Finally got it hot

[Highbeam]

Took 11 or 12 years but I finally left the bypass open too long. Cat meter was not even halfway through the active range but the flue temp was at 1200! The smell of this sticker burning is what reminded me to check on the stove. Oh well, nothing I could do but close the bypass and adjust the thermostat. Everything calmed right down. Don’t do what I did.

The cat was already active from yesterday’s load. This was just a four split “top off”.

 

[Diabel]

My sticker looks very similar to yours😝

 

[rdust]

It hasn’t happened to me in years but it has happened. Glad to see yours is still performing well!

 

[reaperman1]

It should be illegal to have stickers on stove pipe.

 

[weee123]

It should be illegal to have stickers on stove pipe.

Especially ones that don’t peel off nicely

 

[Dieselhead]

Been there done that!

 

[kallanreed]

I just did something similar today. Started a fire with some really dry cedar kindling and it was really hot. Pipe started making some noise and and the sticker (bottom of the pipe by the stove) started to peel off. Cat temp was about halfway into active zone [edit: when I closed the bypass]

I’m just worried that I messed something up.

Should I be running a flue probe? Dealer didn’t mention anything when they installed back in March.

 

[stoveliker]

Was the bypass closed when this happened?

 

[kallanreed]

Was the bypass closed when this happened?

No, I hadn’t closed it yet because I had just started it. Kindling was roaring hot though.

 

[stoveliker]

I think all should be fine then with the cat.
The pipe got hot but it can handle that, especially if it is short.
Next time this happens upon start up I'd close the bypass. That'll take things a bit and avoid flames going directly in the pipe.
If still too vigorous, decrease the thermostat (it is a BK, right?)

How tall is your flue from the top of the stove to the cap outside?

 

[kallanreed]

Yeah, it’s a BK Boxer. The flue is 15’.
It’s new and I’m still pretty nervous about overheating something. It’s been very hard to keep the cat temps down in the “active” range.

 

[stoveliker]

Don't worry too much about the cat overheating; new cats are hyperactive and often get beyond the active range. This will settle down after a cord of wood has been burned. It's normal.

 

[Tron]

My pipe doesn't have any stickers, but when I forget to close the bypass and the thermostat on startup, the burnt smell of the pipe (possibly the paint on it) quickly reminds me of that fact.