Is this normal?

[Alisajg16]

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.

 

[greg13]

Fines get behind the pan in my Advance too, so it may be a normal thing.

 

[Wilson01]

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.

 

[fmsm]

Normal, I have 2 P35i’s, it’s a very powdery ash that adheres in those areas.

 

[md2002]

Looks normal to me, I've seen this on my stove.