Encore 2040 cat C burns too fast

[hoosierhermit]

My stove is a lot older than yours, but it is the original design of what you have. I can burn my stove with the damper open and easily control the fire and get overnight burns and never engage the cat. I burned like that for quite a few years with no problems other than cleaning my chimney more often. point is the firebox should be completely controllable with the primary air flap. If your stove can't do that I'd look a lot harder at the stove not sealing and sucking combustion air from somewhere.

I've checked everywhere I can think to and I've had a guy with 40 years of experience with wood stoves check as well and a source of air entry hasn't been found. I'm losing hope for a solution. If the stove is fine then perhaps the installation/pipe combination are responsible for too strong a draft? But, as i mentioned in the original post, I had a key damper installed in the pipe. I have no idea whether that should solve "too strong a draft" when it's completely closed, and therefore maximally reducing air flow, which is the position I have it in when burning.

 

[stoveliker]

I wrapped some gasket rope where the stove and first section of pipe meet to "seal" any potential openings where air could be entering and increasing the draft. It didn't make any difference in how vigorously the wood in the stove burned so I don't think that is the problem. It was a good idea though

Air leaking into the pipe will hurt draft, not increase it.