OK guys (and gals?)... Get your hot pokers out and start punching holes in this....
My recent posts are concerning problems with an over firing VC Encore 2550 CAT . I have read what everyone has written and have checked everything to check. I have one last gasket to replace (Swestall's recommended damper door on the upper fireback which is a bit of a pain) and replaced my secondary air probe assembly (which after pulling out the old one, it wasn't as bad as I thought... Was actually in very good shape).
So, after reading some recent "My CAT doesn't seem to be working right..." threads, I decided to go out and look at my "smoke." What I believe may also be occurring is that my CAT is done. Although physically in good shape, at year 7 of moderate burns, it is just about shot. More smoke than usual although not dark. Yes, some of the smoke may be leaking through my upper fireback if the gasket is not good (but my damper feels like it always felt...).
So, I have contacted my dealer for the umpteenth time to double check the following and actually was able to speak with someone at VC. Here is what VC told me... "It sounds like your CC is shot... Your stove may be over firing because the CAT is not lighting off... The gases that are not going up the flue are concentrating in the body of the stove and burning off inside the stove rather than in the refractory. The body of your stove is actually getting hotter because the wood is burning faster AND the gases are burning in it rather than at the CAT and in the refractory. The fact that since the CAT may not be working, you are getting a stronger draft which is probably drawing a bit more air than normal through your closed primary air (yes, you will always get some air coming in the primary even when fully closed) and also through the always slightly opened secondary air thus it is adding more air to the stove and the cycle continues until your fuel depletes and then the stove cools down rapidly because there is no longer a lower temp catalyst to keep it going... So, you get this hot fire in the box, then it gets hotter, then it gets cooler when there is not enough left to keep the cycle going longer.... You add more wood, it remains cool, then heats up too fast (because the gases finally reach ignition in the body) until there is nothing left and it cools again..."
OK, opinions???? I am waiting to hear back from my dealer who upon inspection, found nothing wrong with the stove and my gasketing work was sound.
AGE
My recent posts are concerning problems with an over firing VC Encore 2550 CAT . I have read what everyone has written and have checked everything to check. I have one last gasket to replace (Swestall's recommended damper door on the upper fireback which is a bit of a pain) and replaced my secondary air probe assembly (which after pulling out the old one, it wasn't as bad as I thought... Was actually in very good shape).
So, after reading some recent "My CAT doesn't seem to be working right..." threads, I decided to go out and look at my "smoke." What I believe may also be occurring is that my CAT is done. Although physically in good shape, at year 7 of moderate burns, it is just about shot. More smoke than usual although not dark. Yes, some of the smoke may be leaking through my upper fireback if the gasket is not good (but my damper feels like it always felt...).
So, I have contacted my dealer for the umpteenth time to double check the following and actually was able to speak with someone at VC. Here is what VC told me... "It sounds like your CC is shot... Your stove may be over firing because the CAT is not lighting off... The gases that are not going up the flue are concentrating in the body of the stove and burning off inside the stove rather than in the refractory. The body of your stove is actually getting hotter because the wood is burning faster AND the gases are burning in it rather than at the CAT and in the refractory. The fact that since the CAT may not be working, you are getting a stronger draft which is probably drawing a bit more air than normal through your closed primary air (yes, you will always get some air coming in the primary even when fully closed) and also through the always slightly opened secondary air thus it is adding more air to the stove and the cycle continues until your fuel depletes and then the stove cools down rapidly because there is no longer a lower temp catalyst to keep it going... So, you get this hot fire in the box, then it gets hotter, then it gets cooler when there is not enough left to keep the cycle going longer.... You add more wood, it remains cool, then heats up too fast (because the gases finally reach ignition in the body) until there is nothing left and it cools again..."
OK, opinions???? I am waiting to hear back from my dealer who upon inspection, found nothing wrong with the stove and my gasketing work was sound.
AGE
