j7art2
Minister of Fire
You shouldn't lump all catalytic stoves in one bunch. There are many who are very happy with there cat and hybrid stoves.
We are living in interesting times as far as wood stove technology. as a consumer with no skin in the game so to speak, I think we will all benefit. I know there is NO WAY I would go back to the old smoke dragon in my home and hope there's a stove made in the next twenty years that will make me say the same about the BK I'm running now.
I understand that some people are happy with them. The occasional wood burner would probably never encounter an issue. The hardcore wood burner who heats solely with wood and uses 12 cords a year on the other hand (me) very well could.
The design of catalytic converters simply doesn't work well in wood stove technology, which is why it isn't used much anymore, and why you don't widely find the old retrofit kits for dinosaur wood burners like mine anymore. With MC over 27%, they clog, and are not often easily accessed for cleaning. Yes, I understand we shouldn't be burning above 20% MC, however when you have well over 5000 logs sitting around waiting to be burned, there's no way to guarantee that every piece is exactly where I need it. Most of it is likely close since I season my wood properly, but nobody has time to check every single piece they burn.
The other issue with catalytic converters are that they are often platinum or plutonium plated, and this plating wears out. Anyone involved in the scrapping business knows that catalytic converters rake in by far the most money of any metal on the market. CC's wear out, and when they do, we're talking $200-400 for a replacement, if it's even replaceable.
Just my opinion, but given the choice, I'd choose a stove without one rather than with one, even if the one with the CC was the same price (it wouldn't be, but that's beside the point) and more efficient.