VC Encore 2040-CAT-C, Overnight Burn Day Trial

[stoveliker]

I don't think the cracking is bad. But it does indicate something is not going as it should be.

I would be more concerned about the color; you're pushing gases through when it's not hot enough, leading to deposits rather than combustion.
And these deposits are covering the active (precious) metals, meaning it might not do its job now.

I suggest a cat wash is needed, and then you need to better get it up to temp before engaging it. (This may have gone wrong due to a bad cat probe, tho).
And you need to make sure you're not running too close to the minimum, and run into cat stalls (where it doesn't combust anymore, and deposits like this happen).

 

[Megunticook]

That's a ceramic cat, no? Cracks shouldn't matter as long as the pieces remain intact and in place.

A metal probe should last several seasons depending on how you burn. Maybe previous owner overfired?

 

[Pastachio619]

Thanks for the info Stoveliker. How do you clean a ceramic cat?

I tell you what. I know I do not have enough experience to have an educated opinion but so far the cat does not seem worth the effort.

I had a good bed of coals and placed a very large log in the stove the other day. I let it burn for 2-3 minutes then shut the primary all the way. Never engaged the cat and that log burned for 6-7 hours which is all I’m really looking for overnight.

Made me start to consider never engaging the cat and just running the stove with the primary air. I have found that if you shut it down early and don’t let the fire grow to full strength you can get long burns without the cat.

 

[stoveliker]

Search for vinegar wash on this forum.

I don't know your stove well, so I can't comment on how dirty you would make your flue if you run low without the cat.