Hello everyone, I'm a complete newbie here so sorry if anything is wrong with this post. My family and I recently (Last January 2014) rented a house that has the vermont castings stove encore 2550 model already installed. I have no idea how long the stove has been here or when it was installed. I know the landlord was pretty good with cleaning everything out but I don't know about the previous tenants.
Last season when we used it, we had no problems and we cleaned it out in the summer months before this burning season. This winter though we have had a bunch of problems. First we had a clog in the chimney area that had to be cleaned out again mid winter and now we are having problems with the combustion throat hood that continuously falls off.
I do have some questions and provided pictures so if anybody can help out that would be great! Thank you!
1.) The combustion throat hood seems to be warped so I know we will need to replace it but I just want to be sure if that is the only problem.
Our current throat hood
There is a throat hood available here on eBay but my question is, is it reliable or ok to buy parts from eBay? We did call a local VC retailer but they said it would take them 2-6 weeks to get the part and that we we're better off probably trying to find it somewhere else.
2.) Does anyone have any good sites to buy parts off?
3.) Would it be ok to still use the stove and burn wood without the throat hood?
Also I've been wondering if something is wrong with the catalytic combustor or the back of the stove. Sorry if its hard to see in these pictures because it was a little dark. I think you are supposed to easily be able to take the combustor out but there is some kind of squishy type substance surrounding the combustor. My brother who works in heating, broilers etc. said that its usually found in broilers to protect things from the heat.
Sorry the pictures are not straight, I can't figure out how to put them the right way. Also sorry if this post is all over the place basically just want to know if anyone sees any major problems.
A view of the whole stove .
Last season when we used it, we had no problems and we cleaned it out in the summer months before this burning season. This winter though we have had a bunch of problems. First we had a clog in the chimney area that had to be cleaned out again mid winter and now we are having problems with the combustion throat hood that continuously falls off.
I do have some questions and provided pictures so if anybody can help out that would be great! Thank you!
1.) The combustion throat hood seems to be warped so I know we will need to replace it but I just want to be sure if that is the only problem.
Our current throat hood
There is a throat hood available here on eBay but my question is, is it reliable or ok to buy parts from eBay? We did call a local VC retailer but they said it would take them 2-6 weeks to get the part and that we we're better off probably trying to find it somewhere else.
2.) Does anyone have any good sites to buy parts off?
3.) Would it be ok to still use the stove and burn wood without the throat hood?
Also I've been wondering if something is wrong with the catalytic combustor or the back of the stove. Sorry if its hard to see in these pictures because it was a little dark. I think you are supposed to easily be able to take the combustor out but there is some kind of squishy type substance surrounding the combustor. My brother who works in heating, broilers etc. said that its usually found in broilers to protect things from the heat.
Sorry the pictures are not straight, I can't figure out how to put them the right way. Also sorry if this post is all over the place basically just want to know if anyone sees any major problems.
A view of the whole stove .
