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[intensedrive]

Hi,

I have a few posts under my belt but rather new, second year running a outdoor boiler.  I believe from reading previous posts that I might removing the ash too frequently.  I usually take 5-6 shovels full every 4 days.  When I shovel the ash I tend to shake the shovel a bit to allow the larger coals to drop off, and try to get the finer ash into my metal barrel.  No matter how hard I try it seems the ash is extremely hot and causes the 55 gallon drum to heat up extremely fast.  Today I realized after all this time that I'm shoveling out ash that would be heating my house.  I tend to get very anal with the ash removal now rethinking that I should let the ash stay in the box longer.  My fear was the ash acts a insulator not allowing the heat transfer to the water.  Every morning I rake ash and the pile to the front and load the wood on top and to the back.  Is there a trick to get just the ash and not the hot ash with hot embers?

Thanks

[fsuftball]

I just removed the ash for the first time after 8 weeks of burning, I removed a wheel barrel full.
I waited till it needed to be loaded and my water temp was down to 160, pushed all the hot coals to the back, took a shovel and rake and brought them outside.

 Your are removing to much to soon. Wait 4 weeks at least.

I have a ridgewood so I'm not sure how the dual fuel models work if that's what you have.

[Chas]

I take out a partial wheelbarrow load about every 2 weeks or so. I try to take as much ash as possible but am not real concerned if I get some coals too.

[fryedaddy]

Buy a metal rake and use it to seperate the coal and ash.

[atvalaska]

I crank my auger ..and remove a bit less than a large steamer pan every 7 days = better air flow under the grates...I forgot 1 week and had ash rite to the bottom of the grates/made for a hard to burn fire to boot!   

[CountryBoyJohn]

I have a metal trash can I transfer my ash into.  After it cools, i load to a wheel barrow and dump it. 

[ST98]

I'm thinking around Jan 1st which will give me about three months. Then one more time before May shutdown.

[intensedrive]

How much wood do you burn in season?

I'm thinking around Jan 1st which will give me about three months. Then one more time before May shutdown.

[ST98]

Last year it was about 18 cords, not face cords. Hopefully this year no more than 15.  It's a tractor bucket when I clean out.  It's a CB6048 so it has alot of room.

[fryedaddy]

I normally use a rake and push everything to the back then rake the coals forward.

I can pull a wash pan worth of ashed every two weeks.

I like to keep mine fairly clean but nothing is perfect

[yotehunter66]

A bucket full about every two days. My stove has an auger so I only get ash.

[fireboss]

I take a few small shovels out every few days or so  I think the ash acts like an insulator  and the heat doesn't transfer

[sabercat]

seems like every few days we are taking a 1/4 wheelbarrow out, CB 5036, natural draft. My old stove was fan forced air, which I only took ashes out a couple times a season. I figured being force draft it was blowing the fines up the chimney. But it seems we are taking out too frequently, I've been burning with a OWB since 2000. Burning 100% white/scrub oak.

[fryedaddy]

Ash does act like an insulator.

My stove has a very small amount of water beneath the firebox due to this.