I have had a cast iron Consolidated Dutchwest, Sequoyah, 455C for about 19 years. My first and only wood stove. It has served me well. I have used it through out the winters for about 15 of those 19 winters and moved it into a different house 5 years ago. I usually burning it continuously from Thanksgiving to early March, with a few breaks when the weather warms up into the upper fourties and fifities. Replaced some door gaskets and I have to lube the external fan annually, but not much other problems. Glass front door never stays clean, but have gotten used to that. Other than that, no real complaints. I also carefully ran water over the catalytic converter (CC) at the beginning of each season to clean the ash off. Other than that, all the other maintenance was in cleaning the chimney and flue pipe going through the block off plate.
Last couple days, I notices that the stove was smelling and getting smoke in the house. The draft seemed to be fine when I openned the bypass damper. However, I was concerned that I was not getting the proper draft with the CC engaged. I figured I better check the catalytic convert. Sure enough, it was about a third collapesed/crumbling and partially blocking the top of the fire box flue passage. So I removed the CC and am operating the stove without a CC. I assume that is ok except for it being less efficient and more polluting. Stove season is almost over for me.
The questions that I would like help from the experts here are:
Is this stove worth spending the money on to get a new CC, about $200, as compared with the new stove techology now available?
If so, what other repairs should I expect or initiate? (I know I need a new fan, because disassembling it to lube the bearings will eventually not be enough). The stove does not seem to be close to air tight and it is not just the door gaskets.
Any other advice as to making the decision about whether to repair or buy another stove?
I really have liked this stove as it will keep a fire over night or while I am at work without a problem. Also, the cast iron is a great thermal mass, but a royal pain to move. A couple drawbacks are that the stove uses a 8 inch flue and I would have a problem with getting an 8 in chimmey liner through the chimney damper plate. It looks like a six inch will work fine. So I just use a oval flex and a block off plate and dump the flue gas into the chimmey with the draft being fine. However, it makes cleaning the chimey and disassembling the flue a chore. Also the stove is on the large size for my fire place/hearth. The side door does not open all the way. So I have been thinking about getting a new stove, but not too excite about the cost and trouble. Any advice is appreciated.
Last couple days, I notices that the stove was smelling and getting smoke in the house. The draft seemed to be fine when I openned the bypass damper. However, I was concerned that I was not getting the proper draft with the CC engaged. I figured I better check the catalytic convert. Sure enough, it was about a third collapesed/crumbling and partially blocking the top of the fire box flue passage. So I removed the CC and am operating the stove without a CC. I assume that is ok except for it being less efficient and more polluting. Stove season is almost over for me.
The questions that I would like help from the experts here are:
Is this stove worth spending the money on to get a new CC, about $200, as compared with the new stove techology now available?
If so, what other repairs should I expect or initiate? (I know I need a new fan, because disassembling it to lube the bearings will eventually not be enough). The stove does not seem to be close to air tight and it is not just the door gaskets.
Any other advice as to making the decision about whether to repair or buy another stove?
I really have liked this stove as it will keep a fire over night or while I am at work without a problem. Also, the cast iron is a great thermal mass, but a royal pain to move. A couple drawbacks are that the stove uses a 8 inch flue and I would have a problem with getting an 8 in chimmey liner through the chimney damper plate. It looks like a six inch will work fine. So I just use a oval flex and a block off plate and dump the flue gas into the chimmey with the draft being fine. However, it makes cleaning the chimey and disassembling the flue a chore. Also the stove is on the large size for my fire place/hearth. The side door does not open all the way. So I have been thinking about getting a new stove, but not too excite about the cost and trouble. Any advice is appreciated.