An e-MatriX creates its "flames" from water vapour and therefore needs water. If the fire sits somewhere you can't run a water pipe to, you use a water pump kit with a tank instead of a mains connection. Here is the whole installation, step by step.
This guide is written for the e-MatriX, but the same kit and the same method apply to e-Slim Linear, CAS500 and CAS1000. If you're looking for error codes instead, they're in our guide to error codes and spare parts.
The pump box must sit lower than the tank outlet. Otherwise the pump cannot prime, and the fire will throw a water fault the very first time you run it. Everything else in this guide can be adjusted - this can't.
Water supply
Do you actually need a pump?
There are two ways to supply the fire with water. The choice comes down to where the fire is installed, not which model you have.
No tank is supplied with the pump kit. You choose your own, and there are some clear requirements for it. Either way the same rule applies: filtered or decalcified water only.
Preparation
Choosing the right tank
The tank has to meet four requirements. It must be plastic, in a material that won't react with the water. It must not be fully sealed - it needs to draw air in, or the water won't flow out. It must be able to stand on a stand or shelf so the outlet is higher than the pump box. And it must be easy to reach, because it needs cleaning.
The size determines how often you'll be refilling:
| Model | Water consumption | 10 litres gives you |
|---|---|---|
| e-MatriX mood / 800 / 1600 ST | approx. 200 ml/h | approx. 50 hours of running time |
| e-MatriX linear | approx. 400 ml/h | approx. 25 hours of running time |
| CAS500 | approx. 200 ml/h | approx. 50 hours of running time |
| CAS1000 | approx. 400 ml/h | approx. 25 hours of running time |
| e-Slim Linear 1200/450 | approx. 400 ml/h | approx. 25 hours of running time |
| e-Slim Linear 1700/450 | approx. 600 ml/h | approx. 16.5 hours of running time |
| e-Slim Linear 2200/450 | approx. 800 ml/h | approx. 12.5 hours of running time |
These are the manufacturer's guide figures and do not allow for evaporation from the tank itself. Faber's user manual states 0.15 l/h for mood and 800/1600 ST and 0.3 l/h for linear - size your tank on the higher figure.
What you'll need to hand
- A drill with a 16-20 mm bit or hole saw, chosen to suit the tank material.
- A sharp knife to cut the blue pipe to length.
- Pliers for the white clips.
- Two screws for mounting, if the pump box is going on the wall.
Positioning
Where should the pump and tank go?
- Within 2 metres of the fireplace.
- Pump box below the tank outlet - always.
- Tank and pump may sit a maximum of 2 metres below the water level in the fire's sump. Never place the tank above the fireplace.
- Enough clearance from live parts that a spill can't reach the electronics.
- The pump box sits feet down - on the floor, or hung on the keyhole slots on the back using two screws 90 mm apart, protruding 5-10 mm.
- Both need to stay accessible: the tank for filling and cleaning, the pump box for servicing.
In practice the height requirement almost always means the tank stands on a small stand or shelf, with the pump box on the floor below it. Work that out before you drill into the tank.
Step by step
Fitting the tank, pipework and power
We recommend having a qualified plumber make the connections, so the installation is secure and watertight.
- Drill the hole in the tank. 16-20 mm, as close to the bottom as possible - that way you use all the water in the tank.
- Fit the bulkhead. Remove the plastic nut, insert the bulkhead into the hole with the rubber seal on the outside, and tighten the nut on the inside.
- Run the clear pipe. Push the 500 mm clear pipe fully over the barbed end of the bulkhead and fit a white clip around it.
- Fit the valve. Connect the other end of the pipe to the water valve. The valve can face either direction.
- Connect the pump. The clear pipe from the pump box goes on the other side of the valve. Fit clips on both sides - but not where they obstruct the valve handle.
- Blue pipe into the pump outlet. Push it fully home; about 12 mm of pipe should go into the fitting.
- On to the water filter. Watch the flow direction arrow on the filter - the pipe from the pump must go into the filter inlet.
- From filter to fire. Cut a suitable length of blue pipe and run it from the filter outlet to the ball valve and mesh filter at the fireplace.
- Power. Fit the cable to the pump box and the other end to the terminal on your appliance. For e-MatriX and CAS500/1000 you use the 2-way cable (A). The 3-way cable (B) is for e-Slim Linear only.
- First start-up. Fill the tank, open the valve, and check that water is visible in the clear pipe at the pump inlet. If it isn't, briefly remove the blue outlet pipe from the pump box to let water flow in and prime the pump.
The pump box must never run without a water connection. If you start to hear the pump clearly, the tank is running low - top it up. Run completely dry and the fire will stop with a water fault, and the pump can be damaged.
Day to day
Refilling, cleaning and faults
Once water and power are connected, the pump box feeds water to the fire whenever it calls for it. The pump runs quietly and shouldn't be audible in normal operation. If it starts to make itself heard, the tank is usually running low.
Refilling
When the tank runs dry, the fire stops and reports a low water level. Refill the tank, then reset the fire - the procedure is in our error code guide.
Cleaning the tank
Clean the tank every four weeks. Close the valve between tank and pump box. Remove the white clip nearest the pump box with pliers, pull the clear pipe off the valve, and lift the tank out. Add a little washing-up liquid, clean all surfaces with a soft brush, and rinse thoroughly with clean water so no residue is left behind.
Limescale is the most common cause of faults on a water vapour fireplace. Filtered or decalcified water extends the life of the pump, the solenoid valve and the transducers alike - and limescale damage is not covered by the warranty.
Spare parts
Parts for the pump and water connection
Below are Faber's original part numbers for pump operation and water connection. Send us the part number along with your model name and serial number and we'll come back with price and lead time.
- Pump accessory kit (tank not included) Faber 400001562
- Connection wire (A) for pump, 2-way, L=2 m - the cable an e-MatriX needs Faber 06023876
- In-line water filter - the main filter on the water supply Faber 06023397
- Mesh filter Faber 06023605
- Water connection set (ball valve, fittings and clips) Faber 06023373
- Water tube ¼" (Ø6.4 mm) - sold per metre Faber 06023606
- Safety clip ¼" Faber 06023885
- Straight connector ¼" with ball valve Faber 06023884
- Adapter kit ½" + 2 m water tube - for mains connection Faber 06023594
The older pump kit with part number 211477 has been discontinued and replaced by 400001562. If you have an older kit, we can help identify the right individual parts - email us with the serial number of your fireplace.
Frequently asked
Common questions
Does the water tank need to sit higher than the pump?
Yes. The pump box must always be positioned below the tank outlet so the pump can prime itself with water. Tank and pump may sit a maximum of 2 metres below the water level in the fire's sump, and the tank must never be placed above the appliance.
Does the pump kit come with a water tank?
No. The pump kit is supplied without a tank so you can choose one that fits the space. The tank must be plastic, vented rather than fully sealed, and easy to reach for cleaning.
What size tank do I need?
A 10-litre tank gives approximately 50 hours of running time on an e-MatriX mood or 800/1600 ST, and approximately 25 hours on an e-MatriX linear. Choose a larger tank if you want to refill less often.
How far can the pump sit from the fireplace?
A maximum of 2 metres. Tank and pump may also sit no more than 2 metres below the water level in the fire's sump.
Which cable does an e-MatriX need?
The 2-way cable (A), part number 06023876. The 3-way cable (B) belongs to the e-Slim Linear and must not be used on an e-MatriX.
Can I use ordinary tap water in the tank?
No. Faber specifies filtered or decalcified water. Tap water contains limescale, which builds up on the pump, the solenoid valve and the transducers and eventually triggers error codes. Limescale damage is not a warranty matter.
How much does a pump kit or spare part cost?
Prices depend on the model, the part variant and current availability, so we quote each request individually. Send us the part number along with your model name and serial number and we'll come back with price and lead time.
Unsure about your set-up?
We have been selling and servicing water vapour fireplaces since 2012. Send us a couple of photos of the space where the tank and pump will go, along with the model name and serial number from the rating plate - we'll take a look before you start drilling.
Email us at info@bioethanol-fireplace.co.uk
This guide is based on the installation instructions for the Pump Accessory Kit (08/54487/0, issue 2) and Faber's user manual for e-MatriX linear, e-MatriX mood and e-MatriX 800/1600 ST (doc. 40012119-2240). Work on the water and electrical installation must be carried out by a qualified installer.
