How to empty the ash pan

alexbeaudet · Dec 30, 2013

Hi everyone,

I'm fairly new to having a wood stove and have a question about how to empty the ash pan in my Jotul. It's obviously quite easy when the fire is out, but I've been keeping it burning through the night during recent cold spells and I'm not sure of the best way to clear the ash that's building up. I've read on other threads that some people never clean out the pan, and shovel ash (and some embers) out of the firebox into a metal bucket. Is there a "right" way to handle this? Any suggestions are appreciated!

Alex

Toploader · Dec 30, 2013

You can do it in the morning before you restart, just open the ash pan door pull out the pan and then close the door again. Empty the ash pan outside then make sure you clear any ash that has fallen down from the grate before you put the pan back in, do this by sitting the ash pan on the floor below the ash door and use an ash rake to clean it out. Do it every second day and it's much easier and cleaner than shoveling.

fraxinus · Dec 31, 2013

Toploader said:
You can do it in the morning before you restart, just open the ash pan door pull out the pan and then close the door again. Empty the ash pan outside then make sure you clear any ash that has fallen down from the grate before you put the pan back in, do this by sitting the ash pan on the floor below the ash door and use an ash rake to clean it out. Do it every second day and it's much easier and cleaner than shoveling.

I do much as Toploader does with one exception. Using second ash pan plus a simple sheet metal lid, I first rake coals and ash toward the back, then remove the first, full ash pan, put on the lid and insert the second, empty one. This pretty much completely avoids the problem of ashes accumulating in area where the ash pan fits, especially if you remember to shake the full ash pan a bit so you don't scrape off the top of the mound of ashes as you remove it.

alexbeaudet · Jan 1, 2014

Part of the issue is that I'm not restarting a cold fire. The fire has been maintaining itself through the night making the cleaning harder. Where did you get the second ash pan? Any other suggestions? Thanks again!

fraxinus · Jan 1, 2014

alexbeaudet said:
Part of the issue is that I'm not restarting a cold fire. The fire has been maintaining itself through the night making the cleaning harder. Where did you get the second ash pan? Any other suggestions? Thanks again!

You can buy a second ash pan through your dealer or have one made at a sheet metal shop along with the a lid. The second option is probably cheaper. While I do not stuff the stove before going to bed, it is, especially in firgid weather full of very hot coals. I turn the air down and have plenty of coals to restart in the morning. For example, this morning the stove top temperature was 250 degrees or so, brought up to 500 in about 30 minutes. Not a cold start, but not a still roaring blaze, either.

mainewoodburning · Jan 1, 2014

This is the only thing I don't like about my Jotul. I wish they have made a way to close off the ash pan so you could change when you have a live fire. I change mine when I get up. There are still live coals in the stove so I open the ash pan door and pull it out and close it fast. After emptying I clean anything that dropped into the empty pan, then add wood and the fire restarts.

firefighterjake · Jan 1, 2014

I have a Jotul Oslo . . . not sure what model you have.

Like others I tend to clean out the ash pan twice a week when burning 24/7 . . . cleaned it out this morning in fact. Generally I clean it out in the morning after an overnight fire. Typically there are coals, but no flames. I open the ash pan door, remove pan, close door. It's open a very short time and will not cause damage.

Ash pan is then taken outside and dumped into a covered ash bucket. Return inside. Open ash pan door. Use a flat fireplace shovel to scoop out the ashes that inevitably have dropped down behind the ash pan (if I don't do this step it tends to build up and can prevent the ash pan door from closing and/or having a good seal.) Replace ash pan. Close door.

Quick and simple.

After that I typically clean the glass with some damp newspaper and then clean up the hearth. Reload the stove after stirring up the ash and coals if I didn't do this step before and you're off to the races.

adrpga498 · Jan 1, 2014

I keep a door cracked open prior to opening the ash can door. By having the loading door open a little significantly reduces the "blast furnace" effect when opening up the ash door. I only do this in the morning when its coals only and ready for a reload.

semipro · Jan 1, 2014

2nd what Jake said.
adrpga489 is also right. Even if you have a full fire going you can open a front or side door first and then open the ash pan door. Otherwise you risk cracking your stove because of the blast furnace effect.
Also, assume your ashes are hot for days after dumping. Many (unwanted) fires have been started by ashes containing live coals.

alexbeaudet · Jan 2, 2014

Thanks for the tips everyone!

I also have a Jotul Oslo. I'm having a little trouble scooping fallen embers because my shovel isn't quite flat enough. Anyone have a shovel they really like? Any thoughts on scooping from the firebox instead of emptying the ash pan?

Another question I have is about the ash buildup I'm getting at the front door. Is anyone else with an Oslo experiencing this? Any way to remedy it? Opening the front door makes quite a mess at this point.

Thanks again!

Stubborn Dutchman · Jan 2, 2014

firefighterjake said:
I have a Jotul Oslo . . . not sure what model you have.

Like others I tend to clean out the ash pan twice a week when burning 24/7 . . . cleaned it out this morning in fact. Generally I clean it out in the morning after an overnight fire. Typically there are coals, but no flames. I open the ash pan door, remove pan, close door. It's open a very short time and will not cause damage.

Ash pan is then taken outside and dumped into a covered ash bucket. Return inside. Open ash pan door. Use a flat fireplace shovel to scoop out the ashes that inevitably have dropped down behind the ash pan (if I don't do this step it tends to build up and can prevent the ash pan door from closing and/or having a good seal.) Replace ash pan. Close door.

Quick and simple.

After that I typically clean the glass with some damp newspaper and then clean up the hearth. Reload the stove after stirring er the ash and coals if I didn't do this step before and you're off to the races.

+1 This is how I do it with my F600. I also have a long handled brush that I use to sweep any ash/embers that may fall through the grate after pulling out the tray. along with any ash that fell over the back edge of the tray. I usually sweep after dumping because I often wait too long to dump and the tray is full. Very little falls through will the tray is removed. Pretty simple, really!

firefighterjake · Jan 2, 2014

alexbeaudet said:
Thanks for the tips everyone!

I also have a Jotul Oslo. I'm having a little trouble scooping fallen embers because my shovel isn't quite flat enough. Anyone have a shovel they really like? Any thoughts on scooping from the firebox instead of emptying the ash pan?

Another question I have is about the ash buildup I'm getting at the front door. Is anyone else with an Oslo experiencing this? Any way to remedy it? Opening the front door makes quite a mess at this point.

Thanks again!

I bought a short handled set from Northline Express awhile back. The set isn't exactly heirloom, but it has held up pretty well and had a flat shovel in the set that works great for scooping out the ash in the ash pan.

And yes, you can scoop ash from the firebox if you want . . . some Oslo owners do just this . . . me, I think the ash pan on the Oslo is one of its best features myself.

As for the ash on the front door . . . yeah, it's a pain. I usually don't use the front door except for cleaning the glass so it's not a major issue for me. If you do a search you will find some folks in the past have reported some success with fitting in a large gasket in the channel to block the ash, another member fabbed up something out of angle iron. Me . . . I just have learned to accept the mess . . . and have a dustpan handy when I use the front door.

tsquini · Jan 2, 2014

I have a small stove. If I get too much ash I can't put any wood in the stove. So I occasionally clear the ash pan with a fire. The first thing I do is open the door and place the screen on, then I open the ash door. The screen kills the draft from the ash door being open and I can clean the ash out without the fire raging on me. The only downside is that the fire is damn hot and my face is closer to the screen than I like it to be. I don't like the smell of burning hair.

Valhalla · Jan 2, 2014

Every other early morning my Oslo 500 gets the ash tray dumped, right after the overnight burn. I never open the front door, except to clean the flue twice a burning season. The door glass gets cleaned only then, as secondary air keeps it really clean.

I taught my wife how to dump the ash tray and reload. It is like having autopilot on my Oslo!

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