New Progress Hybrid not getting up to temp?

[Tenn Dave]

The little smoke screen inside the left upper corner of the door is attached with a screw. Simply unscrew.

The screen can also simply be removed. I got rid of mine last Spring. Verified with Woodstock a few days ago. It s quite alright to burn without the screen. The airpath to the cat is long enough to allow ash to fall before reaching the cat.
My cat clogs because of my tall chimney stack in an exposed site. I need to get an ashpan. Seems I was correct: ashpan keeps ash out of the exhaust stream.

I love the ash pan and have never had a problem with the screen or the cat clogging with ash. My chimney is 22 ft tall. I never burn paper to start a fire - always use super cedars. I think you will love the ash pan to. Good luck.

 

[Tenn Dave]

Wow, you guys, thanks for all this info! Dave, that's a really good idea--I'd been told that oak aged three years is much better than two years, but your experience sure proves it. We thought we were doing well to get a year ahead--just spent quite a bit to get this year's and next year's, but maybe we'd better try to get another two years supply next year and we can sort it out so that the oak gets the extra year of seasoning.

And thanks Rideau for the shield dismantling instructions--we'll do that when we get back after our Thanksgiving trip, and also try removing the screen. We do have the ashcan, and it's nice to get the info that it helps with keeping ash out of the exhaust stream.

Once you get 3 or 4 years ahead on your wood, then you only have to do one years worth at a time. And please trust me, good dry wood makes all the difference in the Progress Hybrid. Last year was my first full year burning this stove, and it was a learning experience, but also a lot of fun. This year I have it pretty much dialed in, and it is pure pleasure. And don't overlook the Woodstock customer service folks. They are a great resource and always most happy to help with all questions and any problems.

 

[Wolf]

How's the PH treating you Wolf? Might be time to change your avatar.

Sorry for the delayed response. I haven't been receiving my alerts in my email.

The Progress is treating me great. Haha yeah I think you are right that it is time for an updated avatar. Maybe this weekend

 

[fire_man]

The screen can also simply be removed. I got rid of mine last Spring. Verified with Woodstock a few days ago. It s quite alright to burn without the screen. The airpath to the cat is long enough to allow ash to fall before reaching the cat.

Rideau Can you please elaborate on what WS said about removing the iconel screen?

It's hard for me to understand why it's ok to burn without it, they spent so much time and money developing numerous iterations of screens that don't sag and they constructed the new Fireback with welded screen support pins, and had a special retrofit kit on the original stoves. They made the pitch that the screen was like a "pre-cat" that gets very hot and incinerates emissions before reaching the cat and used an expensive high temp alloy.

I thought their original tests in the lab supported it was necessary to prevent cat clogs?

 

[Tenn Dave]

Rideau Can you please elaborate on what WS said about removing the iconel screen?

It's hard for me to understand why it's ok to burn without it, they spent so much time and money developing numerous iterations of screens that don't sag and they constructed the new Fireback with welded screen support pins, and had a special retrofit kit on the original stoves. They made the pitch that the screen was like a "pre-cat" that gets very hot and incinerates emissions before reaching the cat and used an expensive high temp alloy.

I thought their original tests in the lab supported it was necessary to prevent cat clogs?

I'm not sure if it makes a difference, but I have the ash pan and have never had a cat clog up problem. I also have good draft and always start my fires with super cedars and never use paper.

 

[rideau]

Yes, the ash pan makes all the difference. In my opinion, necessary if you have an exceptionally strong draft.

 

[rideau]

Rideau Can you please elaborate on what WS said about removing the iconel screen?

It's hard for me to understand why it's ok to burn without it, they spent so much time and money developing numerous iterations of screens that don't sag and they constructed the new Fireback with welded screen support pins, and had a special retrofit kit on the original stoves. They made the pitch that the screen was like a "pre-cat" that gets very hot and incinerates emissions before reaching the cat and used an expensive high temp alloy.

I thought their original tests in the lab supported it was necessary to prevent cat clogs?

Tony....sent you a response. Rideau

 

[dhumohr]

Rideau, could you post your reply to fireman? We were going to remove the inconel screen because when we called, Ron at Woodstock said to do that to see if the stove would burn better without it. But he didn't say we could safely burn long term without it. We took the combuster out and vacuumed it--it seemed pretty clean--didn't seem to have any clogs at all, but it's a little harder to get the screen out--we took one cotter pin out and had a hard time re-fitting it where it should be, so if we take it out, we'd probably leave it out, at least for this year, if it's safe.

 

[weatherguy]

Good to know I can get that annoying smoke flap off, prevents me from getting a good size split on top. I have no problem getting this stove to 600+ and its still usually at 500 a few hours later, goes down to 400 about the time for reload. I've been burning ash seasoned 2 years, haven't dug into my 3-4 year seasoned oak, saving that for real winter weather.