Catalytic Stove Pros and Cons

[Richard Pryor]

I was set on buying a Blaze King Princess and called a store and they said BK are catalytic meaning they lose 20% efficiency right off the bat and that they burn dirty. Can anyone point me to an article where I can read pros and cons of a catalytic stove?

Thx

 

[toddnic]

There's a lot of information on the web regarding catalytic and non-catalytic stoves. Also, there is a lot of information in the forums on this site. Just do a search. I would encourage you NOT TO GO BACK to the store you mention above. That's nonsense.... Here is a link to information provided by the EPA: https://www.epa.gov/burnwise/choosing-right-wood-burning-stove. My Woodstock Soapstone Company Progress Hybrid Stove has 1.3 gm per hour of emissions. Burns very cleanly and uses much less wood.

 

[begreen]

There are several thread on the topic. It comes up annually and spawns lots of my stove is better than yours posts. Here is one thread.
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/cat-vs-non-cat-pros-and-cons.87312/

This is a good NW stove. It burns cleanly if it has proper operation, draft, and dry wood. It is mechanically more complex, but a very good stove if wood is your sole source of heat and you will be burning 24/7 even in mild weather.

 

[Woody Stover]

That's not true, but if you want to replace the cat when you start noticing a drop-off in performance, you are looking at buying one after about 3 years, in my experience. But if you are on the coast, you might not burn as much as I do and your cats might last longer.

 

[bholler]

I was set on buying a Blaze King Princess and called a store and they said BK are catalytic meaning they lose 20% efficiency right off the bat and that they burn dirty. Can anyone point me to an article where I can read pros and cons of a catalytic stove?

Thx

What you were told is completely untrue

 

[Richard Pryor]

This will be used as backup heat and for ambience. I bought a Mitsubishi heat pump and here in Oregon electricity is super cheap ($0.07 kWh) and wood is around $225/chord so I think i’m Better off running my heat pump. But when it gets below 4F the heat strip is activated and that’s not efficient so figured I could do wood burning there and a few times per week as well.

 

[begreen]

This will be used as backup heat and for ambience. I bought a Mitsubishi heat pump and here in Oregon electricity is super cheap ($0.07 kWh) and wood is around $225/chord so I think i’m Better off running my heat pump. But when it gets below 4F the heat strip is activated and that’s not efficient so figured I could do wood burning there and a few times per week as well.

In this case I would not get a cat stove. A much less expensive stove will satisfy all these requirements and provide a better fire view. Save some bucks on the stove and put it into a safe chimney system.

How large a space will you be heating? Where in Oregon are you and how often does it get below say 15º?

 

[Woody Stover]

This will be used as backup heat and for ambience.

I wouldn't mess with a cat stove at all, in that case. I would get a non-cat for a toasty, pretty fire on occasion. Nice enamel job...

 

[Woody Stover]

ISave some bucks on the stove and put it into a safe chimney system.

He was thinking about a BK, he's not looking for a good deal. Sure, get good chimney, but spend money on enamel, too.

 

[Richard Pryor]

What is enamel? Central Oregon. With global warming it isn’t getting below 15 often. So far 2 mornings this winter. @begreen

 

[showrguy]

What is enamel? Central Oregon. With global warming it isn’t getting below 15 often. So far 2 mornings this winter. @begreen

Global warming ??
Are you serious ??

 

[Richard Pryor]

As a heart attack

 

[firefighterjake]

I was set on buying a Blaze King Princess and called a store and they said BK are catalytic meaning they lose 20% efficiency right off the bat and that they burn dirty. Can anyone point me to an article where I can read pros and cons of a catalytic stove?

Thx

About the only thing they got right is that the Blaze King has a cat . . .

That said . . . if your plan is for back up heat or occasional heat only I would go with a secondary burner.

 

[velvetfoot]

Don't people here brag about how black their glass is on their Blaze Kings?

 

[lsucet]

Don't people here brag about how black their glass is on their Blaze Kings?

And you are right, but that is for 24/7 burners. In the way he plans to use it possibly he will be burning hot for ambient and back up = clean glass.

 

[barnaclebob]

Well if they were referencing that BK's have about 80% efficiency then yes they do loose 20% right off the top, but that's not because its a cat stove. If it weren't a cat stove i would be worse.

 

[Highbeam]

Don't people here brag about how black their glass is on their Blaze Kings?

Same thing happens on the Woodstock IS if you burn it low enough. Truth be told, I've never had a black glass over the whole window, just the lower corners and less than 50% which would be translucent with creosote. The center top 50% stays as clean as a noncat even when burning evergreens at the lowest setting possible.

 

[Highbeam]

Well if they were referencing that BK's have about 80% efficiency then yes they do loose 20% right off the top, but that's not because its a cat stove. If it weren't a cat stove i would be worse.

That might be what happened. They saw the BK marketing touting that awesome 80% efficiency and didn't realize that almost all other stoves are worse.

 

[lsucet]

When people get a BK, they get too much into saving mode, low burn mode, longer burn mode. Till they dont get over all those modes and burn it like it should they will be getting nasty glass. Load , burn hot, dial it to your need, that is all you need. saving, low burn, long burn, just happens so clean glass.

 

[mellow]

@BKVP might be interested in knowing what store that is if they are spouting off crap like that, especially if they are on the BK dealer list.

 

[begreen]

For the OP's need, mild climate, back-up heat for a high-efficiency heat pump, and ambience in a tightly insulated home, there are many alternatives. RP, what style of stove would look best in your home? How large a home is this and how open is the floorplan where the stove is going?

 

[Highbeam]

For the OP's need, mild climate, back-up heat for a high-efficiency heat pump, and ambience in a tightly insulated home, there are many alternatives. RP, what style of stove would look best in your home? How large a home is this and how open is the floorplan where the stove is going?

Central Oregon can be high desert. Think Bend, LaPine. Not a coastal climate.

As long as an operator is not looking to optimize a stove selection for 24/7, 100% of home heat, just about any stove will work.

Speaking of Bend, currently enjoying this brew from 10 barrel brewing out of Bend.

https://www.taphunter.com/beer/10-barrel-pray-for-snow/4994238002495488

 

[begreen]

Yes indeed it can be. I have to try some 10 barrel. Heard good things about them.

Based on the OP's requirements I would go for a stove sized for the home that fits the ambience. Given it is just an occasional burner, a simple stove with a great fireview would probably be my choice.

 

[ohlongarm]

Same thing happens on the Woodstock IS if you burn it low enough. Truth be told, I've never had a black glass over the whole window, just the lower corners and less than 50% which would be translucent with creosote. The center top 50% stays as clean as a noncat even when burning evergreens at the lowest setting possible.

I agree black glass is minimal with my BK,dry well seasoned wood helps.After this week,i can only say,nothing burns like a King.

 

[begreen]

I agree black glass is minimal with my BK,dry well seasoned wood helps.After this week,i can only say,nothing burns like a King.

The glass will stay clear when the stove is being pushed for strong heat like has been needed this week. How many stoves are you comparing it to?