Why is my Blaze King Cat going bad again after only a couple of years?

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DodgyNomad

DodgyNomad

Minister of Fire
Dec 19, 2009
704
West Michigan
How long should my Cats be lasting in a BK Princess? This is my 4th cat stove, and second blaze king princess, and I'm seeing crumbling in the center of my cat again after having replaced it a couple of years ago. First one did the same thing after a couple of years.

I have an Englander stove downstairs that is 10+ years old and still has it's original cat that looks like new in it, and I had a Lopi in my other home that was still going strong with the original cat after 8 years.

Outside of the obvious basic operating skills for running a cat stove, what else could be causing my cats to start crumbling so quickly?

Thanks.
 
What Lopi do you have? Just curious.

Is the chimney super tall? Is the door gasket sealing up tight? Typically it’s the door gasket, or letting the stove run for extended periods of time with the door open or cracked.
 
webby3650 said:
What Lopi do you have? Just curious.

Is the chimney super tall? Is the door gasket sealing up tight? Typically it’s the door gasket, or letting the stove run for extended periods of time with the door open or cracked.
Click to expand...

Lopi was at my last home, years back.

I do have a tall chimney, goes through the center of my home, 25 feet. When folks run with the door open, does the bypass being open or closed matter? I will start my stove with the door cracked for a few minutes, bypass open, then close the door to let it get up to temp, then close the bypass.

Thanks.
 
I think you are doing it the way the manual says. I will be sure that the door is sealing right like Webby3650 said.
 
I only got 3 seasons out of my steel cat to, I think its just there life span, and honestly the way the stove preforms, it doesn't bother me to only get 3 years. I burn from the end of October through mid April
 
I swapped out the door seal last year, and adjust it regularly.

Compared to my previous stoves, I'm surprised when this one didn't hold up again.

Can someone suggest me the best brand and diameter of replacement door seal, and do we HAVE to get the cats through BK? Is there anything cheaper out there?
 
Princess ceramic cats are only 185$. Do not buy from blaze king. Get an applied ceramics cat from firecat or Midwest hearth on amazon.

You do need a bk door gasket. They’re special.

Your cat crumbling is not normal wear. It is physical damage caused by something cold hitting the hot face of the cat. A steel cat won’t crumble but it is better to identify the cause of the thermal shock.

As to your question. The cats are supposed to be replaced after 12000 to 14000 hours of use. I can do that much time in 2 years, which is why I’m on my third cat since 2012 in this stove. None of my cats have experienced crumbling. The original ceramic went for like 18000 hours and looked great with just a couple of cosmetic chips.
 
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The door gasket should be high density 7/8” rope type, but check your manual, the cat can be ordered online through any supplier, just make sure it’s not diesel foil and also make sure you order the flat gasket piece no matter what the supplier says.
 
That's very good info guys, thanks. I ordered my first replacement through BK.

So the door gasket needs to be from BK for my Princess Insert?

Mine's not bad, but is now 2 years old and getting a bit compressed. Thanks again for your help.
 
Highbeam said:
Princess ceramic cats are only 185$. Do not buy from blaze king. Get an applied ceramics cat from firecat or Midwest hearth on amazon.

You do need a bk door gasket. They’re special.

Your cat crumbling is not normal wear. It is physical damage caused by something cold hitting the hot face of the cat. A steel cat won’t crumble but it is better to identify the cause of the thermal shock.

As to your question. The cats are supposed to be replaced after 12000 to 14000 hours of use. I can do that much time in 2 years, which is why I’m on my third cat since 2012 in this stove. None of my cats have experienced crumbling. The original ceramic went for like 18000 hours and looked great with just a couple of cosmetic chips.
Click to expand...

Awesome info. Do people prefer one over the other? And does anybody have a source for the best quality gasket and glue available, or does that need to come from BK exclusively? Thanks again.
 
I ordered my new cat off amazon from Midwest, as I had some gift cards and credits on there.

Going to swap out my Princess Insert door gasket too, any other suggestions on which one, and the best glue to use?
 
Hechlers has a good selection
 
kennyp2339 said:
Hechlers has a good selection
Click to expand...

Ordered my new gasket and cement from Hechlers moments ago, thank you for all your help. Great people on this forum.
 
Blaze King has a 10 year warranty on their cats, but not sure if that's prorated or how it works... Mine is still working well on year 3 so far.
 
sutphenj said:
Prorated from what I understand. Little bit of a sales tactic claiming 10 years.
Click to expand...
Perhaps a sales tactic, but I can tell you that I exchanged my cat under warranty this past summer, I had 3 full seasons on it and it was a "no questions asked exchange." When going through the warranty route you need to go through your dealer, the dealer will then contact bk, make shipping arrangements ect.
 
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kennyp2339 said:
Perhaps a sales tactic, but I can tell you that I exchanged my cat under warranty this past summer, I had 3 full seasons on it and it was a "no questions asked exchange." When going through the warranty route you need to go through your dealer, the dealer will then contact bk, make shipping arrangements ect.
Click to expand...
I don't think there are any doubts on BK's service reputation and commitment to their customers...its been well documented on this site. I guess my point is the 10yr claim is just a little silly is all....its just not going to happen for your full time burner. Of course how the dealer represents this claim plays a factor as well.

Suppose that brings up question. Do they only warranty their cats on the stove purchase? Is that why folks go elsewhere for their replacements.
 
sutphenj said:
I don't think there are any doubts on BK's service reputation and commitment to their customers...its been well documented on this site. I guess my point is the 10yr claim is just a little silly is all....its just not going to happen for your full time burner. Of course how the dealer represents this claim plays a factor as well.

Suppose that brings up question. Do they only warranty their cats on the stove purchase? Is that why folks go elsewhere for their replacements.
Click to expand...
Yes the cat warranty is only when you buy a new unit, so my next cat purchase will be coming from my wallet.
 
sutphenj said:
I don't think there are any doubts on BK's service reputation and commitment to their customers...its been well documented on this site. I guess my point is the 10yr claim is just a little silly is all....its just not going to happen for your full time burner. Of course how the dealer represents this claim plays a factor as well.

Suppose that brings up question. Do they only warranty their cats on the stove purchase? Is that why folks go elsewhere for their replacements.
Click to expand...

BKVP cited the number for us once, maybe you can find it if you search, but that 10 year warranty does cover the expected usage of something like 96% of their customers. Those of us heating full time with these little space heaters we call stoves are not the “average” wood stove customer.
 
sutphenj said:
Prorated from what I understand. Little bit of a sales tactic claiming 10 years.
Click to expand...
I have detailed this in posts here before.

Under Federal Law, New Source Performance Standards 2015, Owners and Operators manuals are now regulated documents. If you read any of the manuals, the warranty states a 3 year, 100% warranty. Then each manufacturer, not required by law, can supplement the above requirement. Most add 2-3 years of a prorated warranty.

In March 2012, we began a 10 Year, 100% promotional coverage of the combustor that is shipped with the stove when new. We have learned over many years what can cause premature failure of a combustor. These have been detailed here by the participants on this site. When you purchase one of our stoves, there is a certificate inside the Owners packet that must be filled out and returned for this promotional coverage to be in place.

We strongly believe by offering an extended coverage of 10 Years on the OEM combustor, we can have we refer to as a teachable moment. That is when we help the user identify what is the most likely cause of premature failure. In some instances, the user decides intentionally or unintentionally, to not alter their user habits and stove use and as a result premature failure can be experienced. This observation is not directed at the OP as he/she has reached out for more knowledge. The combustor replaced under the extended coverage has a 100%, 1 year warranty.

To our participants on this site, the 2015 NSPS, clearly states warranty coverage for both catalytic and non catalyst heaters carry the same warranty on the elements necessary for Clean combustion.
 
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DodgyNomad said:
How long should my Cats be lasting in a BK Princess? This is my 4th cat stove, and second blaze king princess, and I'm seeing crumbling in the center of my cat again after having replaced it a couple of years ago. First one did the same thing after a couple of years.

I have an Englander stove downstairs that is 10+ years old and still has it's original cat that looks like new in it, and I had a Lopi in my other home that was still going strong with the original cat after 8 years.

Outside of the obvious basic operating skills for running a cat stove, what else could be causing my cats to start crumbling so quickly?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Englander cat stove? What model? Never seen one.

If your cat is crumbling, it’s suffering thermal shock or flame impingement. Period. It is not “failing”.

Flame impingement causes very obvious cratering of the windward face. Thermal shock causes hairline cracks. Yours may be too far gone to identify which is happening, if you say it’s “crumbling”.
 
BKVP said:
I have detailed this in posts here before.

Under Federal Law, New Source Performance Standards 2015, Owners and Operators manuals are now regulated documents. If you read any of the manuals, the warranty states a 3 year, 100% warranty. Then each manufacturer, not required by law, can supplement the above requirement. Most add 2-3 years of a prorated warranty.

In March 2012, we began a 10 Year, 100% promotional coverage of the combustor that is shipped with the stove when new. We have learned over many years what can cause premature failure of a combustor. These have been detailed here by the participants on this site. When you purchase one of our stoves, there is a certificate inside the Owners packet that must be filled out and returned for this promotional coverage to be in place.

We strongly believe by offering an extended coverage of 10 Years on the OEM combustor, we can have we refer to as a teachable moment. That is when we help the user identify what is the most likely cause of premature failure. In some instances, the user decides intentionally or unintentionally, to not alter their user habits and stove use and as a result premature failure can be experienced. This observation is not directed at the OP as he/she has reached out for more knowledge. The combustor replaced under the extended coverage has a 100%, 1 year warranty.

To our participants on this site, the 2015 NSPS, clearly states warranty coverage for both catalytic and non catalyst heaters carry the same warranty on the elements necessary for Clean combustion.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the clarification on the warranty and associated regulations.

I must say I'm confused on the teachable moment aspect. Why not more education on the front end so as to avoid a customer being out of service while waiting on a warranty claim? Who's doing the teaching? A lot of the chatter here seems to be that dealers focus more on pushing tube stoves and are not always up to snuff on new cat tech. (i.e. can we trust the dealers to educate us).
 
sutphenj said:
Thanks for the clarification on the warranty and associated regulations.

I must say I'm confused on the teachable moment aspect. Why not more education on the front end so as to avoid a customer being out of service while waiting on a warranty claim? Who's doing the teaching? A lot of the chatter here seems to be that dealers focus more on pushing tube stoves and are not always up to snuff on new cat tech. (i.e. can we trust the dealers to educate us).
Click to expand...

The teachable moment is a second or additional support program.

The Owners manual has very clear information on stove maintenance, catalyst FAQ's and much more. Our web site compliments the manuals.

We know MOST consumers use the manuals as a first fire, firestarter.

I can't say all of industry does the same as I have not read all manuals or websites.

Dealer education is a matter I have extensively been involved in the past two years. I visit, present and speak to hundreds of dealers each year. It's true to state there are many falsehoods and biases regarding catalytic technology. But that is changing. This web site is an excellent support mechanism for consumers.

I hope this will addresse your observations.
 
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