Ash Handling

[tbear853]

Since 1992 whenever I did an ash dump, I've first scraped the burn pot, push ashes off the edge into the ash pan, brushed the glass with a natural fiber brush, and while I used to have a empty pellet bag below for that mess, now I use a shallow pan that is as big that I keep in a empty bag nearby. Then before removing the ash pan for emptying, I press the red off button. Combustion fan stays on until cool which is an hour, but the auger is stopped.

Then I grab those thick leather insulated gloves and take the pan out and outside to empty and spread the ashes, takes a couple minutes. I recently had a fall on this recent frozen snow covered by 4 inches concrete like frozen sleet. It hurt, my left side ribs still feel bruised where I landed on my left arm, but it is better today. At first I thought I maybe broke one. Looking today, it was a downhill fall, and I didn't even crack the frozen sleet over frozen snow. Amazed, that I didn't even spill any ashes either.

After well over 30 years, I decided to change up. I was in TSC today, bought a 6 gallon steel bucket, it has a cap that is held on by snapping the handle up over it, it's galvanized .... I know they say DO NOT PUT HOT ASHES IN GALVANIZED CONTAINERS .... bad fumes are created, but this will stay outside on the carport, lid on, and will remove the need to walk them ashes out into the yard to spread and cool. Just $32.99. I have a smaller 3 or 4 one with no lid, used to use it for garden fertilizer, etc., It can set inside the new one. Easy to pour from stove ash pan into it, then when a few dumps accumulate, when ashes are dead cold, then I'll dump them when not weathering down below the shed in the edge of the brush, etc.

Has been many a time I dreaded emptying the ashes due to rain or snow or ice, but now it doesn't seem so bad. I should have done this 30+ years ago.

Also ordered some ice cleats for my shoes.

 

[Murray01]

Also ordered some ice cleats for my shoes.

As must for our house. Been wearing them for work and play for 40 years.

 

[tbear853]

As must for our house. Been wearing them for work and play for 40 years.

I have had some for many years issued by my department, but being probably 40 years old, afraid to trust the rubber ... if I still have them.

 

[Ricks]

I may be OCD, but I don’t like the idea of hot ash in a carport.

I live in Maine and every winter we will have several home, garage, shed, or barn fire caused by hot ash.

 

[Whitenuckler]

I shut mine off, and wait for 2 hours then do the 3 week clean and the ashes are cold. Depending on how cold it is I will do a fast clean every day or couple of days.
For the fast one I wait 45 minutes at which time the combustion blower is still running while I scrape and quick clean. Mine's in the basement, though so it does not matter if the temp drops down there by 5F (fast clean). For the 3 weeker, I try to pick a warm day as it will be off for 3 hours.

 

[Whitenuckler]

Also ordered some ice cleats for my shoes.

I forgot to say sorry about the fall, and I was going to suggest cleats as I have them on a set of waterproof hikers, and just leave them on. I change into them at the trail and leave them in the house to stay warm. It's like night and day, and I have bad knees so traction is required. I don't need a fall either.

 

[sandpipe]

I don't mean to encourage recklessness but ash from the bin of a pellet stove is fairly benign compared to ash from a wood stove. I too have a galvanized lidded bin outside where I conveniently dump pellet ash. Vacuuming out a pellet stove too soon after shutting it down, now that is problematic.

 

[Whitenuckler]

I don't mean to encourage recklessness but ash from the bin of a pellet stove is fairly benign compared to ash from a wood stove. I too have a galvanized lidded bin outside where I conveniently dump pellet ash. Vacuuming out a pellet stove too soon after shutting it down, now that is problematic.

I 100% agree. The ash from a pellet stove is usually 100% burned, and a fine powder. I take mine out to the garage and dump it into a metal bucket. Then later put it in the trash on garbage day. After it has been shut off for a few hours, there are no active pellets. You cannot say that for a wood stove. The embers could be hot for a day if they have been insulated by ash. I have no issues do a full clean after a couple of hours using a shop vac with double filter. The stove is cool and no pellets are active.

 

[tbear853]

I may be OCD, but I don’t like the idea of hot ash in a carport.

I live in Maine and every winter we will have several home, garage, shed, or barn fire caused by hot ash.

I get that. Is why I went and bought the lidded bucket. I wouldn't have a securely lidded galvanized bucket of hot ash in doors, but out on a carport where it's well ventilated, with no fumes in a living space ..... I'm OK with.

Unless I completely fill the old bucket that has no lid, I'll keep it setting inside the new lidded bucket, it clears nicely.

 

[Ricks]

I didn’t take it that you were starting an argument, but instead stating facts. Ash from a pellet stove is much finer than a wood stove or fireplace. Pellet ash also cooks faster.

Just raising the point one should be careful with ash.

 

[tbear853]

I didn’t take it that you were starting an argument, but instead stating facts. Ash from a pellet stove is much finer than a wood stove or fireplace. Pellet ash also cooks faster.

Just raising the point one should be careful with ash.

Not sure, but if responding to me, ..... we are in about 100% agreement.

A few times dumping the ash pan from the stove and spreading out way out from house on a cold, maybe breezy night, I've looked out before going to bed to see red glowing ash where I knew I had just dumped. I had some issues with the stove (flu, feed rate, etc) or pellets that saw me moving some partially burnt black pellets. I think I have it right again, has been doing well, but is why I wanted a wind proof latching lid pail for outside to safely contain them until they are cold.