It Happened
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bobdog2o02
Minister of Fire
P.S. Acquisition and installation courtesy of Wooden Sun out of Charlottesville, Virginia. They have been absolutely awesome on this project. We could not be happier with them, from advice to sales to pulling permits to installation. Admin/mods, is it OK for me to post their link on this thread?
I think just having posted the name of the outfit is enough of an endorsement/recommendation. Anyone who sees this quite obviously has a computer and, if interested, will have no trouble locating/contacting them.
Nice to hear they did such a terrific job for you. The installation looks very nice, indeed. I'm sure you'll really enjoy it. Actually, it's obvious you're already enjoying it...but in the middle of next winter you'll be enjoying it even more, I'm sure. RIck
Nice to hear they did such a terrific job for you. The installation looks very nice, indeed. I'm sure you'll really enjoy it. Actually, it's obvious you're already enjoying it...but in the middle of next winter you'll be enjoying it even more, I'm sure. RIck
Thank you for the quick reply, Rick! How are things in beautiful Bend? It's been too long since we've visited the great Pacific NW.
Yes, I think we will enjoy this stove, particularly in this location. Winds off of the water last winter were 60+ mph at times, with ice flows in the river, skim ice on the shore, icicles blown sideways hanging from the community pier, and snow on the beach. Last year's low temps without windchill factored in were in the single digits.
Of course, now that we have the Princess installed, next year's winter lows will not get below 40'F.
The wood, red oak, was felled between one and three years ago. It was split immediately before delivery, and has been cross stacked under a carport but otherwise uncovered since April. We have a pretty constant prevailing breeze (to outright wind) here so hopefully the wood will be dry enough by next October/November. We plan to get a moisture meter to be sure.
Yes, we are happy.
<:3~
Of course, now that we have the Princess installed, next year's winter lows will not get below 40'F.
Looking at the BK-fans here and their reported burn times, it just means a reload once a week or so.
Nice install and looks like a good spot to get the heat distributed through the house. Congrats!
SWEET beca! what a great stove that is! I really think after we talked in DC that a woodstove is going to do wonders for you guys in that house.
I loved my cat stove when I was running with wood, thinking on going back to wood myself having played with our new Madison, though it means a small pellet stove in my study (where I am right now) as Dee isn't likely to want to revert totally back to wood.
as for cat stoves I think its hard to dispute the BK line, they really have established themselves as the "varsity" when it comes to cat stoves. you guys are going to LOVE the stove , I have zero doubt of that
I loved my cat stove when I was running with wood, thinking on going back to wood myself having played with our new Madison, though it means a small pellet stove in my study (where I am right now) as Dee isn't likely to want to revert totally back to wood.
as for cat stoves I think its hard to dispute the BK line, they really have established themselves as the "varsity" when it comes to cat stoves. you guys are going to LOVE the stove , I have zero doubt of that
Thank you, Mike, HotCoals, Stovelark, Grisu! Mike, we had to go with a professional installation due to our homeowner's insurance policy. We looked at the Englander line seriously but we had to have that certificate of professional installation. We inquired with the nearest stove shops and no one was particularly interested in installing a stove they didn't sell. We considered the Lopi Cape Cod and the Vermont Defiant, but we kept coming back to the Blaze King. Fortunately for us, there is now a Blaze King dealer in Virginia who was willing to travel the considerable distance to deliver and install this stove and the chimney- and with a happy, positive attitude about it as well. That was a huge deal for us, and it was a joy to deal with them.
HotCoals, there is a 9" clearance from the main body of the stove to the wall, and a 6" clearance from the offset on the back of the stove (a rectangular protrusion, I don't know what it contains) to the wall. The stove is equipped with a Blaze King supplied rear heat shield that reduces the required clearance to 6". Also, the stove pipe is a double wall stove pipe, which also reduces clearance from the stove pipe to the wall.
Because the stove shop traveled such a distance to install the stove, we had the county's building inspector on site today to inspect the stove while the crew was still here, just in case something needed to be corrected. The building inspector went over all of the clearances again, for the stove, the stove pipe and the chimney. It's all good- but that's a sharp eye, HotCoals. Excellent catch.
HotCoals, there is a 9" clearance from the main body of the stove to the wall, and a 6" clearance from the offset on the back of the stove (a rectangular protrusion, I don't know what it contains) to the wall. The stove is equipped with a Blaze King supplied rear heat shield that reduces the required clearance to 6". Also, the stove pipe is a double wall stove pipe, which also reduces clearance from the stove pipe to the wall.
Because the stove shop traveled such a distance to install the stove, we had the county's building inspector on site today to inspect the stove while the crew was still here, just in case something needed to be corrected. The building inspector went over all of the clearances again, for the stove, the stove pipe and the chimney. It's all good- but that's a sharp eye, HotCoals. Excellent catch.
well, I appreciate your looking at my line, I understand how it can be with installation and such. no worries ( I still luv ya) all in all I think you picked a great stove for what you are looking to do. like I said its my opinion (especially since we don't do em anymore) that BK is the varsity when it comes to cat stoves. the wind can blow for all its worth now you have the firepower to handle it. radiant heat will be so much better for you guys.
you're gonna love this stove, I have no doubt at all of that. oh, and say hi to your hubby for me, I really enjoyed meeting both you guys up in DC
The englander guy endorsing the bk cat stove.... that's great. I think I'll buy one of each.
hey , im not an idiot, I love my products or id have left a long time ago, but I recognize quality when I see it especially when its in a market I don't sell in. you want a cat stove IMHO buy BK , you want a non cat look me up BTU for the buck, I got ya covered.
now you understand why im not in sales. too blatantly honest
blueguy
Feeling the Heat
If it's the protrusion with the silver sticker on the top, that's the thermostat housing....
Oh no, it's a good thing to endorse another product. It means a lot to confirm my high regards for both companies.
Blueguy, yes, this rectangular protrusion has a sticker on top that says "No user serviceable parts inside. Do not remove this cover." After decades as a busy, busy person (now retired) my brain is trained to default: "If the sign says that I can't do anything about this, I'm moving on to things that I can do something about. NEXT!" So I will admit to being curious about what was in that box, and noting that I'd have to look at an exploded diagram to figure that out, but I had not done that yet.
So far my mental exercise about this stove has been trying to get my brain trained about the "open" and "close" settings for the CAT bypass and its lever, such that I understand the interaction between the bypass, the CAT and stove operation. If I have this straight, "open" means that the bypass door/flap is open such that the products of combustion can and do bypass the CAT and go straight up the stack. This setting is for starting the fire and/or opening the door to add more wood. "Closed" is for shutting the bypass door to "engage the CAT" such that the products of combustion are forced through the CAT before they go up the stack. This setting is used when the stove reaches the correct temperature as indicated on the gauge at the top of the stove, and for opening the door to add more wood.
And thank you everyone for being patient with me while I typed that out, because it helps me get the process straight and cemented in my brain.
Please tell me if I have that wrong!
Jeff_t, no, no blowers at this time. The part of the house in which the stove is located is all open. We have the heat shield on the back. I may be mistaken about this, but is there a close clearance option related to the installation and continuous use of the blowers/fans? We did not want our clearance dependent on using the blowers, because one of the primary reasons for having the stove installed was for use during power outages. (Ergo we have the rear heat shield installed.) Also, do the blowers employ a convection deck on the top of the stove? I wanted a flat surface because I hope to use the stove top for some cooking and for heating water. Anyway, if we decide that we want blowers, we'll add them later. We have a convenient outlet, and the stove shop owner said that he could have them shipped to us and we could add them ourselves if we wanted.
I/we are happy to hear all of your ideas and recommendations- bring 'em on! We are wood stove newbies and we appreciate your wisdom and guidance!
So far my mental exercise about this stove has been trying to get my brain trained about the "open" and "close" settings for the CAT bypass and its lever, such that I understand the interaction between the bypass, the CAT and stove operation. If I have this straight, "open" means that the bypass door/flap is open such that the products of combustion can and do bypass the CAT and go straight up the stack. This setting is for starting the fire and/or opening the door to add more wood. "Closed" is for shutting the bypass door to "engage the CAT" such that the products of combustion are forced through the CAT before they go up the stack. This setting is used when the stove reaches the correct temperature as indicated on the gauge at the top of the stove, and for opening the door to add more wood.
And thank you everyone for being patient with me while I typed that out, because it helps me get the process straight and cemented in my brain.
Please tell me if I have that wrong!
Jeff_t, no, no blowers at this time. The part of the house in which the stove is located is all open. We have the heat shield on the back. I may be mistaken about this, but is there a close clearance option related to the installation and continuous use of the blowers/fans? We did not want our clearance dependent on using the blowers, because one of the primary reasons for having the stove installed was for use during power outages. (Ergo we have the rear heat shield installed.) Also, do the blowers employ a convection deck on the top of the stove? I wanted a flat surface because I hope to use the stove top for some cooking and for heating water. Anyway, if we decide that we want blowers, we'll add them later. We have a convenient outlet, and the stove shop owner said that he could have them shipped to us and we could add them ourselves if we wanted.
I/we are happy to hear all of your ideas and recommendations- bring 'em on! We are wood stove newbies and we appreciate your wisdom and guidance!
bobdog2o02
Minister of Fire
Your operating theory is sound, just be aware the first month or two that CAT will be super active and when you turn down the thermostat it actually makes more smoke and runs the cat hotter for a while.....
Well said, Mike. If we are ever in a DIY situation we will indeed look you up! If we had been able to use one of your stoves in our application, it would have saved us big bucks for the BTU's.
P.S. The wind does indeed "blow for all its worth" here. Winds will often reach 60+ mph here in the winter, not associated with any storm system whatsoever. Just a front blowing through in the winter can bring those winds.
The thunderstorms that blew through last week brought winds of up to 71 mph, according to our little on site weather station.
OK- is there something(s) we should do in response to that?
We are also aware that there is a process for cleaning the CAT to reactivate it. Is this something we should consider doing annually, or do we wait several years until the CAT "slows down"? How will we know when it is time? I don't remember seeing any reference to cleaning the CAT in the Blaze King manual but I'm not cover to cover yet. (May have missed it.)
This stove will be used on a part time basis for the next several years (unless things change dramatically, always possible, who knows what tomorrow holds?) So I guess our CAT will have a few years on it before it needs to be cleaned.
Anyway, are there any precautions or best practices to which we need to adhere during the break in period in order to preserve the CAT?
bobdog2o02
Minister of Fire
I'm still new to CAT stoves too. I installed ours in march and have fired it about a dozen times. To my knowledge the only thing BK says about cat service is to use a gentle brush to dust the face of it.....
The blowers don't need to running to get the same clearance as the heat shield. The convection deck is optional for your stove. They will attach to and blow thru the deal on the top rear of the stove. I don't know if yours is vented for that, or a new part is included with the kit.
Not much you need to worry about with the new cat. Let it go, but keep an eye on it. If you think it gets too hot, open the bypass for a bit.
The 'major cleaning' with the vinegar bath may or may not be necesssary after a few years, but definitely not an annual thing. Pull the flame shield off and run a soft brush across it, or carefully vacuum the fly ash off the face. Check the gasket periodically. That's about it for cat maintenance.
My manual had an addendum about the major cleaning, but my stove was built in 2006. I don't see anything about it in the new manuals online.
Not much you need to worry about with the new cat. Let it go, but keep an eye on it. If you think it gets too hot, open the bypass for a bit.
The 'major cleaning' with the vinegar bath may or may not be necesssary after a few years, but definitely not an annual thing. Pull the flame shield off and run a soft brush across it, or carefully vacuum the fly ash off the face. Check the gasket periodically. That's about it for cat maintenance.
My manual had an addendum about the major cleaning, but my stove was built in 2006. I don't see anything about it in the new manuals online.
P.S. Stovelark, that's a Hearth Classics pad, in Java, with the Classic Edge option. Wooden Sun ordered it from Hearth Classics for us, and delivered it with the stove. Wooden Sun will also build a custom hearth for you if you'd like. For our situation and application, it was easiest and most cost effective to order the pad from Hearth Classics. This option was best for us because of our physical distance from Wooden Sun. It would have been expensive to have them drive out to The Twelfth of Never on multiple days to construct a hearth and then to install the stove. The Hearth Classics pad works for us, looks nice and was the simple solution for our install.
Jeff-t, yes, we opted for simple flat black as well. We considered at Blaze King's Ashford 30 in brown enamel- gorgeous stove- but we would have paid IIRC about a thousand more for it, and it's a smaller stove. We opted for more btu's for the buck and we don't mind if a wood stove looks like a basic, functional wood stove. I thought briefly about the brushed silver trim options (door and handle knobs, the silver legs were too expensive for my budget) but again, I wanted to put our money toward btu's, not toward a style statement. Also, again, to me it's best if a thing looks like what it is. We don't have any gold or silver trim on our Napoleon pellet stove and I prefer that. I've never been a particularly "fussy" person and that tendency is getting more pronounced as I get older.
Jeff-t, yes, we opted for simple flat black as well. We considered at Blaze King's Ashford 30 in brown enamel- gorgeous stove- but we would have paid IIRC about a thousand more for it, and it's a smaller stove. We opted for more btu's for the buck and we don't mind if a wood stove looks like a basic, functional wood stove. I thought briefly about the brushed silver trim options (door and handle knobs, the silver legs were too expensive for my budget) but again, I wanted to put our money toward btu's, not toward a style statement. Also, again, to me it's best if a thing looks like what it is. We don't have any gold or silver trim on our Napoleon pellet stove and I prefer that. I've never been a particularly "fussy" person and that tendency is getting more pronounced as I get older.
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