We Have a New Wood Burning Stove

[MossRoad]

When I burn locust in mine there is very little of anything left. The oak tends to leave big chunks of charcoal. If I stir them up, they burn, but they ash over quickly and require more attention than the locust.

 

[escavader]

The problem with letting ashes build up ,is not only sufficating your fire,they build up to the grates and will warp them.Ive done it on my SHENANDOAH a couple times ,and my inlaws had the same thing happen to their WONDERWOOD.Take out them ashes!!!
ALAN

 

[ultrarunner]

I really envy you guys!

I've got the wood lot, tractor, splitter and saws... problem is the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (California) has 70 inspectors looking for chimney smoke.... The first time they catch you it's a warning. The second time the fine can be several thousand per the new media.

What bugs me most is "They", meaning the inspectors, tv, print and radio runs ads and stories each night encouraging neighbors to turn in neighbors anonymously...

 

[srossman]

I really envy you guys!

I've got the wood lot, tractor, splitter and saws... problem is the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (California) has 70 inspectors looking for chimney smoke.... The first time they catch you it's a warning. The second time the fine can be several thousand per the new media.

What bugs me most is "They", meaning the inspectors, tv, print and radio runs ads and stories each night encouraging neighbors to turn in neighbors anonymously...

One of many reasons why California seems so backwards. Almost seems unconstitutional being that these stoves are approved by the EPA which is at the federal level.

 

[MossRoad]

The problem with letting ashes build up ,is not only sufficating your fire,they build up to the grates and will warp them.Ive done it on my SHENANDOAH a couple times ,and my inlaws had the same thing happen to their WONDERWOOD.Take out them ashes!!!
ALAN

We don't have any grates. You build the fire right on the bricks on the bottom of the stove. My in-laws stove does not have a grate either.

 

[MossRoad]

I really envy you guys!

I've got the wood lot, tractor, splitter and saws... problem is the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (California) has 70 inspectors looking for chimney smoke.... The first time they catch you it's a warning. The second time the fine can be several thousand per the new media.

What bugs me most is "They", meaning the inspectors, tv, print and radio runs ads and stories each night encouraging neighbors to turn in neighbors anonymously...

I'd be moving.

 

[3RRL]

Ultrarunner,
I live a little S/E of you in Tulare county.
When we were building our log home, we wanted a wood burning stove. There were already plans not to allow any more unless it was a single family residence with a minimum of 5 acres (I believe) or something like that where there was a restriction on how and where you could have one and how many overall in a specific area. Plus the stove and chimney construction etc had to qualify. Our 27 acres and our area let us qualify, so we're happy about that.
Future residents wishing the same might not be as fortunate?

 

[scott_vt]

I really envy you guys!

What bugs me most is "They", meaning the inspectors, tv, print and radio runs ads and stories each night encouraging neighbors to turn in neighbors anonymously...

Good Evenin Ultrarunner,
Well that would bug the heck out of me also !

Sounds a bit like the Salem witch trials !

BTW, Rob very nice looking stove !

 

[IXLR8]

So,,, how often does everyone that burns continuously clean out their stove?

I have a Vermont Castings Defiant Encore stove. In the winter I burn continuously and don't let the fire go out. When I put in a load of wood, I knock the ashes around a bit and they settle into the ash pan. Every 3-4 days I open the ash pan door, shovel the ashs into a bucket, close ash pan door and continue. I find if I get the fire down to about 1" of coals, put in 4-5 logs I have about 2 minutes to clean up the ash pan, with the ash pan door open, before the added logs really get going and I have to shut it down.

 

[3RRL]

I have a Vermont Castings Defiant Encore stove. In the winter I burn continuously and don't let the fire go out. When I put in a load of wood, I knock the ashes around a bit and they settle into the ash pan. Every 3-4 days I open the ash pan door, shovel the ashs into a bucket, close ash pan door and continue. I find if I get the fire down to about 1" of coals, put in 4-5 logs I have about 2 minutes to clean up the ash pan, with the ash pan door open, before the added logs really get going and I have to shut it down.

That's interesting.
My stove lets me burn about 3 days or so before I need to get rid of the ashes. But mine has a metal (thick) cover over the ash pan opening. So I have to pull that cover off to get to (expose) the opening. The ash pan itself has a sliding cover on it which I keep open. So far I've let the stove cool down to remove the ashes but I guess I could try it while there are still coals in it? I'd have to take that thick cover off and push the ashes into the pan and replace the thick cover. Then add logs and hope the remaining coals ignite them.
Am I thinking correctly?