Ashes in the stove.

[karl]

While researching wood stoves on here, I read where the general concensus is that a stove burns better with about an inch of ashes in it. Why is this the case?

I have been burning for a few weeks now and I notice that when I have a layer of ashes in the stove the wood doesn't burn completely. If I start with a clean stove all of my ashes are very fine, like talcum powder. If I let the ashses build of a bit then I notice a bunch of marble sized pieces of wood left unburnt. Am I doing something wrong?

 

[Hogwildz]

You keep an inch minimal of ash on the bottom. This helps insulate the bottom and keep the bottom bricks from deteriorating as quickly.
It is advised in your manual by the manufacturer.

 

[Gooserider]

While researching wood stoves on here, I read where the general concensus is that a stove burns better with about an inch of ashes in it. Why is this the case?

I have been burning for a few weeks now and I notice that when I have a layer of ashes in the stove the wood doesn't burn completely. If I start with a clean stove all of my ashes are very fine, like talcum powder. If I let the ashses build of a bit then I notice a bunch of marble sized pieces of wood left unburnt. Am I doing something wrong?

The layer of ash does two things - it helps to protect the bottom of the stove from being damaged / over heated by the fire, and it helps keep the fire burning hotter by insulating it from the bottom of the stove. Not sure about the left over wood, but I suspect that when you get burning more as the weather cools down you'll burn up more of it. I wouldn't worry about it that much - filter out the unburned chunks they make great charcoal for the BBQ next summer.

Gooserider

 

[Dunadan]

Funny, this topic has appeared in quite a few posts recently.

As I've mentioned in those, on top of the reasons already given, I find that the ash helps insulate and keep the left-over embers "hot" longer. I'm finding with a good layer of ash in my stove, I can come back 6 hours (or more) after my fire has gone "out", and scrape together enough embers and dead coals to re-start my fire with just a few pieces of kindling.

 

[bjorn773]

I am finding them helpful for restarting a fire as well. In the past, I had used a grate in my stove that burned up 100% of the wood. I would have to built a new fire each time I let it die down. I removed the grate, which my manual stated not to use anyway, and now the seemingly everlasting coal bed makes refiring much quicker. The stove remains warmer much longer as well. I like the raking technique, then vacuum out the ash with a harbor freight ash vacuum. They work great if you replace some of their cheap plastic parts with metal ones from the hardware store. Unfortunately, they don't sell them anymore. Probably had somebody catch their shop vac on fire or something.

 

[Dunadan]

I removed the grate, which my manual stated not to use anyway, and now the seemingly everlasting coal bed makes refiring much quicker.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

I'm really not laughing at you, nor picking on you when I say this, but it's funny how those manuals sure do know what they're talking about ;-)

 

[Lignums]

Helps keep the stove hot longer, makes the wood last longer, and the manual thing is right on.

 

[maplegirl]

Funny, this topic has appeared in quite a few posts recently.

As I've mentioned in those, on top of the reasons already given, I find that the ash helps insulate and keep the left-over embers "hot" longer. I'm finding with a good layer of ash in my stove, I can come back 6 hours (or more) after my fire has gone "out", and scrape together enough embers and dead coals to re-start my fire with just a few pieces of kindling.

I thought letting a fire burn down to just a smoldering ash leads to creosote build up. Is this true?

 

[Dunadan]

Letting wood smolder and smoke leads to creosote build-up.

What I'm talking about is running a nice hot fire with flames and secondary burn until the you've past the wood stage and moved on to the charcoal state. Once your wood has pretty much be turned into charcoal, and it's had a chance to burn down, I believe there is very little smoke/gas being released, so the chance of creosote build-up is negligible.

At this point, if you have a nice bed of ash, the remaining charcoal burns down very slowly and will take forever it seems to finally go out. It doesn't take much of an ember, and some air, to start another fire. Have you ever watched Survivor Man or Man vs. Wild? Just like that.

For example, this morning at about 6:30 am I loaded the stove with 2 large splits (6") and a couple small splits (4"). I left for work and my wife, after the fire was burning hot, turned the air down. No more wood was added all day. When I got home and decided it was going to be cold enough overnight to warrant another fire, about 6:30 pm, I was able to scrape up a decent amount of dead charcoal, and embers, and in short order had the fire blazing again.