Direct vent Question- please help!

[Bmurphy888]

Hi,
I have a new fireplace - Regency Panorama 36,000 btu I think?- that was installed last week. The mantel is being installed next week( last picture is what is being built approximately).
We ran it for four hours as we were told to get rid of the factory odors.
I was a little bit concerned as there was a black film in the room after running the unit. Ran it again and there was less film but film again- none in the unit.

It is a corner unit and going to be covered with a mantel just above the vent. But the vent is super hot as is the top of the unit. Is this normal? I am attaching pictures. I am just a little bit nervous as the paneling behind the unit is very old and dry and I don’t want a fire to start behind there if it gets too hot.
Is the vent going up high enough? I measured it with a yardstick in the pictures. Does it need to go up a certain number of inches before it goes out and does mine do that? I took pictures below.
Should it be straight and not curved? Or does it not matter? Again- pictures below.
I just want whatever needs fixing done prior to the mantel being installed.
Can you please give me your opinion?
Thank you in advance!
Beth

 

[DAKSY]

These page are directly from your manual. If you meet the clearances specified you are ok.

 

[Bmurphy888]

View attachment 283000
View attachment 283001

These page are directly from your manual. If you meet the clearances specified you are ok.

So where it says 6” for side clearance; does this mean for the unit? Mine is only about 2”. Do we need to bring it out another 4”? It says that on the vent page. The picture of the units on the other page show the units farther from the wall than mine is. That would make sense to bring it out farther from the wall. Is mine too close?

 

[DAKSY]

The 6" clearance is from the front of the edge unit to a perpendicular side wall.
You are good to go as it sits.

 

[Bmurphy888]

Thank you for your reply!
So when they install the mantel, how far above the vent should the top be to prevent a risk of fire as the vent gets very hot?!

 

[Bmurphy888]

One more question…
Is it ok that the unit is not squared on the wood? I downloaded the manual and read it.
I purchased this unit to avoid having to put stone/tile, etc on ground and around the unit. Just want to be sure that it safely set. Should it be moved to be set squared on the unit?

 

[DAKSY]

As per the install manual, you need 2" MINIMUM above the vent.
As far as squaring the unit on the wood (or squaring the wood to the unit),
you are going to have to deal with it at some point BEFORE you finish the
surround/mantel.
I suggest you do it now.

 

[Bmurphy888]

Thank you!