The Chimney Connector
TWO WEEKS:
•Inspect the chimney connector and chimney. Clean if necessary.
TWO MONTHS:
•Inspect the chimney and chimney connector. Pay particular attention to the horizontal runs of chim- ney connector, and the elbows. Clean the system if necessary.
Yearly Spring Cleaning
•Disassemble the chimney connector and take it outdoors for inspection and cleaning. Replace weak sections of connector.
•Inspect the chimney for signs of deterioration. Re- pairs to a masonry chimney should be made by a professional mason. Replace damaged sections of prefabricated chimney. Your local Dutchwest dealer or a chimney sweep can help determine when re- placement is necessary.
•Thoroughly clean the chimney.
Care of the Catalytic Combustor
This wood heater contains a catalytic combustor, which needs regular inspection and periodic replacement for proper operation. It is against the law in the United States to operate this wood heater in a manner incon- sistent with operating instructions in this manual, or if the catalytic element is deactivated or removed.
Under normal operating conditions, the catalytic com- bustor should remain active for two to six years (de- pending on the amount of wood burned). However, it is important to monitor the combustor periodically to ensure that it is functioning properly, as well as to deter- mine when it needs to be replaced. A
The combustor should be visually inspected “in place” for fly ash accumulation and physical damage three times per year. Actual removal of the combustor is not recommended unless a more detailed inspection is war- ranted because of diminished performance as outlined below.
The refractory package housing the catalytic combustor should be inspected annually for a
Dutchwest
When to Suspect A Combustor Problem
There are two ways to evaluate the performance of your stove’s combustor.
The first is to monitor the temperatures on the probe thermometer. A
The second performance test is to observe the amount of smoke leaving the chimney — both when the com- bustor has achieved
•With a fire in the stove and the combustor properly activated by the closing of the stove damper to route smoke through it as described in the Operation Section, go outside and observe the smoke leaving the chimney.
•Then, open the stove damper and once again ob- serve the smoke leaving the chimney.
Significantly more smoke should be observed after the second step when the stove damper is open and ex- haust is not routed through the combustor. Be careful not to confuse smoke with steam from wet wood. Unlike smoke, steam disappears very quickly in air.
If either of these tests indicates a problem, consider other possible factors as well.
Assess Your Present Operating Conditions
In Spring or Fall, draft strength is less than in the middle of winter, and a related change in stove performance may result. Small hot fires are a good solution to slug- gish performance under these conditions.
Burning “green” (insufficiently seasoned) wood will re- sult in poorer performance than when burning properly seasoned fuel. Was your fuel supply good and dry to start with, or has it changed? You may have to run your stove hotter (more air) to achieve good performance if you are burning green or wet wood. Also, any changes in operating routine should be considered at this time as a possible reason for changed performance.
Once you have ruled out any other possible causes for a decline in performance, you may proceed with an inspection of the catalyst.
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