Stove Shutdowns

Is it a common problem with all HF coal stove where you have to shutdown the stove, say every ten days or so, to clear out the unburnt coal & clinkers ? Back in the seventies I had a HF coal stove with those rocker grates and I never had to shutdown, it ran 24/7 from October thru April. My current stove has one of those riddle grates, there is also two sections (front and rear) which do not move when using the riddle grate, so you have to poke through each hole in the grate from beneath to clear the ash. The rear section I use a long poke with a 90 degrees angle. Since you can not see the holes in the rear section grate I basically have to do it by poking around for each hole, talk about frustrating ! ! The stove also have two remove able cast iron sections that fit into the firebox at a 45 degree angle to direct the coal ash to the center riddle grate. Of course the ash tends to pack up and then you need to run a poker along each section at the 45 degree angle disturbing the coal fire.
Lucky thing I am retired and have the time to mess with this stove. I thinking if I purchase a new stove for next winter the grates need to be entirely under the firebox with no ledges or other obstructions where ash can buildup, reducing the air flow thereby reducing the amount of coal that can burn efficiently. Is there anything else I need to be looking for ? Thanks Kevin.

I shut down once since Thanksgiving for a clean out of my V.C. Many will say a round, deep, suspended fire pot with prismatic grates are the very best.

Yep, something with a hopper. I never shut my HITZER 50-93 down till heating season is over, like your old stove--what a PIA you have there:(

Freetown Fred, thanks for your reply. My search for a new stove begins next month. I'll keep the forum posted. Kevin.

Koko wrote:My search for a new stove begins next month.

Unfortunately it seems you have a stove with a rather poor grate design. Check the forum classifieds, there are a few there.