I got in the habit of laying the bottom layer of logs and then loading at will. I can't always see the ports, but it doesn't seem to matter. As long as I don't slide the bottom layer,I don't see too much coals or ash getting knocked into refractory tunnel. I picked up some more (2 s.b.ranger loads)punky wood today and figure it'll give me another 3-4 days of burn time, maybe more, depending on the forecast. I will load up the furnace a little fuller when burner this stuff. It does tend to "ash out" more(my terminology for big fluffy ash). After last weeks 68 deg weather, I have got spring fever BAD!!! Trying to get plants started for garden. Told the "little man" (all 5'9 at 12 yrs.) that we'll be puttin the vw back together to drive since $4-5 fuel is probably sooner than later. Busy summer.