FPX Cat questions

[Got Wood]

FPX users... a couple questions related to the Cat:
* How often do you clean it?
* What signs do you look for to indicate that its time for a cleaning?
* What method do you use to clean it?

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Not FPX, but Woodstock here. They recommend cleaning it after every cord of wood. But that somewhat depends upon the wood you are burning. Ours is several years dry so does not need cleaning often. When we do it, we simply lift it out and brush it with an old paint brush. Then we vacuum any fly ash from the area where the cat sits and we are done. It takes us a whole 2-3 minutes to complete the job. We've never had much to clean off of the cat yet so it is a quick job.

Sign that it needs cleaning for sure is smoke from the chimney or the stove not getting up to temperature.

 

[Todd]

Another sign it's time to check your cat is when your draft seems sluggish or you seem to give the stove a little more air than usual. The cat can become partially clogged with fly ash and slow down your draft. Like Dennise, I use a paint brush and vacuume, have also used pipe cleaner for stubborn ash.

 

[Got Wood]

Hmmm, being new to the FPX 44 I am not aware of an easy way to take the Cat out for cleaning. All I have seen it to vacuum it in place... which I find a little tricky to get to with the vacuum and I dont get a good vantage of how dirty/clean it is. Any suggestions?
I did clean it out this morning (which prompted this thread) after I noticed what Todd called "sluggish" performance of the draft when it was engaged. Noticed improvement afterwards.

 

[Todd]

I think your going to have to take yours completely out so you can get at both sides. If there is fly ash on the front more than likely there's some on back. On my stove it's very easy, just lift the lid and the cat is right there to lift out.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Also on Todd's stove, the first time you do this you have to remove two shipping bolts before you can get it out. Those bolts do not have to be put back in so the next time you just simply lift it out.

On that FPX, there has to be a way, otherwise, how would you replace it after it has gone bad? Check the manual closely.

 

[wb11]

I have an FPX 36 but the Cats on both our units are the same. It's easy to remove, just slide it out towrds the front of the unit & it comes right out. One thing though - get a gasket replacement kit first as the gasket material (above & below the Cat) falls apart upon removal. It's simple to replace - the gasket is a type of material that expands when heated so installing new gasket is easy, just lay a strip on top of the cat & lay one on the bottom of the "cat holder / cat box" (for lack of a better term) & slide the Cat back in - since the gasket material expands when heated the first time you have plenty of "wiggle room" to slide the Cat back in place. Also there is some sort of fireproof insulation (different than the gasket material....white stuff that looks like Fiberglass insulation but obviously not fiberglass) that you'll need to stuff back in on both sides of the Cat. Anyway it's very easy & takes just a couple minutes to remove & re-install.

You'll pay about $29.00 for the replacement gasket kit from your dealer (I've done this twice) but that really seems like a rip-off. I'm all for supporting the local dealer but when you see the two strips of gasket material & two small pieces of the side insulation you'll wonder why it's $29.00. Based on this I'll try to find some of this material on-line the next time I remove the Cat as it must be available for a cheaper / more reasonable price somewhere. Anyway if you looks for it yourself you'll need two strips of the stuff -each 18" L x 2" W & it's about 1/16" thick. As far as the white insulation for the sides - just re-use the stuff that's in there as it holds-up fine & shouldn't need to be replaced.

Good luck! l

 

[Got Wood]

Thanks Woodadict (I am too)... How often do you take it out to clean? Do you vacuum in place sometimes as well? If so, how effective is that vs taking out to clean? Seems like $29/cleaning is excessive!

 

[wb11]

Thanks Woodadict (I am too)... How often do you take it out to clean? Do you vacuum in place sometimes as well? If so, how effective is that vs taking out to clean? Seems like $29/cleaning is excessive!

I just vacume it every few weeks & only remove at the end of the season for that once a year "complete stove cleaning chore".

Really the only thing that can accumulate in the Cat is Fly Ash....if you think about it @ temps of 1000 degrees + there is no way for Creosote to accumulate, any little bit that might get on there at the end of an overnight burn (and probably not even likely to happen) will be cooked off in a minute or two next time you "load her up". That being said a little fly ash can get in there but if you keep the air down low when burning there's not much of a draft going through the box to disturb the light ashes.........besides a low air setting is how these units burn best once they're up to temp.
I'd say you probably get the majority of ash accumulation when you open the door to re-load - you know that huge rush of air you get when you first crack the door that swirls all the light ash around??? Anyway here's what works for me:

After disengaging the Cat I open the air all the way before I open the door - this get's the draft up the flue going good again. Then open the door slowly to minimize that rush of air & thus not disturbing the ashes as much.....the minimal fly ash you do get usually gets pulled right up the flue since you already established a strong draft by opening the primary before opening the door.

Regardless if you have a lot of accumulation now I'd suggest you either remove it or leave it in place & push a pipe cleaner through the holes. If you choose the latter may I also suggest you grab a few beers as that's a lot of holes & you'll be there awhile LOL!!

 

[FPX Dude]

I just did mine last nite, so about twice a year, and I'll run ~2 cords thru it. Yea, just easily slides out, then take it to the air duster-blower and put it back in. As mentioned, that stuff that it is wrapped in kinda falls apart, so I haven't replace that yet, but was gonna order some from http://www.woodstovecombustors.com/Gasket_Details.html. Also, read that site for other cleaning and care info. I haven't used any type of brush either, just the air blowing.

 

[Todd]

I just did mine last nite, so about twice a year, and I'll run ~2 cords thru it. Yea, just easily slides out, then take it to the air duster-blower and put it back in. As mentioned, that stuff that it is wrapped in kinda falls apart, so I haven't replace that yet, but was gonna order some from http://www.woodstovecombustors.com/Gasket_Details.html. Also, read that site for other cleaning and care info. I haven't used any type of brush either, just the air blowing.

Be carefull of high compressed air! Not good for cat, can blow the sprayed on catalyst right off!

 

[ozarkjeep]

Mine just slides out to the front, and use a leaf blower and blow thru it. maybe 4 times per season.
otherwise, I have vacumed in place, hard to tell how much stuff this gets out, leaf blower its easy to see the stuff shoot out the back of it.

also, I bought the adhesive flat gasket material at the local store for way cheaper than $29, I think it was 70 cents per foot?

 

[Got Wood]

Thanks for the tips guys. Its all helpfull