Ash bed depth

i usually end up with a decent amount of ash. it's nice to help coals stay burning overnight. i never heard one way or another what the benefit is.

1-2 inches works for me . . . enough to help preserve the coals and give a little insulation value to the base of the firebox.

Optimum for what? You may get as many differing opinions as there are models of stove. I don't know how a LOPI Endeavor works with more or less ashes but my stove puts out way more heat with less ashes. The ashes do however preserve the coals longer.

I think its amazing how meticulous we can be with burning when half the world could give two splits.

I suppose i get rid of some ash when it starts hindering my doghouse air 2-3 in, leaving about 1/2-1 inch

The design of the stove can have an effect as well. On the VC's there is a small supplementary air intake in the ashpan housing that brigs air in directly through the grate into the coal bed. On low with the primary closed this is the main supply for the fire. A reasonable ash bed helps preserve the coals after an overnight burn but too much and the fire might go out on minimum air.

Most say 1-2" and we usually try to leave 2" in the bottom and it works out well.

ezwryder said:

Is there an optimum depth for the ash bed? The ash bed underneath the burning splits glows red when my fire gets hot, therefore it would seem logical that a two to three inch ash bed should be a good thing. Please share your wisdom. Thanks.

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I have a lopi liberty and I find the less ash in the firebox the better the fire burns, but I find the more ashes there are in the firebox, the more coals will be there in the morning for an easy restart. Last year I was removing ashes every three days, this year I am removing ashes every five days or when the ashes are up even with the ledge at the bottom of the door. When I remove ashes I let the fire go completely out and remove all but a very thin layer of ash and try to leave any of the unburnt charcoal

Check your manual. Mine says 1 inch. I don't maintain 1 inch of course, just clean it out to 1 inch whenever I start having trouble keeping the ash in the fire box ;-P

tfdchief said:

Check your manual. Mine says 1 inch. I don't maintain 1 inch of course, just clean it out to 1 inch whenever I start having trouble keeping the ash in the fire box ;-P

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Manual for my liberty assuming it is the same for the endeavor says to "Leave a bed of ashes 1/2" deep to allow for longer burns"

1-2 inches for me.

LLigetfa said:

Optimum for what? You may get as many differing opinions as there are models of stove. I don't know how a LOPI Endeavor works with more or less ashes but my stove puts out way more heat with less ashes. The ashes do however preserve the coals longer.

Click to expand...

+1 for PE t6