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How often do you have to clean the cat in your stove? How often do you have to replace the cat with a new part? What is the cost? Do you need a dealer technician to make the repair and replace the cat? Thanks
Princess owner here. Cleaning the cat is as simple as brushing the surface with a soft brush or carefully using a vaccume hose. BK does not recommend the vinagar bath. I have cleaned my cat three times I think in nearly two seasons. Only needed it once.
How often you will replace your cat depends on how much you run your stove. I think you should expect at least 4 burning seasons or more.
Can't speak from first hand experience on changing it but the cat does not appear to be, nor from what I have picked up on here, hard to change as a do it yourself. Pull old out, gasket and slide new in.
I think the princess cat is similar(maybe the same). I vacuum mine once or maybe twice a season. I'm on my 5th season and will likely replace it before next season. I've noticed a drop off in performance.
The cat can easily be replaced by you if you are handy in any way. I think the steel cat is in the 300 dollar range.(ceramic for the Princess is 25x)
Thanks to both of you. I am considering a Blaze King ash ford sometime in the near future. I am just sure how the cat system works or the costs involved.
I think the princess cat is similar(maybe the same). I vacuum mine once or maybe twice a season. I'm on my 5th season and will likely replace it before next season. I've noticed a drop off in performance.
I honestly think that's about their life span burning from end of Sept-late Apr/early May. It still might be 70-80% of what it was but you notice the fall off with a stove that burns loads for 24+ hours. I notice the tstat opening more to keep the stove temp up more then it used to, chimney is also getting a "little" dirtier. Wood is the best it's ever been so I know that's not the culprit. I expected to replace it every three years when I bought so I'm good at five.