BK Princess Combuster..
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![[Hearth.com] BK Princess Combuster..](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/242/242183-7138565046bdea57ff0f4c78e1e5c225.jpg?hash=pCWqnubpMT "[Hearth.com] BK Princess Combuster..")
![[Hearth.com] BK Princess Combuster..](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/242/242189-3f1e1769288ed7de84e6870116d9e1bb.jpg?hash=7SMp-DY1WW "[Hearth.com] BK Princess Combuster..")
3 years is what I expected judging from what other full time burners here have experienced..no worries.
lsucet
Minister of Fire
I will say that is possible something else is going on. It is ok that it is not performing well, higher than normal wood consumption, not heating like it was etc, but it is deformed. It's okay if you feel after three seasons that is time to replace it and more if it is on that condition but I will say is not normal.
I was surprised by the amount of deterioration...the spring inspection revealed nothing..2-3 times a year I do the dollar bill test on the door and by pass...you would have to tear the dollar to get it back..I am running on 13 ft. of pipe...I doubt any overdraft is going on...but I do agree something is not right.
Yes, there is extreme thermal shock damage to that cat. The thermal shock damage could kill your next cat right away if it’s not dealt with.
The 3 years is pretty normal life for a full time burner since that corresponds with the rated 10-12k hours.
jetsam
Minister of Fire
3 years is the time in which a full time burner might see significantly reduced performance due to masking or substrate flattening.
That picture does NOT illustrate normal wear and tear. Either it is defective or it has had a lot of severe thermal shock (door opened with bypass closed). Could also be mechanical damage or direct flame impingement, though being bathed in flames never seemed to bother my old ceramic cat.
A ceramic cat should look about the same new and used up.
I also think that an air leak of suitable size to damage the cat like that would have the owner posting "Why doesn't this stove have a low setting?".
That picture does NOT illustrate normal wear and tear. Either it is defective or it has had a lot of severe thermal shock (door opened with bypass closed). Could also be mechanical damage or direct flame impingement, though being bathed in flames never seemed to bother my old ceramic cat.
A ceramic cat should look about the same new and used up.
I also think that an air leak of suitable size to damage the cat like that would have the owner posting "Why doesn't this stove have a low setting?".
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Ashful
Minister of Fire
Is it cratered or deformed, is ceramic missing?
If cratered, it could be strong draft causing flame impingement. If deformed, it could be a leaky door causing cat temps too high.
Of course, it could be a dozen other things, too.
If cratered, it could be strong draft causing flame impingement. If deformed, it could be a leaky door causing cat temps too high.
Of course, it could be a dozen other things, too.
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Is this the front or back of the CAT ? Can't tell by the pictures..
I bought a used princess from a guy in NY, installed in my garage this year, Cat Looked like that on the back side.. I replaced it..
Figured the guy or his wife opened the loading door many times without bypassing..
jetsam
Minister of Fire
I actually did that (accidentally) multiple times to my original, and it looked pretty good when I retired it.
No longer even a potential issue since I went to a steel cat!
Still not sure what the next cat will be. I like the steel, but it does definitely clog up around the corners faster than the ceramic did.
It is the back of the cat...I run this stove 99.9% of the time...I can only remember one time that I forgot to open the bypass...
It is cratered and ceramic is missing...the door gasket itself is very tight and was checked in 4 locations and will not let a dollar bill slide...the by pass gasket is tight as well...
I run anywhere from 2:30-3:00 oclock on the air and I have from day one doing 12 hour burns
Thats what I was thinking...that is a rather large temp discrepancy between the 2...can cat temp probes go bad?
They can slip out of calibration. When cold they should point to room temp. The adjustment is easy but if it never gets cold then you wouldn’t know it needs it.
Ashful
Minister of Fire
jetsam
Minister of Fire
I set mine every year over the summer now. Only takes a minute and it's usually off by a bit after a year.
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