Hi All!
This is our first season with a Hearthstone Craftsbury II (Model #8392). We purchased the stove from our local stove shop as a previously burned-in unit (it was on display in their store for a couple of years) and got a great deal on the stove. They cleaned the stove, and the Hearthstone rep that was there said the stove looked to be in good working order. The stove has been great and much easier to control than our old stove, but I keep having this nagging feeling that something is off with the catalysts. So, I have a few questions that I can't seem to get a straight answer on, even after hours of research, YouTube, and calling the stove shop.
1. What does the reloading sequence for stoves like these look like? If my catalyst is in the active range and I have a good bed of coals, do I load up the stove, close the door, and engage the catalyst right away? This seems to make sense to me since the catalyst works off of smoke, and if I let the fire get up to 450-500, then there isn't much smoke for the catalyst to burn.
2. I know the catalyst intends to lower the burning point of the smoke, thus producing a cleaner exhaust from the stove and increasing efficiency. My understanding is that the increased efficiency comes from the catalyst/stove now burning more of the exhaust, thus raising the stove top temperature and allowing for slower burns. Is this correct? If so, what sort of stove top temperature increases should I be seeing, and how quickly should it rise to that temperature?
I have seasoned all of my own wood and have verified the wood is bellow 20% moister content with my moisture meter. Often, when I open a split, it is down to 11%-15% MC.
Thanks all in advance! I have utilized the amazing knowledge of these forums for a while, but first time posting!
This is our first season with a Hearthstone Craftsbury II (Model #8392). We purchased the stove from our local stove shop as a previously burned-in unit (it was on display in their store for a couple of years) and got a great deal on the stove. They cleaned the stove, and the Hearthstone rep that was there said the stove looked to be in good working order. The stove has been great and much easier to control than our old stove, but I keep having this nagging feeling that something is off with the catalysts. So, I have a few questions that I can't seem to get a straight answer on, even after hours of research, YouTube, and calling the stove shop.
1. What does the reloading sequence for stoves like these look like? If my catalyst is in the active range and I have a good bed of coals, do I load up the stove, close the door, and engage the catalyst right away? This seems to make sense to me since the catalyst works off of smoke, and if I let the fire get up to 450-500, then there isn't much smoke for the catalyst to burn.
2. I know the catalyst intends to lower the burning point of the smoke, thus producing a cleaner exhaust from the stove and increasing efficiency. My understanding is that the increased efficiency comes from the catalyst/stove now burning more of the exhaust, thus raising the stove top temperature and allowing for slower burns. Is this correct? If so, what sort of stove top temperature increases should I be seeing, and how quickly should it rise to that temperature?
I have seasoned all of my own wood and have verified the wood is bellow 20% moister content with my moisture meter. Often, when I open a split, it is down to 11%-15% MC.
Thanks all in advance! I have utilized the amazing knowledge of these forums for a while, but first time posting!
