Not too bad for a new burner.
You'll get a whole lot more creosote if you damp the BK down to that miraculous "40 hour burn" too often. Catalysts will "light off" and combust for quite awhile. However: You need to read your manual for cat care besides checking the chimney which looks fine for the first year. Cats need cleaning and checking at least a few times each season.
Creosote collects where the incomplete burnt gases condense on cold surfaces such at chimney caps. Normal for all of us.
The average life of a cat to "reburn" is ~ 12,000 hours of use; that's a good 2- 2.5 seasons here IF used for complete heating. After that the paladium wears off.
Your BK BTW will not cure dandruff.:msp_tongue:
P.S. Neat pics of your flue. Reminds me of the pics of my colonoscopy......
Actually I run it on low about 85 to 90 percent of the time with a hot fire every 24 hours or so, taking up the 10 percent or so of time left. Second, I am from Montana born and raised and I am sure our burn season up there is worse or same as yours and Blaze King is the stove of choice up there and I hear Alaska, probably due to the cold and long burn seasons plus the 40 hour burn time of the stove at low. Third the cat is warrantied for six years of unlimited use, so no worries, and most get 6-10 years of service before it needs replaced.
Here is some out of the manual: CATALYTIC COMBUSTOR
This wood heater contains a catalytic combustor, which needs periodic inspection and replacement for proper operation. It is against the law to operate, - this wood heater in a manner inconsistent with operating instructions in this manual, or if the catalytic element is deactivated or removed. The combustor is a ceramic or stainless steel honeycomb on which is coated a catalyst. The catalyst may be a combination of one or more precious metals, including following: platinum, palladium, rhodium and cerium. The catalyst chemically lowers the combustion temperature of the smoke from a wood fire, thereby allowing more smoke to burn, and both increasing efficiency and lowering emissions. The catalyst is generally operational while the stove thermometer registers in the "Active" zone. If the thermometer does not stay in the Active zone, but falls into the "Inactive" zone for most, of the burn cycle, the thermostat could be set too low or the catalyst may need cleaning or replacement.
CATALYTIC COMBUSTOR, CLEANING
Under certain conditions, ash particles may become attached to the face of the catalyst. These may be seen while the catalyst is in the glowing stage, or when the fire is out. Any deposit on the visible face of the catalyst should be removed. Wait until the fire is out and the stove is cold. (Hot ash in a vacuum cleaner bag will burn.) Brushing the catalyst with a soft bristle paint brush will remove some deposits. Passing a plastic vacuum cleaner wand
or brush near the face of the catalyst will remove most deposits. Never scrape the catalyst with any hard tool or brush. Some stove owners have run pipe cleaner through every individual cell of the catalyst. This is not needed, and may actually do more harm than good. Limit cleaning to the face of the catalyst. For more thorough cleaning see page 46-48 of this manual.
Note: Never remove a combustor without approved combustor gasket in hand as original gasket will fall apart when removed from stove.
TIP: A nice hot fire will usually prove to be the best method of cleaning the combustor of deposits.
So very little maintenance for the usefulness of being able to burn a long low fire is you so want.
