16 Year old VC Defiant

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rfortierjr

New Member
Nov 17, 2014
8
alton new hampshire
Just purchased a vc defiant stove from a friend. It is catalytic. It has had yearly up keep and maintenance. I wanted to know if anyone had any information or insight on how this stove works and tips of using it.
 
Use very dry wood, buy a moisture meter to make sure the wood is under 20%, buy a CO detector (or a few) and install it, make sure your installation is inspected by a professional.

I own a VC Resolute pre-cat days and many VC's are prone to problems. I can't answer specifics on your model.
 
Last edited:
rfortierjr said:
What did the rebuilt require? This stove was used and functional last year and "should" still work.
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My stove being run since 1988 did alot of heating and it was time to replace the upper and lower fireback along with the refractory as well as new cat and all new gaskets. I bought a complete kit for about 500 dollars plus the cost of new cat. Five years ago I installed new 8 inch ss insulated liner and made a block off plate above damper frame and the stove performs better then when new with out the liner
 
Excavator said:
My stove being run since 1988 did alot of heating and it was time to replace the upper and lower fireback along with the refractory as well as new cat and all new gaskets. I bought a complete kit for about 500 dollars plus the cost of new cat. Five years ago I installed new 8 inch ss insulated liner and made a block off plate above damper frame and the stove performs better then when new with out the liner
Click to expand...
I'm very new to all this but want to have a natural heat source in my house. What was the cost of the rebuild?
 
rfortierjr said:
Yeah this stove has seen about 1 or 2 cords a year. It was used for supplemental heat.
Click to expand...
You can remove the cat and just blow off the fly ash and inspect the cat then reinstall if not in broken peices. My first post has the link to user manuals on how the stove works
 
I also installed a cat digital probe as there is a removable plug in back of the defiant
20131224_053556

20131224_053958
 
I have a Defiant encore 2550 been using it many year. Only complaint is the maintenance. Just ordered a new cat and combustor temp probe.
 
rfortierjr said:
I have instslled the stove and been burning for three days. Having a hard time controlling the heat. It's getting really hot with the air very low.
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Is this your first experience burning wood in a stove? They do tend to get hot. Get a stove top thermometer as that will help decide whether it is in fact, getting too hot.
 
What are temp readings?
 
That is the upper limit of this stove, in my opinion.
I have seen mine peak at 700* occasionally. I would say air is leaking somewhere. Do the dollar test to start with. Doors and ash pan to start with.
 
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