How to Operate Your Catalytic Wood Stove or Insert

The Regency Cascades is just one of the efficient and eco-friendly catalytic wood burning stoves we offer at Smith & May.

A catalytic wood stove or insert can offer improved efficiency and lowered emissions over it’s non-catalytic counterpart. They feature an additional part called a catalytic combustor (or simply, catalyst) that is designed to burn off smoke and gasses before they escape out of the chimney. They do, however, require extra care when operating to ensure proper function and prolong the life of the catalyst.

Here’s a side by side comparison of a brand new and a damaged used catalytic combustor. Bet you can tell which is which!

The catalytic combustor has a special coating which heats up and gives the “double burn” feature to your stove or insert, burning off smoke and gas to reduce emissions and improve fuel efficiency.

Below is Smith & May’s basic guide to running your catalytic wood stove or your catalytic wood insert. You may also wish to watch the following videos for more specific operating instructions based on your individual unit.

Video Reference Guides:

• Blaze King Catalytic Wood Stoves

• Regency Catalytic Wood Stoves

• Regency Catalytic Wood Burning Inserts

• Vermont Castings Flexburn Wood Stoves

Smith & May’s Basic Guide to Operating Your Catalytic Wood Stove or Insert

• First, always read your owners manual.

• Start your fire with the bypass and air control both fully open. Refer to your owners manual to find out where these are located on your individual unit.

• Burn your fire for about 30 minutes and wait until your unit has reached 500°F before shutting the bypass to engage the catalyst. The 30 minute burn time ensures the stove or insert has reached a stable and consistent temperature. The optimal range to engage your catalyst is between 500-700°F. Too cool, and your catalyst will not work and could sustain damage. Too hot and you may damage the catalyst and the stove or insert itself.

• While in use, disengage the catalytic combustor by opening the bypass before opening the door of your stove or insert. Opening the door of your stove or insert may cause a significant enough temperature drop that could damage the catalyst.

• Make sure you’re only burning seasoned, dry, hard wood. Burning wet wood, paper such as magazine paper with a glossy finish and lots of ink, or any kind of household trash or biological material may damage the catalytic combustor. Your wood should have a moisture content of less than 20%. Regular black and white newspaper is fine to use, and is a great way to start your fire.

• Unsure if your catalyst is doing it’s job? Go outside and look at your chimney. When your catalyst is operating correctly, no smoke should be coming out of your chimney.

The Regency Pro-Series CI2700 Contemporary Catalytic Wood Burning Insert is available at Smith & May.

At Smith & May we offer the following Catalytic Wood Stoves and Inserts:

• Regency Cascades F1500 Wood Stove

• Regency Cascades F2500 Wood Stove

• Regency Pro-Series F3500 Wood Stove

• Regency Pro-Series F5200 Wood Stove

• Regency Cascades I1500 Wood Insert

• Regency Cascades I2500 Wood Insert

• Regency Hampton HI500 Wood Insert

• Regency Pro-Series CI2700 Wood Insert

• Vermont Castings Defiant Wood Stove

• Vermont Castings Encore Wood Stove

• Vermont Castings Dauntless Flexburn Wood Stove

• Vermont Castings Intrepid Flexburn Wood Stove

• Blaze King’s Wood Stoves and Inserts, which are all catalytic

As always, call us with any questions regarding your catalytic wood stove or insert, and don’t forget to schedule your annual service and cleaning!