Fly Ash

Cleaned the stove tonight after shutting it down yesterday and was a little surprised to see how much fly ash was in and around the inside of the stove. Is this a normal occurance? I'm burning Blashak Rice in an Alaska Channing III with a Alaska direct vent system. I suppose different coal sources burn different. How often does anyone shut there stove down for cleaning and a good vacuming? I also had been idling the stove for the last few days if this makes any difference.

It really depends on the amount of coal burnt.. Some folks vacuum out the bottom of the stove and the short exit flue pipe every week, some only clean once a season..

I recommend everyone who is a new burner, to open up their stove and pipes and take a look at the fly ash accumulation after at most a month of burning.. Inspect to see if the flue is obtructed.. clean as needed..

Then inspect again and using the two inspections gauge how often it is prudent to clean your stove and flue.. You don't want fly ash to accumulate and restrict the flue.... and cause out fires and CO leaks..

Greg L..