Doing some spring cleaning on my stove and noticed the gap in the right hand bottom side of my catalyst. Second winter running the stove, and it was already in place when I bought the house. Not sure how many years it has been run. It still functions correctly as far as I can tell, maybe some faster burn times, but still getting to temp and burning quite well. Is this a problem? Thanks for any insights!
Worried about a gap in my catalyst
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It might still be ok on the backside.
And besides, even if smoke bypasses the cat there, that's, like, 1% of the cat's area? I wouldn't worry about that.
I agree. So I suggested to get a new cat after this season is over. I believe to have seen from others that when this (cat separating) happens, it will be progressing.
Metal cats suck, this is another reason. You don't say what stove this is but if it's a 30 series or princess then a ceramic cat is available, better, and cheaper. It's late February and most folks are nearing the end of the burn season. I would definitely keep running that cat for the rest of the season if it is working well otherwise. We've seen much much worse.
New USA made cats are reasonably priced on amazon (at least in the US) and very easy to swap out.
New USA made cats are reasonably priced on amazon (at least in the US) and very easy to swap out.
It’s a princess 32, and I’m fairly new to it (second full season) so I was more curious if I should be frantically searching for a replacement or if it was alright to monitor and run out the last couple of weeks of cold season here. Ceramic seems to be the only replacement option I’ve found so far, so more than likely headed that route when I replace it! Thanks for the reply!
When you clean the flue and vacuum behind the cat at the end of the season, have a look at the backside of the cat (without removing it).
Like I said, I'd have no issues to keep running it, especially if it's rather new.
I replaced my ceramic cat this season and the (free) replacement BK sent me was a metal cat, so I'm running one right now, too.
Haven't checked it regarding gaps, though ;-)
Thanks, I missed that.
Yes, that would probably drive me into getting a new cat, too.
One other thing you can do is to run low and slow with the cat engaged
THen (have someone) open the bypass and you see if smoke is coming out.
Then (have someone) close the bypass and you see if all smoke disappears.
If smoke does not disappear, the cat may be near the end of its life or it may be leaking past the cat thru that gap.
THen (have someone) open the bypass and you see if smoke is coming out.
Then (have someone) close the bypass and you see if all smoke disappears.
If smoke does not disappear, the cat may be near the end of its life or it may be leaking past the cat thru that gap.
Yes. The thermostat will slowly change the air into the stove, which changes the burn rate, and thus the cat needs to adjust, which takes some time. So some smoke gets through.
So before doing the above, first see that you are in a smoke-free time. I had written that at first, but given that there may be no smoke-free phase (due to old or holey cat), I deleted that.
Anyway, if you always have smoke, change the cat.
But in a smoke-free phase doing what I wrote above, is a good test to see if the cat is still working.
(Of course, if you open the bypass and STILL no smoke appears, the observation "no smoke, so the cat is good" is not valid...)
So before doing the above, first see that you are in a smoke-free time. I had written that at first, but given that there may be no smoke-free phase (due to old or holey cat), I deleted that.
Anyway, if you always have smoke, change the cat.
But in a smoke-free phase doing what I wrote above, is a good test to see if the cat is still working.
(Of course, if you open the bypass and STILL no smoke appears, the observation "no smoke, so the cat is good" is not valid...)
I have run my stove with cats looking much worse than that with zero issues. That cat looks fine to me. But anyway judge it by performance not appearance.