Condar Catalytic Combustor
Directions for Use
With proper care, a new catalytic combustor will give years of fuel savings and lowered emissions. By following some simple guidelines, you can ensure yourself maximum combustor performance and longevity.
Burn only natural, dry wood. Avoid the use of treated, painted and laminated wood. Never incinerate garbage or other foreign materials. Do not use artificial logs, colored newspaper or petroleum based fire starters. Avoid wood with high salt content. All of these materials may contain compounds which can shorten the catalytic life or render it inoperative. Wet or unseasoned wood may lower catalytic temperatures and/or result in sluggish operation.
Keep the combustor within safe operating temperatures. Monitor catalytic temperatures with a Condar catalytic thermometer. Low temperatures may allow the unit to clog with creosote. Excessively high temperatures can shorten the catalyst’s life and cause thermal cracking. The catalytic reaction usually begins at temperatures over 500 degrees F, with best operating temperatures between 600º and 1500º. While temperatures of 1700º are common, avoid temperatures of 1800º and higher. See thermometer instructions for proper placement of catalytic probe, or consult your stove’s owners manual. Use of a surface thermometer to monitor catalytic reactions will result in much lower readings and will vary widely with placement. Remember that the unit does not have to glow to be working.
Remove and inspect the combustor regularly when the stove is cold. Gently clean any ash from the surface and inspect for cracks, clogging or missing pieces. Some minor surface degradation and hairline cracking is normal, but excessive wear indicates overfiring. Remember that the combustor is much more fragile after it has been fired.
Be sure that the flue gasses are hot enough before engaging the catalytic combustor. Leave the bypass damper in the open position until the flue gasses reach 500 degrees. Close the damper and continue to observe the temperature for a few minutes to be sure the combustor continues to be active. Repeat this when loading the stove, especially when the flue gasses are below 500º. When adding fuel to an active fire, it may not be necessary to bypass the catalytic combustor (except to open the door) if the gas temperature is sufficient.
Replace your combustor when it can no longer maintain a catalytic reaction during the first few hours of a new fire. Be sure to check that decreased performance is not due to creosote or ash on the unit.
The more you know about your combustor, the more effective it will be and the longer it will last. View or Print our FREE Catalytic Combustor Cleaning and Care Guide. It'll tell you how to clean and care for a catalytic combustor and how to recognize signs combustor failure. View the information easily by clicking here.
Click Here to go back to Catalytic Combustor Main Page
