Wood stoves and wood burning fireplace inserts with catalytic combustors do burn cleaner and more efficiently than non-catalytic burners. As explained in Wood Stove Inserts and Catalytic vs. Non-catalytic Burners, eventually the catalytic combustors will need to be replaced.

Replacement costs have dropped in recent years thanks to increased competition and online access to the catalytic combustors.  Now, you can expect to pay about $200.00 US dollars.

Stove manufacturers are required by the Environmental Protection Agency to provide a six year prorated warranty on the original wood stove combustors. If your combustor does stop working properly  anytime during that six year period, you can return it and get a prorated refund that can be applied to a new purchase.

The original combustor that is returned to the stove manufacturer is then returned to the original supplier for testing.  Test results usually show that the combustors failed due to thermal shock.  Thermal shock results from sharp changes in the temperature.  If you were to load ice or snow covered wood into your hot stove, or try to burn wet wood, you would have a rapid temperature change that will, over time, damage your catalytic combustor.

With proper burning techniques and stove maintenance, the catalytic combustors can last much longer than comparable stove parts that are not kept clean.

Above is a photo of a new wood stove catalytic combustor.

For more selections of wood stove and wood burning fireplace inserts catalytic combustors, check out out Catalytic Combustors.

If you cannot find your combustor there, you can always check Condar’s.