Is my stove still safe to be used?

[davidprea]

After replacing the gasket around my stove (wood-burning insert) while I was replacing the door I noticed some severe damage to the cast iron wall at the back of the stove, causing it to buckle and a big chunk to fall out. (See photo.). What I'm guessing happened is that with a badly damaged gasket too much air was flowing around the door, which turned the stove into a blast furnace.

I think the chamber I can see through the hole is where the air flowed when the lever is moved over that redirects through the catalytic converter. So my question is whether it's safe to continue using it until we can get a replacement. I don't know how long we have been running the stove with this damage, but the house hasn't burned down yet!

Thoughts/opinions?

The stove was made by Vermont Castings / CFM Corporation, which apparently filed for bankruptcy in 2008 and was acquired by another company. I didn't install the stove; it came with a house we bought.

 

[davidprea]

Oh, and it is installed inside a fireplace, not in a wall.

 

[Burnin Since 1991]

After replacing the gasket around my stove (wood-burning insert) while I was replacing the door I noticed some severe damage to the cast iron wall at the back of the stove, causing it to buckle and a big chunk to fall out. (See photo.). What I'm guessing happened is that with a badly damaged gasket too much air was flowing around the door, which turned the stove into a blast furnace.

I think the chamber I can see through the hole is where the air flowed when the lever is moved over that redirects through the catalytic converter. So my question is whether it's safe to continue using it until we can get a replacement. I don't know how long we have been running the stove with this damage, but the house hasn't burned down yet!

Thoughts/opinions?

The stove was made by Vermont Castings / CFM Corporation, which apparently filed for bankruptcy in 2008 and was acquired by another company. I didn't install the stove; it came with a house we bought.


View attachment 342563

Welcome to the forum. Which model of Vermont Castings is it? They also have different model numbers based on when they were made.

Should be a decal or data plate on it somewhere also.

Do you have the owners manual?

 

[davidprea]

Welcome to the forum. Which model of Vermont Castings is it? They also have different model numbers based on when they were made.

Should be a decal or data plate on it somewhere also.

Do you have the owners manual?

"Winterwarm Small Insert 2080"

No manual.

EDIT: I googled that and found this page:

Vermont Castings 2080 | Wood Insert | Available Parts

Vermont Castings Winterwarm 2080 small wood insert available parts include but are not limited to door gasket, pawl assembly, and fire backs

www.woodmanspartsplus.com

I think the damage might be to part #15 in the exploded schematic.

EDIT 2: Oh! Do I just need to order one of these and replace it?

Fireback | Vermont Castings | Cast Iron | Wood Stove Parts

This is a replacement fire back that will work on many of the Vermont Castings wood stove models

www.woodmanspartsplus.com

 

[begreen]

Examine the stove insides once the fireback is removed. That damage happened over time and many fires so there may be additional part damage discovered, like the front frame. It might also need a new cat. Be careful with the refractory engine, it's fragile.

 

[Burnin Since 1991]

"Winterwarm Small Insert 2080"

No manual.

https://manuals.fire-parts.com/aws-assets/vermont-castings-winterwarm-small-winterwarm_small_install-pdf.pdf?inline=true

Download your manual and spend some time going through it. There is a lot of knowledge in there along with clearances, maintenance, part numbers and on and on