Am I getting the most out of my Progress Hybrid?

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smitty79

New Member
Sep 23, 2011
38
New Hampshire
Hello everyone, just wondering what methods/routines you are using to use your PH's. I'm still learning and figured this would be easier. Here is what I do, what can I do better/different.
1. Load firebox all the way up
2. Wait till the temp gets in the "silver range" on the thermometer
3. Close the damper
4. Engage the Cat
5. Adjust damper to desired level.

If I leave the damper all the way down, stove temp gets up to about 550, it'll stay there for about an hour and then start slowly heading back down. After about 9-10 hours, stove temp will be around 300...still plent of coals to start up a fresh fire very easily.

Should I be disengaging the Cat when the stove temp gets up to 500 or so and just let the Secondary burn work? What happens when I just leave the cat on and stove temp eventually drops below the "silver line" Is the Cat still working then?

There have been times when I will go through the above routine, but it doesn't seem like the Cat gets engaged properly, becasue temps won't rise to normal levels. What am I doing wrong in these instances?

Thanks for your help!!
 
How quickly do you close the damper? Try closing it in stages. When I reload on a bed of coals, I close mine to about 50% once the logs catch fire. Then I close down in stages as it gets more established, to about 25% then about 10%. When it is around 10%, stove top is usually around 300 and I close the bypass (engage cat).

If I remember correctly, you installed your stove a few weeks after me. My cat stop lighting off regularly after about the same amount of time, and sometimes wouldn't light off until 450+ stove top temp. I'm about 2 weeks into my new cat. It works better, but doesn't seem as hyperactive as the first cat when the stove was new, but has been lighting off around 300 stove top temp every time.
 
Smitty, for sure there is no good reason to disengage the cat until you reload. Most of the rest I'll leave to others but will add that with the steel cats it does seem after a short period of time they seem to need a higher temperature before engaging. I've also found on our Fireview with the SS cat that it helps to reload with a coal bed that is a bit large rather than burning the coals down as far. You might give this a try to see if it also works in the Progress.
 
You're right Nater, I was a couple weeks after you with the install. I'll have to pay even more attention to the Cat and see if it is working properly. Thanks for the input Dennis, I don't understand why the Cat won't work until the temp gets up to 250, but it's ok to keep it engaged when the temp eventually drops down below 250. I think I'll google it. I did actually break out the instruction manual tonight and read through that. I guess I've basically been doing everything correctly. I did learn that I need to clean out the Cat every 4-6 weeks though...glad I read that.

Unfortunately, my top stone just developed a sizeable crack right around the medallion. I'll have to call Woodstock in the morning. I learned this is a "common" problem, I read in another post that they no longer offer the single top stone and have gone to a 3-piece top stone.
 

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When the stove is warming up, you need a certain amount of temperature for the cat to be able to fire off. At this point in the burn, there is a large amount of smoke for it to consume, so the temp is important.

Later in the burn, there is very little if no smoke coming off of the coals left in the stove. As such, you won't clog the cat or stall the burn by leaving it engaged. Also, by keeping it closed at this point it keeps the movement of air through the stove slower so that you are not sending the last of your heat straight up the flue.

Sorry to see the crack. It happens sometimes. I'm sure woodstock will help you take care of that.

pen
 
smitty79, the crack has probably been there. When you fire the stove back up and things expand, watch it disappear. WS will send you a new top. They are developing a new top with a cooktop if your interested, ask about it. I'll use my griddle for cooking so I'm not interested in a cast iron flat top with three stones covered, so I've asked for a three piece top with thicker soapstone because I'd rather have the heat retention. It is fine to keep using the cracked stone, until you get a replacement, as mentioned it will close as it heats up.
 
Yeah, I Did notice a slight crack awhile ago. I was going to bring it to Woodstock's attention when I stopped using it for the season, but the crack I saw yesterday was about 3 times the size it was before. I wrote them an email this morning, and they have already made arrangements to send me the new top. I never thought about cooking on the stove. I suppose that would come in handy during a power outage. I put some jiffy pop on there the other night to impress the kids, but that was about it. I'd hate to stain the top as it is now..or will be with the three stone top. Something to think about.. Maybe I'll just get a griddle and cook on the cracked one...
 
smitty, my wife would be lost for fixing meals without the wood stove. Don't be afraid to use it. But what if you spill something on that soapstone? Some light rubbing with 0000 steel wool will take it right off.
 
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