Catalytic Converter question

[josde21]

Hi,

I have a question about the catalytic converter on my Vermont Casting Intrepid II stove. I am new to using catalytic style stoves as my whole life growing up I have only used non-catalytic stoves.....

I don't engage the catalytic converter often, but I was told recently I should as it provides more heat, and more consistent heat from the stove. I was told it burns better and hotter.

I had a pretty good fire going this evening, so I switched it over and engaged the catalytic converter.....It burned okay, but from the time I switched it over, it started burning less hot than before. It did burn slower, but not as hot.

I guess my question is, does that sound normal? Or does it sound like I may need to replace the catalytic converter?

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks,
Joe

 

[quotejso]

Hi,

I have a question about the catalytic converter on my Vermont Casting Intrepid II stove. I am new to using catalytic style stoves as my whole life growing up I have only used non-catalytic stoves.....

I don't engage the catalytic converter often, but I was told recently I should as it provides more heat, and more consistent heat from the stove. I was told it burns better and hotter.

I had a pretty good fire going this evening, so I switched it over and engaged the catalytic converter.....It burned okay, but from the time I switched it over, it started burning less hot than before. It did burn slower, but not as hot.

I guess my question is, does that sound normal? Or does it sound like I may need to replace the catalytic converter?

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks,
Joe

If it makes it lesss hot something isn't right.

 

[Nick Mystic]

There are a lot of variables operating here that you haven't defined, so it's not possible to give a concise explanation on why your stove burned cooler once you engaged the cat. However, here is one scenario that would produce such an outcome: If you routinely burn your stove with the primary air wide open and the the cat bypass also open you would burn hot, like most stoves do when you leave the air wide open. When you close the bypass and the exhaust gasses start passing through the cat it could act like a damper and slow down your draft, thus reduce the heat of the stove. If you don't often engage the cat it could well have become clogged or partially clogged with ash, which is what would produce this dampening effect.

Of course there can be another reason for what you experienced and if you give more information about what air setting you had the stove on and the condition of your cat fellow forum followers might be able to narrow down the cause of your cooler burn.

 

[josde21]

There are a lot of variables operating here that you haven't defined, so it's not possible to give a concise explanation on why your stove burned cooler once you engaged the cat. However, here is one scenario that would produce such an outcome: If you routinely burn your stove with the primary air wide open and the the cat bypass also open you would burn hot, like most stoves do when you leave the air wide open. When you close the bypass and the exhaust gasses start passing through the cat it could act like a damper and slow down your draft, thus reduce the heat of the stove. If you don't often engage the cat it could well have become clogged or partially clogged with ash, which is what would produce this dampening effect.

Of course there can be another reason for what you experienced and if you give more information about what air setting you had the stove on and the condition of your cat fellow forum followers might be able to narrow down the cause of your cooler burn.

Your assumptions were 100% accurate, thank you....I will pull the cat out tomorrow, and take a look, and try to post a photo....I pulled it out last in febuary or March last year..so it's due for an inspection.

I routinely run the stove full open primary air, and get it nice and hot....I rarely switch it to catalytic or minimize the primary air.

Thanks for giving me some ideas and a place to start.