FLOOR CLEARANCES
A. If installing applianceonthe floorlevel,
you must maintain the minimum dis-
tance of 14" to combustibles (see Fig-
ure 8).
B. If combustible materials are less than
14" to the fireplace, you must install
applianceat least5" above thecombus-
tible flooring (see Figure 9).
Figure 6 - Minimum Mantel Clearances Without Using Hood
Minimum Non-
Combustible
Material
Minimum Non-
Combustible
Material Height
Distances to
Underside of
Mantel
Top of Fireplace
Opening
Underside of
Mantel Shelf
Mantel Shelf
12"
8"
(A)
18"
8"
20"
14"
22"
17"
24"
20"
All minimum
distances are
in inches
Log Set
24"/30"/36" Models
18" Model
2
1/2
"
6"
8"
10"
Log Set
24”and 30”Models
Figure 7 - Minimum Mantel Clearances When Using Hood
Minimum Non-
Combustible
Material 8"
Min. 12" 15" 18"
All minimum
distances are
in inches
20"
2
1/2
"
6"
8"
10"
12"
Distances to
Underside of
Mantel
Hood
(GA6050, GA6052)
Top of Fireplace
Opening
Underside of
Mantel Shelf
Mantel Shelf
Figure8 -MinimumFireplaceClearances
If Installed at Floor Level Figure9 -MinimumFireplaceClearances Above Combustible Flooring
14"
Min.
Combustible
Material
Noncombustible Material
Hearth
5"
Min.
Combustible
Material
Hearth Combustible
Material
5”
Min.
Continued
Hood
(GA6050, GA6052,
or GA6053)

10
105190
UNVENTED PROPANE/LP GAS LOG HEATER
VANGUARD
INSTALLATION
Continued
INSTALLING HEATER BASE
ASSEMBLY
WARNING: If installing in a
sunken fireplace, special care is
needed. You must raise the fire-
place floor to allow access to
heater control panel. This will in-
sure adequate air flow and guard
against sooting. Raise fireplace
floor with noncombustible mate-
rial.Makesure materialissecure.
CAUTION: Do not pick up
heater base assembly by the
burner. This could damage
heater.Onlyhandle base assem-
bly by grates.
WARNING: You must secure
this heater to fireplace floor. If
not, heater will move when you
adjust controls. Moving heater
may cause a gas leak.
IMPORTANT: Makesuretheheaterburner
is level. If heater is not level, heater will not
work properly.
CAUTION:Donotremove the
dataplatesattachedtotheheater
base assembly. The data plates
contain important warranty and
safety information.
INSTALLING DAMPER
CLAMP ACCESSORY FOR
VENTED OPERATION
Note: When used as a vented heater, appli-
ance must be installed only in a solid-fuel
burning fireplace with a working flue and
constructed of noncombustible material.
Ifyourheaterisamanually-controlledmodel,
youmay use thisheater asa vented product.
There are three reasons for operating your
heater in the vented mode.
1. The fireplace does not meet the clear-
ance to combustibles requirements for
vent-free operation.
2. State or local codes do not permit vent-
free operation.
3. You prefer vented operation.
Ifreasonsnumber1or2aboveapplytoyou,
you must permanently open chimney flue
damper.Youmustinstall the damperclamp
accessory (to order, see Accessories, page
24). This will insure vented operation (see
Figure 10). The damper clamp will keep
damper open. Installation instructions are
included with clamp accessory.
See chart below for minimum permanent
flue opening you must provide. Attach
damper clamp so the minimum permanent
flueopeningwillbe maintained atalltimes.
Chimney Minimum Permanent
Height (ft.) Flue Opening (sq. ins.)
6' to 15' 39 sq. inches
15' to 30' 29 sq. inches
Area of Various Standard
Round Flues
Diameter (ins.) Area (sq. ins.)
5" 20 sq. inches
6" 29 sq. inches
7" 39 sq. inches
8" 51 sq. inches
Damper
Damper Clamp
Damper
Clamp
Damper
Damper
Manufactured Fireplace
Masonry Fireplace
Figure 10 - Attaching Damper Clamp
Installation Items Needed
• hardwarepackage (providedwith heater)
• approvedflexible gas hose(notprovided)
(if allowed by local codes)
• sealant (resistant to propane/LP gas, not
provided)
• electric drill with 3/16" drill bit (metal
or masonry as applicable)
• flathead screwdriver
1. Apply pipe joint sealant lightly to male
threads of the fitting to be threaded into
gas control. Connect approved flexible
gas hose to gas control fitting in heater
(see Figure 11, page 11).
IMPORTANT: Hold gas fitting with
wrenchwhenconnectingflexiblegashose.
2. Locate two masonry screws in hard-
ware package.
3. Place heater base in fireplace.
4. Place logs in their proper position on
heaterbase(seeInstallingLogs,page13).
5. Center heater base and logs front-to-
back and side-to-side in fireplace.
6. Carefully remove logs without moving
heater base.
7. Mark screw locations through one hole
on each side of the mounting bracket
(see Figure 12, page 11). If installing
ina brick-bottomfireplace, mark screw
locations in mortar joint of bricks.
8. Remove heater base from fireplace. If
installing optional control accessories,
do so at this time. Follow all directions
provided with accessory.

11
105190
OWNER’S MANUAL
9. Drill holes at marked locations using
3/16" drill bit.
10. Attach base assembly to fireplace floor
usingtwo masonryscrews (inhardware
package).
AUTO
OFF
ON
O
F
F
P
I
L
O
T
O
N
H
I
L
O
H
I
L
O
INSTALLATION
Continued
Figure 11 - Attaching Flexible Gas Hose
to Heater
Figure 12 - Attaching Base Assembly to
Fireplace Floor
Fitting
Flexible Gas
Hose (if allowed
by local codes)
Masonry Screw
Mounting
Flanges
Continued
INSTALLING GWMS2
(OPTIONAL) WALL
MOUNTED SWITCH
Items Included for Installation
• Switch
• Switch Cover (With Screws)
• 25 Ft. Wire
Connecting To Log Set
1. Connect one terminal of 25 ft. wire to
bottom contact of switch located on
heaterfront control panel(seeFigure13).
2. Connect remaining wire terminal to the
“TH”terminal onthe control valve(see
Figure 13).
3. Route the 25 ft. wire to a convenient
location.
WARNING: Do not connect
the switch to a power source.
Electrical shock and/or fire haz-
ard will occur.
IMPORTANT: The wire may be shortened
but must not be lengthened.
4. Connect one bare wire end to each of
the terminals of the provided wall
switch.
5. Install the wall switch and cover in the
wall.
CONNECTING TO GAS
SUPPLY
WARNING:Aqualifiedservice
person must connect heater to
gassupply.Followalllocalcodes.
CAUTION: Never connect
heaterdirectly tothe propane/LP
supply. This heater requires an
externalregulator(notsupplied).
Install the external regulator be-
tweentheheaterandpropane/LP
supply.
Installation Items Needed
Beforeinstallingheater,makesureyouhave
the items listed below.
• external regulator (supplied by installer,
see above)
• piping (check local codes)
• sealant (resistant to propane/LP gas)
• equipment shutoff valve *
• test gauge connection *
• sediment trap
• tee joint
• pipe wrench
* ACSAdesign-certifiedequipmentshutoff
valve with 1/8" NPT tap is an acceptable
alternative to test gauge connection. Pur-
chase the optional CSA design-certified
equipment shutoff valve from your dealer.
See Accessories, page 24.
The installer must supply an external regu-
lator. The external regulator will reduce
incoming gas pressure. You must reduce
incominggaspressuretobetween11and14
inchesofwater.Ifyoudonotreduceincom-
ing gas pressure, heater regulator damage
could occur. Install external regulator with
the vent pointing down as shown in Figure
14,page12.Pointingtheventdownprotects
it from freezing rain or sleet.
WARNING:Thisappliancere-
quires a 1/2" NPT (National Pipe
Thread) inlet connection to the
pressure regulator.
Figure 13 - Connecting Wire Terminals
AUTO
OFF
ON
One
terminal
of 25 ft.
wire
Switch
To Wall
Switch To Wall
Switch
Wall Switch

12
105190
UNVENTED PROPANE/LP GAS LOG HEATER
VANGUARD
INSTALLATION
Continued
Figure 15 - Gas Connection
*PurchasetheoptionalCSAdesign-certifiedequipmentshutoffvalvefromyourdealer.See
Accessories, page 24.
** Minimum inlet pressure for purpose of input adjustment.
3" Minimum Sediment
Trap
Gas Control
From External
Regulator (11"
W.C.** to 14"
W.C. Pressure)
CSA Design-Certified Equipment
Shutoff Valve With 1/8" NPT Tap*
Approved Flexible Gas Hose
(if allowed by local codes)
Tee Joint
Pipe Nipple
Cap
WARNING: Never connect
heater to private (non-utility) gas
wells. This gas is commonly
known as wellhead gas.
Installation must include an equipment
shutoffvalve,union, and plugged1/8" NPT
tap. Locate NPT tap within reach for test
gauge hook up. NPT tap must be upstream
from heater (see Figure 15).
IMPORTANT: Installanequipmentshutoff
valve in an accessible location. The equip-
ment shutoff valve is for turning on or
shutting off the gas to the appliance.
Check your building codes for any special
requirementsforlocatingequipmentshutoff
valve to fireplace.
ApplypipejointsealantlightlytomaleNPT
threads. This will prevent excess sealant
fromgoing intopipe. Excesssealant inpipe
could result in clogged heater valves.
CAUTION: Use only new,
black iron or steel pipe. Inter-
nally-tinned copper tubing may
be used in certain areas. Check
yourlocalcodes.Usepipeof1/2"
diameter or greater to allow
proper gas volume to heater. If
pipe is too small, undue loss of
volume will occur.
We recommend that you install a sediment
trap in supply line as shown in Figure 15.
Locate sediment trap where it is within
reach for cleaning. Install in piping system
betweenfuelsupplyandheater.Locatesedi-
menttrap wheretrapped matter isnot likely
to freeze. A sediment trap traps moisture
and contaminants. This keeps them from
going into heater controls. If sediment trap
is not installed or is installed wrong, heater
may not run properly.
WARNING:Usepipejointseal-
ant that is resistant to liquid pe-
troleum (LP) gas.
CAUTION: Avoid damage to
control. Hold fitting with wrench
when connecting it to gas piping
and/or fittings.
Figure 14 - External Regulator With Vent
Pointing Down
Propane/LP
Supply
Tank
External Regulator
Vent Pointing Down
WARNING:Neveruseanopen
flame to check for a leak. Apply a
noncorrosiveleakdetectionfluid
to all joints. Bubbles forming
show a leak. Correct all leaks at
once.
WARNING: Test all gas pip-
ing and connections for leaks
after installing or servicing. Cor-
rect all leaks at once.
CAUTION: Make sure exter-
nal regulator has been installed
between propane/LP supply and
heater.Seeguidelinesunder Con-
necting to Gas Supply , pages 11
and 12.
CHECKING GAS
CONNECTIONS
Pressure Testing Gas Supply
Piping System
Test Pressures In Excess Of 1/2 PSIG
(3.5 kPa)
1. Disconnect appliance with its appliance
maingas valve(controlvalve)andequip-
ment shutoff valve from gas supply pip-
ingsystem.Pressuresinexcessof1/2psig
will damage heater regulator.
2. Cap off open end of gas pipe where
equipmentshutoffvalvewas connected.
3. Pressurize supply piping system by ei-
ther using compressed air or opening
propane/LP supply tank valve.
4. Check all joints of gas supply piping
system.Apply a noncorrosive leak de-
tection fluid to gas joints. Bubbles
forming show a leak.
5. Correct all leaks at once.
6. Reconnect heater and equipment
shutoff valve to gas supply. Check re-
connected fittings for leaks.

13
105190
OWNER’S MANUAL
ON
POSITION
OFF
POSITION
INSTALLATION
Continued
Figure 16 - Equipment Shutoff Valve
Open
Closed
Equipment
Shutoff
Valve
Figure 17 - Checking Gas Joints
Test Pressures Equal To or Less Than
1/2 PSIG (3.5 kPa)
1. Close equipment shutoff valve (see
Figure 16).
2. Pressurize supply piping system by ei-
ther using compressed air or opening
propane/LP supply tank valve.
3. Check all joints from propane/LP sup-
plytank to equipmentshutoffvalve (see
Figure 17). Apply a noncorrosive leak
detection fluid to gas joints. Bubbles
forming show a leak.
4. Correct all leaks at once.
Pressure Testing Heater Gas
Connections
1. Open equipment shutoff valve(see Fig-
ure 16).
2. Open propane/LP supply tank valve.
3. Make sure control knob of heater is in
the OFF position.
4. Check all jointsfromequipment shutoff
valve to control valve (see Figure 17).
Apply a noncorrosive leak detection
fluid to gas joints. Bubbles forming
show a leak.
5. Correct all leaks at once.
6. Light heater (see Operating Heater,
pages 14 through 16). Check all other
internal joints for leaks.
7. Turn off heater (see To Turn Off Gas to
Appliance, page 15).
Control Valve Location
Propane/LP
Supply Tank
Equipment Shutoff
Valve
AUTO
OFF
ON
O
F
F
P
I
L
O
T
O
N
H
I
L
O
H
I
L
O
WARNING:Failuretoposition
thepartsinaccordancewiththese
diagrams or failure to use only
parts specifically approved with
this heater may result in property
damage or personal injury.
INSTALLING LOGS
Itisveryimportanttoinstallthelogsexactly
as instructed. Do not modify logs. Only use
logs supplied with heater.
1. Place one-piece log set on grate to fit
as illustrated in Figure 18. Make sure
middle section at bottom of log set is
seated into “U”-shaped cutout in cen-
ter of chassis (see Figure 18). Log will
fit securely on chassis. IMPORTANT:
Make sure log does not cover any
burner ports.
2. Place lava rock around base of heater.
CAUTION: After installation
andperiodicallythereafter,check
to ensure that no flame comes in
contact with any log. With the
heaterset toHigh, checktoseeif
flames contact any log. If so, re-
position logs according to the
loginstallationinstructionsinthis
manual. Flames contacting logs
will create soot.
Figure 18 - Installing Vintage Oak One-
Piece Log Set
Figure 19 - Installing Vintage Oak One-
Piece Log set (Top View)
One Piece Log SetBurner
Ports
One Piece Log Set
Burner
"U"-shaped
Cutout in
Chassis
Chassis

14
105190
UNVENTED PROPANE/LP GAS LOG HEATER
VANGUARD
O
F
F
P
I
L
O
T
O
N
L
O
I
H
AUTO
OFF
ON
OPERATING
HEATER
FOR YOUR SAFETY
READ BEFORE
LIGHTING
WARNING: If you do not fol-
low these instructions exactly, a
fireorexplosionmayresultcaus-
ing property damage, personal
injury or loss of life.
A. Thisappliance hasa pilotwhich must
belightedby hand.When lightingthe
pilot,followtheseinstructionsexactly.
B. BEFORE LIGHTING smell all
aroundtheappliance areaforgas. Be
sureto smellnexttothe floorbecause
some gas is heavier than air and will
settle on the floor.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU SMELL
GAS
• Do not try to light any appliance.
• Donottouchany electricswitch;do
notuse anyphoneinyourbuilding.
• Immediatelycall your gassupplier
from a neighbor’s phone. Follow
the gas supplier’s instructions.
• If you cannot reach your gas sup-
plier, call the fire department.
C. Useonly yourhandto pushinor turn
thegas controlknob.Neveruse tools.
If the knob will not push in or turn
by hand, don’t try to repair it, call a
qualified service technician or gas
supplier. Force or attempted repair
may result in a fire or explosion.
D. Do not use this appliance if any part
has been under water. Immediately
call a qualified service technician to
inspect the appliance and to replace
any part of the control system and
any gas control which has been un-
der water.
LIGHTING
INSTRUCTIONS
WARNING:
•If fireplace has glass doors,
never operate this heater with
glassdoorsclosed.Ifyouoper-
ate heater with doors closed,
heatbuildupinsidefireplacewill
cause glass to burst. Also if
fireplace opening has vents at
the bottom, you must open the
vents before operating heater.
•You must operate this heater
withafireplacescreeninplace.
Make sure fireplace screen is
closed before running heater.
NOTICE: During initial operation
of new heater, burning logs will
give off a paper-burning smell.
Open damper or window to vent
smell.Thiswillonlylastafewhours.
Figure 20 - Control Knob and Ignitor Button Location (Shown as Supplied,
No Control Options)
Control Knob
Ignitor Button Selector Switch
Flame Adjustment Knob
1. STOP! Read the safety information,
column 1.
2. Make sure equipment shutoff valve
is fully open.
3. Set switch in OFF position.
Note: Home owners generally prefer to
operate their heater with the chimney
damper closed. This will put all the heat
into the room. However, there may be
timesyouwilldesirethefull flamesofthe
HI heat setting but will find the heat
outputexcessive.Youcanopen thechim-
ney damper (if you have one) fully or
partially to release some of the heat.
WARNING: Damper handle
will be hot if heater has been
running.
4. Pressinand turn control knobclock-
wise to the OFF position.
5. Wait five(5)minutestoclear outany
gas. Then smell for gas, including
near the floor. If you smell gas,
STOP! Follow “B” in the safety in-
formation, column 1. If you don’t
smell gas, go to the next step.
6. Pressinand turncontrolknob coun-
terclockwise to the PILOT
position. Press in control knob for
five (5) seconds (see Figure 20).
Note: You may be running this
heater for the first time after hook-
ing up to gas supply. If so, the con-
trol knob may need to be pressed in
for 30 seconds or more. This will al-
low air to bleed from the gas system.
7. With control knob pressed in, press
and release ignitor button. This will
lightpilot.Thepilot isattachedto the
front burner. If needed, keep press-
ing ignitor button until pilot lights.
Note: If pilot does not stay lit, con-
tact a qualified service person or gas
supplierforrepairs.Untilrepairsare
made,light pilotwithmatch.Tolight
pilot with match, see Manual Light-
ing Procedure, page 15.
WARNING: Burner will come
on automatically within one
minute when the selector switch
is in the ON position after the
pilot is lit.

15
105190
OWNER’S MANUAL
OPERATING
HEATER
Continued
8. Keep control knob pressed in for 30
seconds after lighting pilot.After 30
seconds, release control knob.
• If control knob does not pop out
when released, contact a qualified
service person or gas supplier for
repairs.
Note: If pilotgoesout,repeat steps
4 through 8.
9. Slightly push in and turn control
knobcounterclockwise tothe
ON position.
10. Wait one minute and switch selector
switch to the ON position to light
burner. Note: AUTOisonlyfunctional
when using GWMT1 or GWMS2 op-
tional accessories.
11. Set flame adjustment knob to any
level between HI and LO.
Figure 21- Pilot
Ignitor
Electrode
Pilot Burner
CAUTION:Donottrytoadjust
heatinglevelsbyusingtheequip-
ment shutoff valve.
WARNING: Make sure the
selector switch is in the OFF po-
sition when you are away from
home for long periods of time.
Heater will come on automati-
cally with selector switch in the
ON position.
TO TURN OFF GAS
TO APPLIANCE
Shutting Off Heater
1. Turncontrolknob clockwise
to the OFF position.
2a. SetselectorswitchintheOFFposition.
2b. If Using Optional Hand-Held Re-
mote:Set selectorswitch intheOFF
position to prevent draining battery.
Shutting Off Burner Only (pilot
stays lit)
Youmayshutofftheburnerandkeepthe
pilot lit by doing one of the following:
1. Turncontrolknob clockwise
to the PILOT position.
2. UseremotecontrolmanualOFFbutton.
3. SetselectorswitchintheOFFposition.
MANUAL LIGHTING
PROCEDURE
1. Follow steps1through6under Light-
ing Instructions, page 14.
2. Depress control knob and light pilot
with match.
3. Keep control knob pressed in for 30
seconds after lighting pilot.After 30
seconds, release control knob. Now
follow steps 9 through 11, column 1.
OPTIONAL REMOTE
OPERATION
NOTICE: You must light the pilot
before using the hand-held re-
mote control unit. See
Lighting
Instructions
on page 14.
Continued
Note: Allremotecontrolaccessoriesmust
bepurchasedseparately(seeAccessories,
page 24). Follow instructions included
with the remote control.
Thermostat Control Operation
(Optional GHRCTA Series Only) The
thermostat control setting on the remote
control unit can be set to any comfort
levelbetweenWARMERandCOOLER.
The burners will turn on and off auto-
matically to maintain the comfort level
you select. The ideal comfort setting will
vary by household depending upon the
amount of space to be heated, the output
of the central heating system, etc.
For wall thermostat operation, follow in-
struction supplied with thermostat acces-
sory GWMT1. For wall switch operation
followinstructionssuppliedwithGWMS2.
1. Afterlighting, letpilot flameburn for
aboutone minute.Turncontrolknob
to ON position.Adjust flame adjust-
ment knob anywhere between HI
and LO. Slide the selector switch to
the REMOTE position.
Note: The
burnermay lightif hand-heldremote
ON button was on when selector
switch was last turned off. You can
now turn the burner on and off with
the hand-held remote control unit.
IMPORTANT: Do not leave the se-
lector switch in the REMOTE posi-
tionwhen thepilot isnotlit.Thiswill
drain the battery.
IMPORTANT: Be sure to press the
ON/OFF buttons on the hand-held
remote control unit for up to 3 sec-
onds to assure proper operation.
GHRC Series Operation:
2a. Press ON/OFF button to turn the
burner on and off. When turning
burner off, the pilot will remain lit.
GHRCTA Series Operation:
2b. Press theAUTO/ON/OFF button on
the hand-held remote control (see
Figure 22, page 16). The lights to the
left of the button will show AUTO,
ON, or OFF.
• In the ON mode, the burners will
ignite. The heater is in manual
mode when ON is lit.
• IntheAUTOmode,the thermostat
in the hand-held remote unit con-
trols the room temperature. To in-
creasetheroomtemperature,press
the top arrow of theTEMP button.
To lower the room temperature,
press the bottom arrow of the
TEMP button. At higher settings
the heater will run longer.

16
105190
UNVENTED PROPANE/LP GAS LOG HEATER
VANGUARD
IMPORTANT: This remote control
has been specially engineered to
takeanair temperaturesample ev-
ery 5.5 minutes in the auto mode.
It will not respond immediately to
the temperature setting being
turned up or down.
IMPORTANT: The hand-held re-
motecontrol unitmust benearthe
heater. Do not keep the hand-held
remotecontrolunit toocloseto the
heater. The thermostat on the
hand-heldremotecontrol unitwill
heat up too quickly and turn the
heater off.
3. To turn the burner off, press the
AUTO/ON/OFF button until OFF
lights. The pilot will remain lit.
IMPORTANT: To turn the pilot off,
manuallyturnthecontrolknobonthe
heater to the OFF position.
ON
OFF
REMOTE
O
F
F
P
I
L
O
T
O
N
L
O
I
H
OPERATING
HEATER
Continued
Figure 23 - Thermostat Hand-Held Remote Control Unit Selections (GHRCTA Series
only)
Figure22-SettingtheSelectorSwitch,ControlKnob,andFlameAdjustmentKnobfor
Remote Operation
Selector Switch in Remote Position
(Optional Remote Control)
Control Knob in
On Position
Flame Adjustment Knob
Figure 24 - Correct Pilot Flame Pattern
Pilot Burner
Thermocouple
Figure 25 - Incorrect Pilot Flame Pattern
Check pilot flame pattern and burner flame
patterns often.
PILOT FLAME PATTERN
Figure 24 shows a correct pilot flame pat-
tern. Figure 25 shows an incorrect pilot
flame pattern. The incorrect pilot flame is
not properly heating the thermocouple.
When the thermocouple cools, the heater
will shut down.
If pilot flame pattern is incorrect, as shown
in Figure 25
• turn heater off (see To Turn Off Gas to
Appliance, page 15)
• seeTroubleshooting,pages 17 through19
Pilot Burner
Thermocouple
INSPECTING
BURNERS
BURNER PRIMARY AIR HOLES
Air is drawn into the burner through the
holes in the fitting at the burner entrance.
These holes may become blocked with dust
or lint. Periodically inspect these holes for
any blockage and clean if needed. Blocked
air holes will create soot.
MAIN BURNER
Periodically inspect all burner flame holes
with the heater running. All slotted burner
flame holes should be open with yellow
flame present. All round burner flame holes
should be open with a small blue flame
present. Some burner flame holes may be-
comeblockedbydebrisorrust,withnoflame
present. If so, turn off heater and let cool.
Remove blockage. Blocked burner flame
holes will create soot.
Increases Room
Temperature in
AUTO Mode
Decreases Room
Temperature in
AUTO Mode
Turns Burners
On or Off and
Allows You to
Choose the Auto
Setting
Shows Temperature Setting
The Log Heater will
Automatically Cycle
between Pilot and the
Heat Setting that has
been Selected

17
105190
OWNER’S MANUAL
TROUBLESHOOTING WARNING: Turn off heater
and let cool before servicing.
Onlyaqualifiedserviceperson
should service and repair
heater.
CAUTION: Never use a wire,
needle, or similar object to clean
ODS/pilot.ThiscandamageODS/
pilot unit.
POSSIBLE CAUSE
1. Ignitor electrode not connected to igni-
tor cable
2. Ignitor cable pinched or wet
3. Piezo ignitor nut is loose
4. Broken ignitor cable
5. Bad piezo ignitor
6. Ignitor electrode broken
7. Ignitor electrode positioned wrong
1. Gas supply turned off or equipment
shutoff valve closed
2. Control knob not in PILOT position
3. Control knob not pressed in while in
PILOT position
4. Air in gas lines when installed
5. Depleted gas supply
6. ODS/pilot is clogged
7. Gas regulator setting is not correct
1. Control knob not fully pressed in
2. Control knob notpressed inlong enough
3. Equipment shutoff valve not fully open
4. Pilot flame not touching thermocouple,
which allows thermocouple to cool,
causing pilot flame to go out. This prob-
lem could be caused by one or both of
the following:
A) Low gas pressure
B) Dirty or partially clogged ODS/pilot
5. Thermocouple connection loose at con-
trol valve
6. Thermocouple damaged
7. Control valve damaged
REMEDY
1. Reconnect ignitor cable
2. Free ignitor cable if pinched by any
metal or tubing. Keep ignitor cable dry
3. Tightennut holdingpiezo ignitorto base
panel of log set. Nut is located behind
base panel
4. Replace ignitor cable
5. Replace piezo ignitor
6. Replace piezo ignitor
7. Replace piezo ignitor
1. Turn on gas supply or open equipment
shutoff valve
2. Turn control knob to PILOT position
3. Press in control knob while in PILOT
position
4. Continue holding down control knob.
Repeat igniting operation until air is re-
moved
5. Contact local propane/LP gas company
6. Clean ODS/pilot (see Cleaning and
Maintenance, page 21) or replace ODS/
pilot assembly
7. Replace gas control
1. Press in control knob fully
2. After ODS/pilot lights, keep control
knob pressed in 30 seconds
3. Fully open equipment shutoff valve
4. A)Contactlocalpropane/LPgas company
B) Clean ODS/pilot (see Cleaning and
Maintenance, page 21) or replace ODS/
pilot assembly
5. Hand tighten until snug, then tighten
1/4 turn more
6. Replace thermocouple
7. Replace control valve
OBSERVED PROBLEM
When ignitor button is pressed, there is no
spark at ODS/pilot
When ignitor button is pressed, there is
spark at ODS/pilot but no ignition
ODS/pilot lights but flame goes out when
control knob is released
Continued
Note: For additional help, visit DESA
International’stechnicalservicewebsite
at www.desatech.com.
Note: Alltroubleshootingitemsarelistedin
order of operation.
www.desatech.com

18
105190
UNVENTED PROPANE/LP GAS LOG HEATER
VANGUARD
OBSERVED PROBLEM
Burner does not light after ODS/pilot is lit
Delayed ignition burner
Burner backfiring during combustion
Slightsmokeorodorduring initial operation
Moisture/condensationnoticedonwindows
Heater produces a whistling noise when
burner is lit
Whitepowderresidueformingwithinburner
box or on adjacent walls or furniture
Remote does not function (GHRC Series
and GHRCTA Series only)
REMEDY
1. Clean burner (see Cleaning and Mainte-
nance, page 21) or replace burner orifice
2. Contact local propane/LP gas company
3. Replace burner orifice
4. Reconnect leads (see Wiring Diagram,
page 20)
5. Replace battery in transmitter and re-
ceiver
1. Contact local propane/LP gas company
2. Clean burner (see Cleaning and Mainte-
nance, page 21) or replace burner orifice
1. Clean burner (see Cleaning and Mainte-
nance, page 21) or replace burner orifice
2. Replace damaged burner
3. Replace gas control
1. Check burner for dirt and debris. If
found, clean burner (see Cleaning and
Maintenance, page 21)
2. Replace gas control
3. Problem will stop after a few hours of
operation
1. Refer to Air for Combustion and Venti-
lation requirements (page 4)
1. Turn control knob to LO position and
let warm up for a minute
2. Operate burner until air is removed from
line. Have gas line checked by local pro-
pane/LP gas company
3. Observe minimum installation clear-
ances (see pages 7 through 9)
4. Clean burner (see Cleaning and Mainte-
nance, page 21) or replace burner orifice
1. Turn heater off when using furniture
polish, wax, carpet cleaners or similar
products
1. Replace 9-volt batteries in receiver and
remote control
TROUBLESHOOTING
Continued
POSSIBLE CAUSE
1. Burner orifice clogged
2. Inlet gas pressure is too low
3. Burner orifice diameter is too small
4. Thermopile leads disconnected or im-
properly connected
5. Burners will not come on in remote po-
sition
1. Manifold pressure is too low
2. Burner orifice clogged
1. Burner orifice is clogged or damaged
2. Damaged burner
3. Gas regulator defective
1. Not enough air
2. Gas regulator defective
3. Residues from manufacturing processes
and logs curing
1. Not enough combustion/ventilation air
1. Turning control knob to HI position
when burner is cold
2. Air in gas line
3. Air passageways on heater blocked
4. Dirty or partially clogged burner orifice
1. When heated, vaporsfrom furniturepol-
ish, wax, carpet cleaners, etc. may turn
into white powder residue
1. Battery is not installed. Battery power
is low
www.desatech.com

19
105190
OWNER’S MANUAL
TROUBLESHOOTING
Continued
WARNING: If you smell gas
•Shut off gas supply.
•Do not try to light any appliance.
•Do not touch any electrical switch; do not use any phone in your
building.
•Immediatelycallyourgassupplierfromaneighbor’sphone.Followthe
gas supplier’s instructions.
•If you cannot reach your gas supplier, call the fire department.
OBSERVED PROBLEM
Heater produces a clicking/ticking noise
just after burner is lit or shut off
Heater produces unwanted odors
Heater shuts off in use (ODS operates)
Gas odor even when control knob is in OFF
position
Gas odor during combustion
IMPORTANT: Operating heater where impurities in air exist may create odors. Cleaning
supplies, paint, paint remover, cigarette smoke, cements and glues, new carpet or textiles,
etc.,createfumes.Thesefumesmaymixwithcombustionairandcreateodors.Theseodors
will disappear over time.
REMEDY
1. This is common with most heaters. If
noise is excessive, contact qualified ser-
vice person
1. Open window and ventilate room. Stop
usingodor causingproducts whileheater
is running
2. Locate and correct all leaks (see Check-
ing Gas Connections, pages 12 and 13)
1. Open window and/ordoor forventilation
2. Contact local propane/LP gas company
3. Clean ODS/pilot (see Cleaning and
Maintenance, page 21)
1. Locate and correct all leaks (see Check-
ing Gas Connections, pages 12 and 13)
2. Replace control valve
1. Take apart gas tubing and remove for-
eign matter
2. Locate and correct all leaks (see Check-
ing Gas Connections, pages 12 and 13)
POSSIBLE CAUSE
1. Metal expanding while heating or con-
tracting while cooling
1. Heater burning vapors from paint, hair
spray, glues, cleaners, chemicals, new
carpet, etc. (See IMPORTANT state-
ment above)
2. Gas leak. SeeWarning statement at
top of page
1. Not enough fresh air is available
2. Low line pressure
3. ODS/pilot is partially clogged
1. Gas leak. SeeWarning statement at
top of page
2. Control valve defective
1. Foreign matter between control valve
and burner
2. Gas leak. SeeWarning statement at
top of page
www.desatech.com

20
105190
UNVENTED PROPANE/LP GAS LOG HEATER
VANGUARD
SPECIFICATIONS
Vintage Oak Vintage Oak
18" 24”and 30”
Btu (Variable) 17,500/27,000 19,000/31,500
Type Gas Propane/LP Only Propane/LP Only
Ignition Piezo Piezo
Pressure Manifold 8.0" W.C. 8.0" W.C.
Inlet Gas Pressure (in. of water)
Maximum 14" 14"
Minimum* 11" 11"
Shipping Weight 28 lbs. 30 lbs. (24")/32 lbs. (30")/
* For input adjustment
SERVICE HINTS
When Gas Pressure Is Too Low
• pilot will not stay lit
• burners will have delayed ignition
• heater will not produce specified heat
• propane/LP gas supply may be low
You may feel your gas pressure is too low.
If so, contact your local propane/LP gas
supplier.
TECHNICAL
SERVICE
You may have further questions about in-
stallation, operation, or troubleshooting. If
so, contact DESA International’s Technical
Service Department at 1-866-672-6040.
You can also visit DESA International’s
technical services web site at
www.desatech.com.
WIRING DIAGRAM
Note: For proper operation of optional ac-
cessories, the wires from the switch to the
controlmustbeconnectedexactlyasshown.
AUTO
OFF
ON
Thermopile
REPLACEMENT
PARTS
Note: Use only original replacement parts.
Thiswillprotectyourwarrantycoveragefor
parts replaced under warranty.
PARTS UNDER WARRANTY
Contact authorized dealers of this product.
If they can’t supply original replacement
part(s), call DESA International’s Techni-
calServiceDepartment at 1-866-672-6040.
When calling DESA International, have
ready
• your name and address
• model and serial numbers of your heater
• how heater was malfunctioning
• typeofgasused(propane/LPornaturalgas)
• purchase date
Usually,wewillaskyoutoreturnthepartto
the factory.
PARTS NOT UNDER
WARRANTY
Contact authorized dealers of this prod-
uct. If they can’t supply original replace-
ment part(s), call DESA International at
1-866-672-6040 for referral information.
WhencallingDESAInternational,haveready
• model number of your heater
• the replacement part number