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OPERATION GUIDELINES
As wood is burned in the fireplace, room air enters the lower louvered panel of models BWBC500 and BWBC500I,
or the bottom/side vents on models BWB500 and BWB500I circulates around the firebox. This air circulation cools
the firebox and must not be blocked or restricted in any manner. Blocking the air flow can cause a fire hazard.
When a AK4 combustion air assembly and a combustion air duct are attached to the connecting point on the left side
of the fireplace, combustion air may enter the firebox through a dampered opening behind the left side panel. This
feature reduces the room air used for combustion and prevents excessive heat loss from the room. When the
fireplace is in use, this damper should be open. When the fireplace is not in use, the damper should be closed to
prevent cold air from entering the firebox. The combustion air damper is open when the lever, located on the left side
of the firebox near the top of the left firebrick, is up and closed when the lever is down.
Outside air for combustion is optional unless required by federal, state or local building codes. See the section of
this manual providing the instructions for installation of the combustion air assembly. The design of the fireplace
allows the routing of the combustion air duct downward or horizontally to obtain the outside combustion air. This
permits flexibility in planning your installation. See Figure 27 for typical installation methods. Review the precautions
and recommendations in this manual pertaining to outside combustion air installation.
Glass doors should be installed to receive the maximum benefit from your fireplace. For large fires, the maximum
heating benefit from the fireplace will be obtained with the doors open due to the high amount of radiant heat being
emitted out of the front opening of the fireplace. With a small fire, or before retiring in the evenings, it is best to
operate the fireplace with the doors closed to prevent excessive room air from being drawn up the chimney. When
the doors are open, the mesh screens should be closed to help keep burning embers from popping out of the
firebox.
The fireplace also is equipped with a flue damper, which must be open when the fireplace is in use. The flue damper
control lever is located behind the upper panel and may be locked closed by turning the damper rod and latching it
over the clip provided. The counterweighted damper is operated by simply pushing up to open or pulling down to
close the damper. When the fireplace is not in use, the damper should be closed to prevent cold air form entering
the chimney as well as preventing warm air in the room from escaping up the chimney. NOTE: It is normal for a
small amount of smoke to be released from the upper portion of the fireplace the first few times you use your new
Monessen Hearth Systems fireplace. This results from an oil residue on the metal. Open a door or window to allow
the smoke to escape.
The grate included with this fireplace helps to appropriately locate and contain the burning wood. Failure to use this
grate may cause overheating of parts of the fireplace and allow large pieces of burning wood to roll forward out of the
firebox. If the grate becomes warped or damaged, it must only be replaced with Monessen Hearth Systems 035326
grate.
WARNING: Fireplaces equipped with doors should be operated only with the doors fully open or doors fully closed.
If doors are left partly open, gas and flame may be drawn out of the fireplace opening, creating risks of both fire and
smoke.
All fireplace chimneys are in direct contact with cold air on the exterior of the structure. Consequently, when the
fireplace is not in use, cold air can fall down the chimney of the fireplace to cool off the fireplace chase. Therefore,
the fireplace chase must be insulated to minimize the risk of cold air infiltration to the home. Even if the fireplace
chase is adequately insulated, this cannot completely ensure that cold air infiltration into the structure will be eliminated.
Cold air infiltration is a possibility with any fireplace or device that freely communicates with the air on the outside of
the structure. Today’s homes are more energy-efficient and, therefore, better insulated and tightly constructed.
Unfortunately, when air is removed from the house, as by a bathroom fan, or consumed by a furnace, additional air
is needed to replace the air consumed. Unless the additional air is supplied, this can cause a negative pressure in
the home. When this happens, the house will draw in outside air from the cracks in the windows, down the fireplace
flue or other locations of air leakage in the home. Because cold air infiltration may be unavoidable in some structures,
Monessen Hearth Systems is not responsible for heat loss or air infiltration through or around the fireplace.
53D9032. Rev 1 03/03