Do the new VC's require as much maintenance?

begreen said:

According to VC the refractory has been improved, but the new stoves haven't been out that long. It still has to be verified that VC has solved the refractory degradation issues. That's going to take time in the real world.

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What's a refractory?

The refractory is the ceramic box that encases the catalytic combustor, to withstand temperatures the cast iron cannot.

The new design uses a hard cast ceramic refractory. The older ones use a fiber ceramic material with a consistency somewhat like an acoustic ceiling tile.


Other than the refractory and fire back change, the new models have just as many doors and gaskets.

thanks. just bought my first stove, a VC and I'm still figuring it out.

This is my 3rd season with the encore 2n1 and the refractory is still in perfect shape. I have thrown in wood and bounced it off the side plates with no issues.

31 bertram said:

Just curious if the newer Vermont Casting woodstove are as high maintenance as older models, gaskets, etc.?

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As BeGreen and JHarkin mentioned, the refractory package has been redesigned. It should last longer and cheaper to maintain. Also, the catalytic combustor is different and uses a more traditional size combustor that is cheaper to replace.

But, there are still a lot of pieces on the Encore. Lots of gaskets. Lots of cement. It is cheaper to maintain, but the amount of actual maintainence has only been slightly reduced.

The refractory in our Monte is like new 5 seasons later.
Gabe