How do catalytic wood stoves work

Thing to consider for non-catalytic stoves are whether you use your wood stove for supplemental heat, do not live in an extremely cold climate, or only use your wood stove occasionally. In addition, these units are better suited to rental or holiday homes as operating them is very straightforward. To get expert advice about your specific heating needs and how to choose between a catalytic or non-catalytic wood stove for your application contact your local authorized Regency dealer.

The difference between a non-catalytic, catalytic, or hybrid catalytic stove has to do with the way that the fuel is burned after initial combustion. Catalytic and non-catalytic stoves burn the fuel twice — either with a catalyst or with air tubes, where hybrid catalytic stoves burn the fuel three times — with both air tube technology and a catalyst.

A non-catalytic wood stove uses air tubes and super-heated oxygen to mix with and generate a secondary burn with the gasses and particulates released from burning wood. This results in a fewer emissions and greater efficiency.

Looking for a non-catalytic wood stove? A catalytic wood stove uses a catalytic combustor to re-burn the gasses and particulates that are released from the burning wood. These gasses pass through the catalytic combustor, which operates at very high temperatures, and combust — providing increased efficiency, fewer emissions, and longer burn times. Once the stove is giving off sufficient heat, the air in the stove can be choked down in order to produce smoldering flames or to extinguish the flames altogether.

The catalyst will filter the smoke created by the lack of air. Because of the way the catalytic wood stove operates, the burn time of a load of wood is significantly increased, the amount of wood required to heat is reduced, and there is less creosote deposited in the chimney lining.

An improperly installed stove will also generate increased pollution, the opposite effect of the desired result. Catalytic stoves are innovative, but not without potential hazards. There are a few things to investigate prior to the installation of a best value catalytic wood stove, all of which certified professional installers are familiar with:.

Professional installers will want to be inspecting the stove during installation in order to ensure that the seals that connect the flue to the stove are tight, which will help to prevent leakage of smoke and will promote good drafting. Important information: A catalytic wood stove best works when the catalyst is in good condition and active. A catalytic stove with an open "bypass" is extremely inefficient.

A catalytic converter should usually be replaced every five years. View all posts by: Dominique Page. How do catalytic wood stoves work? Prior to Installing a Catalytic Wood Stove There are a few things to investigate prior to the installation of a best value catalytic wood stove, all of which certified professional installers are familiar with: Obtain any necessary permits from local building code authorities.

Contact your fire insurance company about your plans to install a catalytic wood stove. Determine whether the current flue in your chimney is a size which fits requirements for the catalytic wood stove. If the flue is improperly sized, the result could be that smoke leaks into your home. It usually takes from six to nine months for wood to dry out, if it is loosely covered and stacked outside in a way that air can circulate through the wood pile.

With a monitor, you can avoid engaging the catalyst too early or wasting useful heat by waiting too long to engage it. Initially light the stove in the bypass mode open, in which smoke bypasses the catalyst. Quickly begin with a hot fire, which will put the catalyst to work faster; once it is lit, the catalyst stays lit even when the fire burns at a much lower temperature.

Minimize door openings for hours of continuous burning. February 1, Dominique Page. Written by Dominique Page Dominique Page has been in the fireplace industry since This reduces the amount of wood needed, increases burn time and reduces creosote buildup.

The primary disadvantage to this technology is that catalytic stoves are trickier to operate and require more knowledge and experience. Traditional wood stoves that do not use catalysts are generally easier to operate, and don't require you to monitor the temperature or close the baffle at just the right time as with a catalytic stove.

They are also more common, which means you're likely to find more options and models to choose from. The biggest drawback to traditional wood stoves lies in the fact that they can't hold a fire as long as a catalytic stove, which means less convenience, reduced efficiency, more wood to cut or buy, and greater potential for creosote buildup.

Emily Beach works in the commercial construction industry in Maryland. Green Building Council in and is in the process of working towards an Architectural Hardware Consultant certification from the Door and Hardware Institute.

She received a bachelor's degree in economics and management from Goucher College in Towson, Maryland. By Emily Beach. Related Articles.