Is this normal?

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Alisajg16

New Member
Oct 22, 2018
8
Maryland
So I’m wrapping doing what I hope it my last weekly clean of the season on my Harmon P35i, and I pulled out the ash pan only to have a ton of brown/rusty ash come out from under and behind it. I emptied it and flipped it over to find a very charred back and sides of the ash pan. There was also a thick build up of ash on the back side. Is this normal? I’ve attached a few photos. This stove was installed new in August 2018, so it has only been used this season.

PS, I’m thinking this may be related to a slight smoky and plasticy smell I’ve noticed while burning over the last few weeks.
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Fines get behind the pan in my Advance too, so it may be a normal thing.
 
My Harman Advance looks like that when it’s really cold out and i have it cranked up so it’s burning efficiently. When it’s warmer outside and I turn my stove down the soot and ash is nearly black. Also every brand pellet burns a little different than another.
 
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Normal, I have 2 P35i’s, it’s a very powdery ash that adheres in those areas.