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  1. Nutmeg Warrior New Member

    joined: Dec 14, 2012
    43 posts
    CT
    All of a sudden my stove is struggling with the primary air wide open. I can't get past 400 on the stove top and the cat can't get past 700. I don't think the cat is even lighting off because it isn't glowing and there is smoke coming out of the chimney.

    This is crazy. Just a few weeks ago it seemed my stove was out of control and had to keep the primary nearly shut. What could be causing this? I am using the same exact fuel.
    #1

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  2. corey21 Minister of Fire

    joined: Oct 28, 2010
    2,208 posts
    Soutwest VA
    Have you checked the chimney for clogging or the cap?

    Or maybe the CAT may be clogged up?
    Joful likes this.
  3. lopiliberty Minister of Fire

    joined: Oct 7, 2011
    565 posts
    Mineral County, WV
    Not what someone in the middle of a blizzard wants to contend with. Could be clogged cat or cap. How old is the cat, maybe it at the end of its life
  4. sailor61 Burning Hunk

    joined: Nov 28, 2006
    109 posts
    Warwick, RI
    are you drawing your wood from a different pile? cats aren't happy with damp wood.
    corey21 and Joful like this.
  5. Backwoods Savage Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 14, 2007
    24,181 posts
    Michigan
    Strange that the OP has not posted for 21 hours. Is there another problem?
  6. sailor61 Burning Hunk

    joined: Nov 28, 2006
    109 posts
    Warwick, RI
    Still massive power outages in these parts. Here in RI approximately 1/4 of the households in the state are still in the dark...Some parts of CT are just as bad.
  7. Nutmeg Warrior New Member

    joined: Dec 14, 2012
    43 posts
    CT
    I'm back. My Internet was down from the storm. So this problem seems to have resolved itself. I'm wondering if the cat was clogged and the junk finally burned off?

    Thanks for all the suggestions. It's tough being a wood burning newb!
  8. Joful Minister of Fire

    joined: Mar 7, 2012
    2,662 posts
    Philadelphia
    Yep! Especially with a catalytic stove and questionable wood. I just graduated to "Newb v.2.0" myself.
  9. Woody Stover Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 25, 2010
    3,405 posts
    Southern IN
    At what cat probe temp are you closing the bypass?
  10. Backwoods Savage Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 14, 2007
    24,181 posts
    Michigan
    I doubt the cat was clogged and junk burned off. If it gets clogged, you have to do the cleaning so it was a different problem. Glad it is resolved and that you have power again after the storm.
  11. corey21 Minister of Fire

    joined: Oct 28, 2010
    2,208 posts
    Soutwest VA
    Glad to har it is working again. What CAT temps are you seeing now?

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