How many people, still burn firewood in their pre epa wood burning stove ?

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Eman85

Minister of Fire
Oct 10, 2022
791
E TN
The reason I asked, is because I still see people using them. The question for you is , why haven’t you switched over to a epa wood burning stove yet.. I will love to hear your feedback on this
My stove is an old Defiant Encore over 35yo but it does have a catalyst. I have lookedd at newer stoves but like most things the gov't gets involved with and things that become trendy the prices are pretty high.
I guess it's a lot like the same reason people buy older farm tractors and why older diesel pickups command high prices. Many times it goes back to the old adage of simplest is best. Old stove you light fire and feed it when it needs it and you clean the chimney, simple to understand and operate. Old truck or tractor you start it and run it and change the oil and filters, simple to understand and operate. New truck or tractor lights on dash come on and everyone scratches their heads and guesses at stupid expensive parts including the trained technicians with the expensive tools and equipment.
 

begreen

Mooderator
Staff member
Nov 18, 2005
102,412
South Puget Sound, WA
The Defiant cat is the result of EPA regs. Sounds like they worked out pretty well in this case.
 

Eman85

Minister of Fire
Oct 10, 2022
791
E TN
The Defiant cat is the result of EPA regs. Sounds like they worked out pretty well in this case.
Yes and no, I've burned without the cat or with a dead cat for years at a time. Stove is finicky to say the least with the cat working. VC known for their back puffs when the cat is engaged. I can get low long burns with the cat but can also have the cat go wild and be hard to control at times. It's a love hate relationship with the stove.
 

begreen

Mooderator
Staff member
Nov 18, 2005
102,412
South Puget Sound, WA
Yes, they were not VC's shining hour. There are much better operating modern stoves.
 
Aug 27, 2021
22
PA
Only burn dry hardwood and burn it hot then you are burning it clean.
 
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bholler

Chimney sweep
Staff member
Jan 14, 2014
32,852
central pa
Only burn dry hardwood and burn it hot then you are burning it clean.
Well to an extent. No matter what an old stove with no secondary combustion will never burn as clean as a modern one. And there is absolutely no problem with soft woods
 

Itslay90

Feeling the Heat
Dec 16, 2022
356
Upstate,NY
You got a good deal. I bought our Resolute when that model first came out and it was $495. That was more money than I had ever paid for anything back then. Including my car. I think the higher price must have been due to shipping costs to the west coast. Loved that stove.
I was talking to the person that I bought my house from. He told me. The Timberline they said used 7-8 cords of firewood per year, I had to look at him, because I don’t even have that stove in my house anymore, and I’m pretty sure there’s no way I be going thru all that wood like that. It seems like the Timberline was one 40 percent efficiency
 

LDPosse

Member
Mar 16, 2012
10
Hershey, PA
That stove does not meet current standards. For its day it was absolutely one of the best. But not up to modern standards at all
Actually, the FA264CCL does still meet EPA standards, with 1.6g/hr emissions. Not as good as some modern EPA cat stoves, but still comfortably within the current limits.

IMG_6964.jpeg
 

bholler

Chimney sweep
Staff member
Jan 14, 2014
32,852
central pa
Actually, the FA264CCL does still meet EPA standards, with 1.6g/hr emissions. Not as good as some modern EPA cat stoves, but still comfortably within the current limits.

View attachment 319645
Using the old testing standards yes it's that low. But it hasn't been tested with the current procedures so it doesn't meet current standards
 
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LDPosse

Member
Mar 16, 2012
10
Hershey, PA
I always liked the looks of that stove
I found a never-fired 1986 model FA264CCL last year. We installed it in our new addition, and had our first fire on 12/31/22. It fits beautifully into the decor of our home.

IMG_6431.jpeg
 
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