is there any way to tell when it's time to clean or change a woodstove catalytic converter? i have a vermontcastings/dutchwest model that seems to operate well now. this is more a point of information type question.

along the same lines, the manual says to have the catalytic knob open between a 1/2 turn and 1 1/2 turns for a small to large fire. does anyone know if that refers to the amount of wood in the stove or just how hot we want it to burn? the stove has little flaps on the front that seem to adjust the "size" of the fire by allowing more or less air into the system.

thanks y'all.

-- james (james@wireboard.com), January 08, 2002

Answers

James, I have seen literature from corning that states the converters should be removed and cleaned every year. Few people do this. They get very fragile and tend to break in time so if you do remove it, be very careful.

-- jz (oz49us@yahoo.com), January 08, 2002.

I have a Vermont castings stove but it has a lever on the back near the flue pipe exit,for the catalytic converter.On my stove (Intrepid model)the converter is a fixed type, open or closed no in between settings.The fire should be good and hot before closing the flue bypass and sending the exhaust gases through the converter.Once the exhaust is going to the converter you should see less smoke from the chimney or outdoor pipe.The dutchwest model I had at our other house had a converter just about like this one,but you could get to it from the top plate on the stove.The two adjustment knobs,one on the door and the other on the ash door are for primary and secondary air control.

-- Steve in Ohio (stevenb@ohiohills.com), January 09, 2002.

We've got the same stove and have found through experience that it's good to clean it once a year. When you open it up there's a honeycomb looking piece (sorry, I forget what it's called) that is pretty fragile. We ordered an extra one of these from Lehman's to keep on hand. We only had our stove about a year or two and found out that the original one had crumbled and was in pieces when we went to clean it once. Every fall we also check all the gaskets around the doors. We've also learned to keep extra gaskets and the glue for them on hand. I also plan to get an extra window glass, just in case...

-- rose marie wild (wintersongfarm@yahoo.com), January 09, 2002.

We bought a new Dutchwest 4 years ago, the catalitic combuster was shot at the end of our first heating season, (7 months). I was able to send it back to Corning for exchange, I paid the postage of $6.00 The Combusters are covered for 6 years, (pro-rated). I have since sold that stove but I gave the paper work to the purchaser to get the coverage on the thing.

-- hendo (redgate@echoweb.net), January 10, 2002.