Ash Cleanout intervals

[yooper08]

About once a week I'll clean out ashes the width of the scoop right along the front, which is probably about a quarter or a third of the stove. Then I rake whatever coals are in the back forward, which brings forward some ash to cover the firebox floor.

Just curious as to why some people clean out the entire stove versus keeping a layer of ash?

 

[CentralVAWoodHeat]

About once a week I'll clean out ashes the width of the scoop right along the front, which is probably about a quarter or a third of the stove. Then I rake whatever coals are in the back forward, which brings forward some ash to cover the firebox floor.

Just curious as to why some people clean out the entire stove versus keeping a layer of ash?

For me it has to do with space for wood versus extra ash. Sometimes that extra layer of ash can mean the difference between getting another layer of wood in the stove or not.