I just replaced an Avalon Olympic insert with a brand new Vermont Castings Defiant Catalytic (model 1945) free-standing stove. The Olympic burned well, but I wanted a free-standing stove pulled out from inside the fireplace in a quest to get more heat in the room. The problem is that the draft with the Defiant is not very good, even with the damper fully open (catalytic NOT engaged) and the air control fully open. As soon as I open the ash tray door slightly, I have a roaring fire; but as soon as the ash pan door is closed fully, it becomes a very lazy fire, sometimes completely reduced to a smoldering smokey mess. I did not have this problem with the Olympic using the same wood, which is dry (not ultra dry, but not sizzling). I have an insulated 6 inch pipe which has a 90 degree bend from the back of the Defiant, then straight up the masonry chimney. The Olympic did not have the bend, since it was inside the chimney with the pipe going straight up.
I read a post somewhere on this forum, that the Defiant has some sort of air intake plate that is different (smaller holes?) for the U.S. that the rest of the world, and changing it to the other version may help with the draft. I also believe that Vermont Castings recommends an 8 inch pipe, but that a 6 inch will work as long as I don't use the stove as a fireplace with the doors open.
Anyone else have a similar problem? Any ideas on what I should do? Is the 6 inch pipe too restrictive? It doesn't seem logical to me that this is the case if opening the ash pan door slightly turns a smoldering mess into a roaring fire. Any ideas will be greatly appreciated!
I read a post somewhere on this forum, that the Defiant has some sort of air intake plate that is different (smaller holes?) for the U.S. that the rest of the world, and changing it to the other version may help with the draft. I also believe that Vermont Castings recommends an 8 inch pipe, but that a 6 inch will work as long as I don't use the stove as a fireplace with the doors open.
Anyone else have a similar problem? Any ideas on what I should do? Is the 6 inch pipe too restrictive? It doesn't seem logical to me that this is the case if opening the ash pan door slightly turns a smoldering mess into a roaring fire. Any ideas will be greatly appreciated!