I empty ashes about every 2 weeks.
When it's real cold here, (10°f or colder):
I let it burn down to hot coals but still putting out good heat.
Open the bypass, & crack the door for 5 min or so, to get a good draft going.
I put on welding gloves,
rake the big coals to the Left side, shovel out Right side. Then coals to right side, shovel out left side.
Hurry outside with the bucket os hot ashes & empty in an area I want to kill weeds & dump.
Pull the hot coals to the middle area & spread them out.
Add a load of wood, crank it up & within a few minutes, good heat is being produced.
When its above 10°f,:
I turn the stove to highest setting, rake the coals around & pull them to the front near the door, close it up & let the big coals
put out heat, every 45 minutes about 3 times I rake the coals, & let it burn down to almost ashes but enough coals left to get a new fire started.
Same a above for the coals & ashes.
(I may vacuum the catalytic at this time if needed, but empty the vac ASAP just in case I may have gotten a hot ash/spark in it)
Spread the small amount of hot coals to the middle, reload, crank it up & enjoy the heat.