Time for cat #5!

Eckie You really don't have a choice with the Absolute Steel. It needs a frame that is built around the stainless steel Cat that only Woodstock sells. (at least to my knowledge) blowing it off once in a while might help a little, and it's easy to pull out and vacuum from both sides, but I don't think that is what it needs. I'M OPEN FOR CORRECTION ON THIS NEXT STATEMENT I am of the belief that for most of us, even with the best seasoned hardwoods, there is still a residue of some sort that builds up within the catalytic cells and sticks to the cells, decreasing the full heat output poof the cat. I usually clean my cat with a 50/50 mix of distilled water/white vinegar solution. I use a Scott electric 2 gallon sprayer (a 1 gallon hand pump is just as effective, just more effort) and a dishwashing bucket to spray the 50/50 mix of 1 gallon through both sides. You will see the solution change color as it cleans out those cells. Then, follow up the mix solution with 1 gallon of straight distilled water. This will clear out any vinegar mix left in there. Let it all dry out completely. Use a hair dryer over the cells if you want to use the stove quickly.

I hope this helps you. It isn't a difficult job.

 

Thanks Oldhippie, didn't realize the WS cat was the only option for the AS. I assume you use the sprayer to kinda pressure wash the cat? Vs dunking/soaking the cat in a bucket of the solution? When you do the rinse with straight distilled water, are you using the sprayer then as well, or just pouring the water over/through it out the jug?

I imagine my cat is still fine. I just need to run the stove more to keep learning. And a little more draft would help, which I hope to get remedied.

 

The vinegar solution recommended is actually a weak acid that burns off the plating of stuff that accumulates on the catalyst and covers up the precious metals so the cat stops working. You acid wash the cat and then rinse with distilled water to neutralize the acid.

This is totally separate from clearing ash from within and on the face of the catalyst.

 

Yes, that sprayer I have is a great tool to make this job much easier.

 

Tacking on here, not contradicting, Eckie I have a spray bottle I got from the hardware store that looks like this. It was just a couple of bucks and with the twisting nozzle gets the job done. I'd rather have the kind Oldhippie described, but for the couple times a year I use it, I make do.