Hello all, my name is Jeff and I have been using a CDW FA455 since purchasing my home in 2009. The previous owner had installed it and used it very regularly from what I understand. I knew nothing about wood stoves when I moved in. I have since learned at least how to use it a bit through the winters here in North Carolina. I have a chimney sweep come once a year to clean out the stove and chimney. I have been relying on him to handle whatever maintenance was needed. The last time he was out was just before Thanksgiving.
The other day during a cold snap, I fired up the FA455 and things were going fine until I started getting occasional puffs of smoke coming out from around the top. After some Googling I came to the conclusion that the catalytic converter needed cleaning. With a bit of trepidation I proceeded to take 6 screws out of the top and managed to get the top off. What I found was a converter that needed cleaning and perhaps replacing and a lot of very brittle sealant/glue, some still stuck to cast iron where the sides/back/top come together and some just cracked off into pieces.
My question for you all is besides cleaning/replacing the cat converter, do I need to clean off all the old sealant and replace with new? From what I have read, the same cement used for gaskets is what I should use if necessary. I have just this year had to do some gasket work so just picked up a small tube of Rutland Hi-Temp Stove Gasket Cement. I presume the same will work for resealing the sides/back/top but instead of getting the little 3oz tube I would get something I could use in a caulk gun. If there is any trick to doing the "recementing" please send them along.
Appreciate the advice... Jeff
The other day during a cold snap, I fired up the FA455 and things were going fine until I started getting occasional puffs of smoke coming out from around the top. After some Googling I came to the conclusion that the catalytic converter needed cleaning. With a bit of trepidation I proceeded to take 6 screws out of the top and managed to get the top off. What I found was a converter that needed cleaning and perhaps replacing and a lot of very brittle sealant/glue, some still stuck to cast iron where the sides/back/top come together and some just cracked off into pieces.
My question for you all is besides cleaning/replacing the cat converter, do I need to clean off all the old sealant and replace with new? From what I have read, the same cement used for gaskets is what I should use if necessary. I have just this year had to do some gasket work so just picked up a small tube of Rutland Hi-Temp Stove Gasket Cement. I presume the same will work for resealing the sides/back/top but instead of getting the little 3oz tube I would get something I could use in a caulk gun. If there is any trick to doing the "recementing" please send them along.
Appreciate the advice... Jeff
