More facts about catalytic stoves and the combustor inside

When the consumer purchases a new EPA Phase II certified wood burning appliance, they also receive in writing a six year prorated limited lifetime warranty on catalytic combustor inside their new appliance.


This EPA approved warranty assures the consumer, that the catalytic combustor in their new woodburning appliance will give years of reliable service.

Visit the Applied Ceramics website for complete details.

Just the facts

It's a proven fact...

Today’s catalytic wood burning appliances deliver 72% or better heating efficiency.

This means that 72% of the energy available in the wood is delivered to the surrounding living area.

In addition to the 72% heating efficiency, catalytic wood burning appliances built today will…
- they reduce air pollution by up to 90%
- they reduce creosote build-up. (up to 90% reduction)
- they generate up to 50% more useful heat from each log.
(this means longer burns per load)
- and they save the consumer up to 1/3 on their fuel cost.
(that's one less cord out of every three)

Remember:
It is important to keep the catalytic combustor in top working condition for the best efficiency of your wood burning appliance.

How to keep the catalytic combustor healthy?

Never burn foreign matter such as…
garbage,
painted wood,
large amounts of colored paper,
cardboard,
rubber,
plastic,
paneling with glue,
oily products and so on.

Burning these materials will gradually reduce the efficiency of the catalyst.
“Burn only seasoned dried wood”

All catalytic combustors used in EPA certified Phase II stoves have a life expectancy of at least, 10,000 burning hours, when used according to the stove's operating manual.

It could be said, that a catalytic combustor’s life is really based on a number of things....
Operating the stove properly....
(Not burning with firebox door open or perhaps closing the by-pass to soon)

Proper maintenance habits to both stove and combustor...
(Simple things like checking the firebox door gasket)

Burning proper fuel in the appliance,
(This means burning seasoned dried wood only- no foreign matter that could poison the combustor)

Using a Certified Phase II stove for home heating and not an older stove design.
(most stoves built today are designed well and protect the combustor from the firebox flames, the older pre-phase I stoves didn't)

Methods of cleaning the combustor

Cleaning method #1

A vacuum cleaner may be used, but never use high pressured air to blow the cells free of any build-up. This can damage the cell walls.
Any cell blockage can be removed with the use of a pipe cleaner or a cotton swab.

Method #2

Should the combustor’s cells become masked with fly-ash,...use a paintbrush or soft-bristled brush and dust the combustor gently.
Never use anything abrasive to clean the combustor.

Method #3

Normally the catalytic combustor requires little or no maintenance because it generates such high temperatures, it is basically self-cleaning.
However, should the combustor become masked with soot or creosote, it is possible to burn the accumulation off by opening the bypass and building a hot fire.
Once the hot fire is created, close the bypass halfway and burn for 30 to 60 minutes with the bypass left in this position.

Never use cleaning solvents to clean it.
It would be wise to check and clean the combustor, if necessary, before each burning season and inspect the flue system for any signs of creosote build up.

A clean flue helps prevent chimney flue fires.

Signs that the stove is not being operated correctly.

Let's look at some signs that the stove is not being operated correctly.

Example 1.

Fly-ash masking

This occurs when burning materials that produce large flakes of char, like wrapping paper and cardboard.

Example 2.

Plugging

Plugging is a build-up of soot, creosote and/or fly-ash within the combustor’s cells.
In most cases, this happens because light-off was not achieved before the stove’s by-pass was closed.
This means the catalyst was not at the temperature necessary to receive and burn the inlet gases.

Example 3.

Soot masking

Refueling with wet or unseasoned wood will shut the catalytic combustor down at once.
This too can result in the combustor’s cells plugging with fly-ash and/or creosote.
The stove will run sluggish.

Note:
Cleaning the catalytic combustor will usually correct these conditions and there are several methods of cleaning the catalytic combustor depending on its condition.

Please refer to Cleaning methods on my next posting.