JOTUL F500 v3 woes (2nd cat replacement in two years?)

[Highridgefire]

Hello,


I’m hoping somebody can help. Give me some guidance here. Don’t have a lot of resources in my personal life to discuss wood Stoves with. The dealer I bought my stove from is not very helpful to say the least.


March 2020. My wife and I bought our first woodstove. We had a house that came with a hearth that was designed for a woodstove and after a lot of research I settled on the JOTUL.


I have to say from day one we were just overly pleased. Everything worked exactly as you would expect it. We seemed to have no issues. We found the stove to be beautiful and the fires It produced heated the house wonderfully.

So let’s see since I bought it at the end of 2020 winter we didn’t get to use it very much until the following year. So I guess that is winter 2021. Around Easter or so last year we started to notice some issues. The chimney was starting to black smoke something that had never done before. Upon closer investigation, I discovered that the catalyst combustor at the top of the stove was literally… Disintegrating? It was coming apart.

I did get in touch with the wholesaler, I have to say they were pretty easy to work with all things considered, JOTUL replaced the catalyst, and said that there was some built that were not up to manufacture recommended spec, and that there was some problem with whoever manufactured the catalyst.


So I take the stove apart and put the new combustor in, it’s great for the remainder of last winter, and it has been good for this year… Until recently.


I noticed the chimney is smoking again, and in the top right corner my combustor… Is starting to disintegrate again. It’s hard to explain, but it’s like the combustor is starting to collapse on itself.


I’m just at a loss for words. I haven’t even contacted the seller yet again. I don’t know whether I need to be demanding something else be done? Somebody look at my stove? Need a new stove?


Where the heat is not even our primary heat source, we do not burn 24 seven or anything.

I may be guilty of burning wood that has slightly higher moisture content than recommended… But that is the only thing that I know of that we might do wrong sometimes. We do not over fire the stove. I have three temperature gauges on various places on the stove and we have never burned hotter than the manual says is OK.


I just don’t understand it.

Any advice ?

If you zoom in on the top right corner of the combustor, you will see it’s starting to come apart in the corner. When we had our combustor replaced last year, the combustor was falling down on both the left and the right corner. So far this time it’s the right corner only.

 

[EbS-P]

They absolutely should last longer than a year. Why are they failing is the question. Describe your chimney, height, size, type, liner, insulation and how the stove connects to it.

What stove top temps are you generally running at? Do you have a flue gas probe thermometer? If not you I think it’s worth having.

They had a bad batch of cats, or so we were told. I’m don’t think you are only one have issues. How is the frame that hold the converter? And damage or warping.

Here is my two cents. Look for air leaks. Ash pan has a reputation of being leaky. Seal everything up best you can. Calibrate your cat temp probe. Start the process for another replacement cat.

I love my jotul and I’m kinda mad at them for this design and dropping the F400. Pre 2020 they made some good stoves (not without some issues like leaky ashpans).

 

[Highridgefire]

They absolutely should last longer than a year. Why are they failing is the question. Describe your chimney, height, size, type, liner, insulation and how the stove connects to it.

What stove top temps are you generally running at? Do you have a flue gas probe thermometer? If not you I think it’s worth having.

They had a bad batch of cats, or so we were told. I’m don’t think you are only one have issues. How is the frame that hold the converter? And damage or warping.

Here is my two cents. Look for air leaks. Ash pan has a reputation of being leaky. Seal everything up best you can. Calibrate your cat temp probe. Start the process for another replacement cat.

I love my jotul and I’m kinda mad at them for this design and dropping the F400. Pre 2020 they made some good stoves (not without some issues like leaky ashpans).

I want to answer some of your questions.

My chimney is around 15 ft tall I believe.

I am not using a liner, other than my 8x12 clay liner. I deliberately bought the JOTUL because it was one of the few stoves that said it could operate with an 8x12 chimney.

The stove drafts very well, and I’ve had zero problems with puff back.

It’s connected with double wall pipe.

I monitor all three temp gauges but mostly the top right gauge. I follow the manual and try to keep that around 600-650 degrees or 500 degrees if we’re just maintaining and coasting.


And yes I do notice the cage that holds the combuster is warping.

 

[Tithis]

Our combustor has the same slight droop in the upper corners, but I havn't felt its been causing any sort of performance issue. Still lights off fine and we had minimal creosote when we had our liner swept.

 

[Highridgefire]

Our combustor has the same slight droop in the upper corners, but I havn't felt its been causing any sort of performance issue. Still lights off fine and we had minimal creosote when we had our liner swept.

Well that makes me feel a little better. Or worse.. it’s probably all of ours?

Just odd mine has don’t this without even being a year old.

Stove still works well but I can tell there is some smoke coming out the chimney when starting a new fire I never used to see.

 

[tebenhoh]

I can tell there is some smoke coming out the chimney when starting a new fire I never used to see.

Just a thought, I’m not personally familiar with the stove you have…
If I’m reading/understanding correctly, you’re only seeing smoke at the beginning of a cold start(new fire)? During startup with our cat stove the catalyst is bypassed so all of the smoke/exhaust goes straight up the flue. Is this what you see? Does it smoke once you’re up to temperature and the catalyst is engaged?
I assume there is a warranty on the catalyst; if it’s a known defect I’d say have it replaced until you get a good one.

 

[bholler]

Unfortunately I think this is going to be an ongoing problem with this stove. I had reservations about the no bypass cat from the start.

 

[Todd]

I haven’t seen one in person but your pic of the glowing cat doesn’t look like the Jotul high flow cat that I’ve seen pictures of? I thought the cells were much larger? Almost looks like a regular foil type steel cat?

 

[Highridgefire]

I haven’t seen one in person but your pic of the glowing cat doesn’t look like the Jotul high flow cat that I’ve seen pictures of? I thought the cells were much larger? Almost looks like a regular foil type steel cat?

It’s definitely this guy right here.

Catalytic Combustor Jotul (4.26

Midwest Hearth MH-77M replacement combustors are a high-quality choice for your catalytic wood burning stove.Replacing your old combustor will help you improve your stove's efficiency, saving you money and producing less pollution. split Catalytic Combustor FAQ Catalytic Combustor Warranty...

midwesthearth.com

 

[Highridgefire]

Unfortunately I think this is going to be an ongoing problem with this stove. I had reservations about the no bypass cat from the start.

I agree completely. I wish I went with a stove with a bypass now.

 

[moresnow]

Betting there will be a flame shield revision eventually. If it does not affect existing testing/emissions results etc.

 

[EbS-P]

I would be documenting everything. The warped frame will hopefully be covered under warranty. Jotul won’t talk to you only the dealer. Keep a good relationship there. I would ask it it to be taken back maybe swapped for another stove? Or at least figure out when and how that might happen. I’m wondering in the meantime if a damper could slow things down enough to keep the cat from self destructing?

Man its such good looking stove.

 

[Kevin Weis]

That's an expressive pic of a well lit cat! Guess there's no probe nearby to measure temp? I'm not a Jotul owner or at least not yet but in the OP's Pic it shows no secondaries where the secondary holes are so the cat is taking the full load? Just IMO the cat is being over fired and is burning out? Maybe if the secondaries were lit would equate to less load on the cat and not over fire i? Just my observation of it. Surprised the cat doesn't get clogged with ash when starting up with no bypass.

 

[nunyabinis]

Have you blocked the unregulated air hole in each side of the Ash House? When I got mine it ran at Maximum Warp at all times even with the draft turned all the way down. While cleaning the stove I found the two unregulated air holes in the Ash House. I blocked them with magnets and the stove has run beautifully ever since. Read this thread:

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/new-jotul-f500-v3-owner.190449/

 

[bladeofanduril]

Have you blocked the unregulated air hole in each side of the Ash House? When I got mine it ran at Maximum Warp at all times even with the draft turned all the way down. While cleaning the stove I found the two unregulated air holes in the Ash House. I blocked them with magnets and the stove has run beautifully ever since. Read this thread:

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/new-jotul-f500-v3-owner.190449/

Alternatively, let the ash pan fill up. It will basically seal the ash compartment making those two holes moot. Just scoop ash out of the main stove compartment.

 

[Tylervt]

That cat is two feet long?

This guys stove looks to burn very hot!
(broken link removed to https://vermont.craigslist.org/for/d/south-londonderry-jotul-500-oslo/7564248796.html)

 

[bladeofanduril]

That cat is two feet long?

This guys stove looks to burn very hot!
(broken link removed to https://vermont.craigslist.org/for/d/south-londonderry-jotul-500-oslo/7564248796.html)

Neither of his doors are fulled latched... I'd be concerned about that being overfired...

 

[Prometeo]

I agree completely. I wish I went with a stove with a bypass now.

Hi,
do you have the old combustor?
We can make a deal

 

[hearthhelp123]

our cat collapses each year. the dealer accused us of over firing not true.
after first replacement the warranty goes thru the mft, appliance ceramics co. if you read the fine print, seems the warranty is not clear cut.
no one besides this forum has mentioned the defective cats. if is made so flimsy. our small thin bracket (there are 2 on the front of cat ) have warped and this year one fell off completely, the honeycomb like material is not starting to collapse.... again.

the Draft on this stove has changed, problem with draft when starting a cold stove. never had this issue until dec 2022. when starting a cold stove and we need to open the door to put in more wood the stove will have flames rushing out door and smoke.
we purchased this stove in autumn 2020. first stove had to be returned , the cast iron in places was broken upon receipt.

 

[Prometeo]

our cat collapses each year. the dealer accused us of over firing not true.
after first replacement the warranty goes thru the mft, appliance ceramics co. if you read the fine print, seems the warranty is not clear cut.
no one besides this forum has mentioned the defective cats. if is made so flimsy. our small thin bracket (there are 2 on the front of cat ) have warped and this year one fell off completely, the honeycomb like material is not starting to collapse.... again.

the Draft on this stove has changed, problem with draft when starting a cold stove. never had this issue until dec 2022. when starting a cold stove and we need to open the door to put in more wood the stove will have flames rushing out door and smoke.
we purchased this stove in autumn 2020. first stove had to be returned , the cast iron in places was broken upon receipt.

having a side door, you can use that, to reload, and avoid flames / smoke.

 

[bholler]

having a side door, you can use that, to reload, and avoid flames / smoke.

That won't make any difference if the cat is collapsing. Especially with out a bypass to get things going

 

[Prometeo]

That won't make any difference if the cat is collapsing. Especially with out a bypass to get things going

this will not be the case but also my F500 eco if it's burning strong, and I open the front door, flames come out, because the secondary air starts from the bottom and is shot on the glass, horizontally, this causes tongues of fire if the stove is already loaded and I open the front door, in fact, this stove, draft is basically necessary to allow the fire to touch the entire front of the stove, heating much better.

 

[bholler]

this will not be the case but also my F500 eco if it's burning strong, and I open the front door, flames come out, because the secondary air starts from the bottom and is shot on the glass, horizontally, this causes tongues of fire if the stove is already loaded and I open the front door, in fact, this stove, draft is basically necessary to allow the fire to touch the entire front of the stove, heating much better.

Ok but your stove and the stove this thread is about are totally different

 

[Prometeo]

Ok but your stove and the stove this thread is about are totally different

yes, however, I believe that in this stove without a bypass you can take advantage in some cases of the side door, I suppose also with new combustor, and that does not collapse, the smoke comes out easily with the front door open, (I imagine until the flue reaches a certain temperature) while using lateral door it shouldn't happen

 

[bholler]

yes, however, I believe that in this stove without a bypass you can take advantage in some cases of the side door, I suppose also with new combustor, and that does not collapse, the smoke comes out easily with the front door open, (I imagine until the flue reaches a certain temperature) while using lateral door it shouldn't happen

Oh yes absolutely the side door is better and what most people use for many reasons