- Jul 19, 2006
- 306
Hi, am in need of those with Cat expertise but first some background.
I live in a rural area & our nearest neighbors are @ 1/3 mile away as the hawk flies. Our heater is a Fisher MaMa Bear which turns 27 in October & is still in excellent condition.
The stack temperature is kept @ 350-400, save at startup which is 500-600. Our walls are R-23, the attic R-57, & MaMa sits katy-wompus in a corner that has two 6’ L x 8’ H brick walls that act like an enormous heat sink. Small fires are burned that go out in @ 3 hours if not maintained. The last load is put in @ 10pm & the temp is 60-65 when I get up at 5:30, if the outside temp is @ 20. After re-lighting the temp is 70-75 within an hour.
The wood burned is at least 2-3 years old & stored in an open shed, but the south side is enclosed in glass that spans 24’ L x 7’ H. Such results in a 6% moister content (mc) reading on the sun side of any split that is a year old on my Delmhorst J-Lite moisture meter, while the back end of the split, 22“-24” in length, reads 10-12%. Give that split 2 years & the mc is the same at both ends, 6%.
Consequently I have stopped cleaning our 13-½’ chimney (7 ½’ Meatalbestos, 6’ of single wall) because the ash accumulation only amounts to a 12oz soda can.
But presently considering stuffing 2 five foot galvanized 26 ga 8” pipe down my Metalbestos sections to ensure that it does indeed last throughout our lifetimes. (About had a heart attack when I saw the price of a 30” Metalbestos section now days.) But more about that in a future post.
As the “energy crisis” goes forward there is no doubt that the Fed/states will require removal of my heater by use of tax credits & or fines. But a $400 - $600 tax credit will not replace my heater which brings me to my question.
From what I have presented above is it possible for you to determine that there would be a major environmental improvement, 60% or more reduction in pollutants, were a Cat installed in my single wall pipe? If so, please recommend reputable manufacture(s).
If this cannot be determined without testing then is there a DIY kit that can be used to make such a test, or are professionals required? (I cannot seem to find a kit on the net, but then my search parameters maybe wrong.) If a Cat would make a significant improvement in my emissions then I’d like to make the change now so that my wife can see it’s operation & learn what is required to maintain it in the event of my death.
Thanks in advance for your input.
Dave
I live in a rural area & our nearest neighbors are @ 1/3 mile away as the hawk flies. Our heater is a Fisher MaMa Bear which turns 27 in October & is still in excellent condition.
The stack temperature is kept @ 350-400, save at startup which is 500-600. Our walls are R-23, the attic R-57, & MaMa sits katy-wompus in a corner that has two 6’ L x 8’ H brick walls that act like an enormous heat sink. Small fires are burned that go out in @ 3 hours if not maintained. The last load is put in @ 10pm & the temp is 60-65 when I get up at 5:30, if the outside temp is @ 20. After re-lighting the temp is 70-75 within an hour.
The wood burned is at least 2-3 years old & stored in an open shed, but the south side is enclosed in glass that spans 24’ L x 7’ H. Such results in a 6% moister content (mc) reading on the sun side of any split that is a year old on my Delmhorst J-Lite moisture meter, while the back end of the split, 22“-24” in length, reads 10-12%. Give that split 2 years & the mc is the same at both ends, 6%.
Consequently I have stopped cleaning our 13-½’ chimney (7 ½’ Meatalbestos, 6’ of single wall) because the ash accumulation only amounts to a 12oz soda can.
But presently considering stuffing 2 five foot galvanized 26 ga 8” pipe down my Metalbestos sections to ensure that it does indeed last throughout our lifetimes. (About had a heart attack when I saw the price of a 30” Metalbestos section now days.) But more about that in a future post.
As the “energy crisis” goes forward there is no doubt that the Fed/states will require removal of my heater by use of tax credits & or fines. But a $400 - $600 tax credit will not replace my heater which brings me to my question.
From what I have presented above is it possible for you to determine that there would be a major environmental improvement, 60% or more reduction in pollutants, were a Cat installed in my single wall pipe? If so, please recommend reputable manufacture(s).
If this cannot be determined without testing then is there a DIY kit that can be used to make such a test, or are professionals required? (I cannot seem to find a kit on the net, but then my search parameters maybe wrong.) If a Cat would make a significant improvement in my emissions then I’d like to make the change now so that my wife can see it’s operation & learn what is required to maintain it in the event of my death.
Thanks in advance for your input.
Dave