There seems to be a never ending debate over which combustion style is better.catalytic vs secondary combustion.Ī catalytic unit has a honeycomb type device positioned deep inside the stove that ignites unburned gasses as they pass through. This additional combustion process not only helps creosote from forming on the interior of your chimney walls, it also promotes a clean, energy efficient fire. Modern wood stoves are designed with a catalytic device or secondary combustion chamber that ignites unburnt gasses before they're expelled up your chimney and released into the outside air. It doesn't mean these older stoves are unsafe or inefficient (many have successfully heated older and more drafty homes for decades) it simply means their technology has become outdated and newer models or companies have taken their place. This is why a lot of "popular" older stoves are no longer in production. While these new and ever changing regulations can lead to a cleaner environment and more efficient stoves, it's also very taxing on wood stove manufactures to keep up.Ĭonstant design changes and the need for new technology often forced many wood stove companies out of business because they simply can not keep up with the need to meet new regulations.