Trouble in Paradise--Ash Removal

 
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sav
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Post by sav » Sun. Apr. 26, 2015 8:32 am

Although I try to be very careful when shaking and removing ash from my heaters ( Jotul 507 and Weso 225) , my wife has begun to complain about the very fine layer of ash that seems to be on every horizontal surface in the house. Her displeasure is reaching the point where she wants the stoves removed!
I cover the ash pan with a damp paper towel as I carefully carry it 10 feet to the back door where it is deposited in a bucket on the deck. I wait an half hour then wipe down the surfaces in the kitchen -same with the living room where the Weso sits. What can I do to limit the spread? Is this stuff dangerous or just a PITA and goes with the territory?


 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Sun. Apr. 26, 2015 8:42 am

Are you removing the ash immediately after shakedown?

 
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McGiever
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Post by McGiever » Sun. Apr. 26, 2015 8:44 am

Can you describe your shaking procedure, including position of any stove doors/openings and also any damper positions?
Is the shaking done with a lively fire or not so lively?

It is benificial to have higher negative pressure inside the stove at start of shaking...fine ash will stay inside stove and not drift out. It can be tough to see this dust as it drifts...but landing and accumulating on darker flat surfaces will tell the tale, as has been pointed out to you. ;)
Last edited by McGiever on Sun. Apr. 26, 2015 8:54 am, edited 1 time in total.

 
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sav
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Post by sav » Sun. Apr. 26, 2015 8:52 am

I remove ash immediately after shaking leaving the ash door open to allow draft to suck any residual ash into the heater. I don't change the damper setting at all leaving it at its normal 3/4 closed.
Please realize that I don't think there is a problem. It is to be expected that some fine ash will float thru the air no matter what fuel you're using but it's to the point where my wife wants some answers or remedy so I turn to the forum for advice to keep my wonderful (and economic ) heat source in the house.

 
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Post by Rob R. » Sun. Apr. 26, 2015 8:54 am

If you allow the ash to sit in the pan for a few hours, or until the stove needs to be tended again, it will be much cooler and not "lift off" when you remove the pan from the stove.

 
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Post by McGiever » Sun. Apr. 26, 2015 9:01 am

Would it not move more dust laden air inward with the damper full open as compared to only being at 1/4 open? (3/4 closed)

 
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plumb-r
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Post by plumb-r » Sun. Apr. 26, 2015 9:57 am

Whats a little dust? Your doing your part in keeping a warm home, hauling coal, ash, and tending stoves. She can't deal with a little dust? :o ;)


 
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Post by windyhill4.2 » Sun. Apr. 26, 2015 10:15 am

Open the damper all the way,maximum draft is most desirable during shake down as this will suck most of the ashes up the stack. Paradise can be rocked 2 ways,#1- save money by burning coal,live with a little dust or install a coal furnace or boiler in basement or remote location to keep the ash dust out of the living areas. # 2 - Get rid of all coal burners,burn oil or propain & then have the issue of paying for it,you can get a second job to pay for it or make it your wife's responsibility to pay for the "clean" heating. Scenario #1 has you enjoying some home time in a house that has some ash dust, scenario #2 has you living in a perfectly dust free house that you can seldom live in because you both are working to pay for the "NICE" life.

 
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Post by VigIIPeaBurner » Sun. Apr. 26, 2015 10:25 am

McGiever wrote:Would it not move more dust laden air inward with the damper full open as compared to only being at 1/4 open? (3/4 closed)
2X what McGiever said!

If I remember you Wesso, you had to have the door open to shake it, correct? Get the draft pulling strong before you begin your shake. If you don't have time to wait for the effect of a full-open draft setting to liven the fire, crack the ash door for a short time to get the draft pullin quicker- but never, NEVER leave the stove with the ash door open. Just sit there and wait. Once the draft is pulling hard, the fly ash will be pulled out of the stove. After you finish shaking, leave the ash door open a crack for a few seconds before you pull the pan out. This will pull any fly ash up the chimney. You could follow Rob's suggestion so long as the full pan doesn't crowd the grates which could lead to overheating them and potential warpage.

A friend of mine had the same wife-to-dust-complaint ratio :) He installed a dust collector in his basement near his Harman Mk III. This solve his problem. Maybe a stand alone HEPA filter would help you out if you can't manage the dust from the Wesso.
Last edited by VigIIPeaBurner on Sun. Apr. 26, 2015 11:09 am, edited 1 time in total.

 
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Post by Sunny Boy » Sun. Apr. 26, 2015 11:06 am

Rob R. wrote:If you allow the ash to sit in the pan for a few hours, or until the stove needs to be tended again, it will be much cooler and not "lift off" when you remove the pan from the stove.
This !
Hot ash makes it's own convection currents.

Paul

 
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Post by Hambden Bob » Sun. Apr. 26, 2015 12:05 pm

Gotta go with the idea of increasing Your Draft for the Shakedown and Settle period. Set a timer or whatever clicks with You to make it a Common Routine. Remove the settled Ashpan and then turn down Your draft. It helps to have two Ashpans to be able to complete the job. Our Man Freddy also makes Ash Pans with covers to aid in the removal from the house waltz.

As far as The Domestic Issue,find what works to keep The Peace. :bang: :yes:

 
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Post by Lightning » Sun. Apr. 26, 2015 12:43 pm

Here, try this alternative argument.. There is always gonna be a little dust, even during the summer with the windows open from pollen and outdoor dust. There will be dust from pets coming in with a little mud on their feet, which dries and becomes dust in the house or pet dander (if you have pets).

Outside of that, I agree with the others. Get the draft strong just before shake down. I don't like leaving a partly full ash pan under the grates either. Maybe the wet paper towel on top the ash pan is still letting air circulate which is carrying dust out from underneath it. Can you come up with a better way to seal up the ash pan before transporting it outside? Is it possible that after you dump the ash pan that dust is following you back into the house? :lol: (Dumping close to the house?)

 
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Post by freetown fred » Sun. Apr. 26, 2015 12:50 pm

S, if the wifey is above doin a lil extra dustin for spring cleaning--ya can always hire a good lookin babe to do that--some even do it naked--w/ the money you're saving heating wise

 
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Post by warminmn » Sun. Apr. 26, 2015 1:05 pm

Besides all these ideas which are good,

if your floor near the stove is not carpet, keep a mop bucket near it and give the floor a quick hit with a damp mop once a day. (or Fred's maid service can do it) Damp, not dripping. Also make sure to shut off anything that is moving air before shaking and removing ashpan... fans, blowers, etc.

Some stoves are messier than others and you can only do so much.

 
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Post by SWPaDon » Sun. Apr. 26, 2015 1:08 pm

warminmn wrote:Besides all these ideas which are good,

if your floor near the stove is not carpet, keep a mop bucket near it and give the floor a quick hit with a damp mop once a day. (or Fred's maid service can do it) Damp, not dripping. Also make sure to shut off anything that is moving air before shaking and removing ashpan... fans, blowers, etc.

Some stoves are messier than others and you can only do so much.
Fred's maid service could accomplish a lot of things :woot: :dancing: :up:


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