Interesting about emptying the ashes....never gave that much thought in regards to re lights. I only empty my Nashua every couple of weeks to a month of full time burning. The ash get a glass like consistency.
Also guilty here. Must harken back to times before matches when flint and steel or worse, rubbing two sticks, was such an arduous task to start a fire. Banking a fire to be able to restart from left over coals was so much easier. My Grandfather had all sorts of "Measures of a Man" like how sharp his knife was, could he start a fire with one match under adverse conditions and others. I'm sure that restarting your fire from a few existing coals would have fit right in to his measure of a persons worth! And Yeah, the satisfaction is worth it!
I'll relight from the smallest coal if I have one. With elm I have gotten relights 48 hours after last loading, which is good as warm as it's been this year. One fire a day has been enough many days and every other day hasn't been uncommon.
I definitely did that this winter. Except in days where the house was already to cold so I'd load her up almost like a cold start fire.
