After 7.5 years. The pan didn’t want to go in far enough to shut the door. It had about 3/4 cup of ash accumulation but I think the issue was a large bent nail I swept out. Can’t say enough good things about Woodstocks ash pan system. I’ve had other stoves with an ash pan that were about useless. The pans would run over and fill the ash pan area with ash, quite the mess. I’d rather shovel than deal with that.
I have three epa stoves with ash pans and have yet to use any of them. Shovel out the inside is what I do.
Forgetit: you really heat with wood 24/7, near 100% of heating you NEED ( no "want" ) a real ash pan. The H with shoveling out a firebox. Those BTUs accumulate ash every day. An ash pan prevents the dust ( and dusties ) entering your orifices from pushing ash around a firebox. You will be penalized for not taking the ash pan out each morning....penalized. Now those of you with low deltas ( central thermostats at 62 F ), no need for the ash pan. You will not be sanctioned. Hey, you want ash filled orifices, good luck to ya.
Um? Apparently I am doing it all wrong with no ashpan. Burning 24/7 and taking ash out once a week ? Dunno. Please advise on my dirty dastardly ways Haaa!
I scoop aside the hot coals, and take ashes once a week also. Haven't used a match in the house since middle of september. This will be the way for a couple more months.
Must be burning magic wood ---no ash wood. This place burns ash ridden wood -- beech, soft maple, yellow and paper birch, hard maple. All ash producers for heat. None of this "heat from 65 F up to room temp" delta. No central furnace. Much ash. Fine ash pans making green lawns. What's a "A.S. " ? What's delta ?
Happy belated birthday fox9988 .. I find this discussion ironic.. I hated my first couple stoves ash pans!! It was so much easier to shovel out. Woodstock ash pan is completely different and makes life easier.
I can see that there's a little ash in the back of the ash pan housing. I couldn't get a shovel back there so I just left it since it doesn't seem to be a problem. I tried a Fireview, and while it put out more heat, I went back to the Keystone for the ash grate and larger window. I'm in a quandary, picking a stove for my SIL. I'd like to get her an PE Alderlea T5, but she now has a Dutchwest 2460, which has a great grate system, although a little more care must be taken to keep the ash from overflowing the pan than with the Keystone. I found the Buck 91 ash dump usable, with its flip-up lid and big 3.5 x 5.5" opening. I haven't seen a T5 yet but it looks like the ash dump opening is small, maybe only 3x3". There's no plug to pull in the fire box, you just flip an external lever to hinge open the dump...that seems like it would be easy.
Sorry. Yep. It is an AS. The Ash pan is great, but for 7 months it will run without ceasing. Still below zero. Been that way for too long
