Dutchwest smoke smell and catalytic converter temperature

[mban112]

I am a newbie. We just installed a new to us Dutchwest Federal Airtight in our fireplace. I’ve had three fires in it. Last night there was a smoke smell. I should say, that I did have to open the front door a couple of times and each time I do that some smoke comes out due to suction I guess. Any thoughts? I haven’t seen any smoke coming out of anywhere.

Also, on the Dutchwest there is a catalytic converter and on top it has a temperature gauge. Is the temperature for the catalytic different than the actual temperature of the stove? Sometime the temperature guage is high while my magentic guage is not.

Thanks.

 

[MacPB]

I have a different stove (Fireview with cat) but I usually prime the chimney first with a lit paper ball. I also wait a moment after opening the air intake all the way, before opening the door.

Mike

 

[edison38]

If you have the catalytic converter engaged while burning you'll have to disengage it and wait a minute before opening the stove. Otherwise smoke is still in the firebox and will spill out.

The probe thermometer in the cat will be about twice the outside temp of the stove.

 

[katwillny]

Hey MBAN112, I have the same stove you do. it took me several tries to get the stove to light up without setting off the smoke alarms and scaring the crap out of my kids and the dog. I tried several things, including my wife's blow drier, which by the way got me yelled at, but currently what is working for me is newspapers. just make sure you are using black ink newspaper, not the colorful ones as that may jeoperdize the integrity of your cat combustor. Below is a link to the manual for your stove in case you dont currently have one.

http://tinyurl.com/ydk46c8

Happy Burning!!

 

[Todd]

Do you have the manual for this stove? Sounds like you need to get more familiar with it? Here's a link to a lot of good info on catalytic stoves.
http://www.firecatcombustors.blogspot.com/

 

[RustyShackleford]

I am a newbie. We just installed a new to us Dutchwest Federal Airtight in our fireplace. I’ve had three fires in it. Last night there was a smoke smell. I should say, that I did have to open the front door a couple of times and each time I do that some smoke comes out due to suction I guess. Any thoughts? I haven’t seen any smoke coming out of anywhere.

In addition to the advice to become more familiar with the manual, in particular the part about disengaging
the converter-bypass gate before opening the door, I'll relate this. A few years ago, my Dutchwest (which
I'd been using since new 20 years ago) began giving a smokey smell. Only on a low overnight burn.
I decided it was probably leaky seams between the cast-iron panels which form the stove. I bought a
new welded-steel Blaze King.

Also, on the Dutchwest there is a catalytic converter and on top it has a temperature gauge. Is the temperature for the catalytic different than the actual temperature of the stove? Sometime the temperature guage is high while my magentic guage is not.

Uh, yeah. It's RIGHT above the cat, so it'll get VERY hot.