Scotty Overkill said:
and don't have to worry about a CAT. The new baffles that Napoleon came out with are awesome, way better than the originals.
I'm not directing this toward Scotty in particular, because I keep reading about how a cat is so high maintenance, and the non-cat is no (or very little) maintenance, and I think it is bs. Now, keep in mind, my only real experience is with 2 old pre-epa stoves, and one cat stove.
People are so afraid of a cat, yet the non-cats have maintenance issues of their own, including tubes that need repaired/replaced, baffles that warp, and insulating materials that fall apart. Even my pre-epa stoves needed maintenance and should have had some expensive parts replaced had they been available. I was able to repair what was needed, but had I been the type to just order new parts, then they would have been a significant expense had they been available.
A properly maintained stove takes time to maintain, and sometimes expensive parts to repair/replace regardless as to whether it is a cat or non-cat, steel or cast iron (haven’t had any of those pissing matches lately have we?).
I honestly believe that a cat stove can be run with the same amount of maintenance time (and maintenance costs) as a non-cat should receive. Some of you non-cat owners have been neglecting your stoves.