IS or PH dilemma

As for the Ashpan, I would add I also think folks are NUTS not getting the Ashpan on the PH. I also would say I like the looks of the PH without the ashpan a tad bit better, but honestly you can barely notice it. It's flat black and just blends in beneath the stove since the rest of the cat iron is black (at least if you order the black cast ireon color). BUT, functionality wise, it can NOT be beat. There is only one gasket, which seals it's door. The door has a positive locking action that presses the door up against the gasket, very hard. It will not leak. I've run mine for 3 seasons and that gasket looks brand new. I just replaced it, just to be sure it stays ok, and it too 5 minutes. It's easy as pie as you simply open the ahspan door, pull the old gasket off, scrape out any excess glue and lay new glue and the gasket back in. It's right in front of you, and the door lays down flat so the gasket just presents itself to you. No worries about crawling around and reaching to get to it.

When using it, rake your coals on re-load, open the ahspan door and slid out the huge pan, dump outside and slide it back in, shut door. Done. I empty mine about 1 ever week or two. You don't loose ANY hot coals, I don't even own an ash shovel, and there is absolutely NO MESS. Heck, I don't even get my hands dirty.

I just could not see owning the PH without it.

 

Seems the two reasons people don't want the PH ashpan are concern over the extra gaskets (one to hold the housing to the stove, the other at the door) and the looks.
I agree with Machria on both counts, the pan blends nicely with the stove so you don't even notice it, and the design is solid so it's reliable.

It really does simplify ash management and it keeps the dust level in the house down.

 

This says it all. This is especially helpful during times when you have very cold weather and maybe not perfect wood and you get a LOT of COALING. By being able to rake the ash out and not the coals, those coals can continue to heat and turn to ash. NO WASTE of wood and associated heat. Shoveling ash is a pain in the ash. (smirk)

 

It's not only a pain in the ash, but can be dangerous carrying the coals around the house.... I know I'm not telling you guys anything new, but worth mentioning.

 

Another positive!

 

I wish we could have gotten the ash pan option but our firlace opening is too small. That being said, how do others handle ash without the ashpan in a PH.

 

Welcome to the forum! You'll get good feedback here from a good bunch of folks. Nice setup too.

 

My set up is similar to yours so I couldn't get the ash pan otherwise I'd love to have it. The thing you have to watch out for is since the PH is wide and you're cleaning from the side door the ash can tend to build up on the side opposite your door. I make it a point to drag that ash towards the door and shovel it out. I take advantage of warmer days to clean it out good and prepare for cold snaps so I have plenty of room to load it up with wood.

 

There is nothing terribly unique with the Progress to handle ashes. The PH tends to efficiently burn down the coals. Make sure (at the end of each burn) the ashes don't cover the small anti-burp hole below the window. Once down to ash, like any other stove, stir the ash/coals to settle the volume until there is so much ash it's time to empty.

Carefully shovel out the ash and gently drop into pail trying not to cause dust to form. That's the tricky part, it takes major patience and a steady hand to remove ash without stirring up an ash cloud which unfortunately coats things in the room. I was never able to get that part down very well, I'm just not steady and patient enough to prevent the dreaded ash cloud .

 

Old FV 201 going strong this morning taking the chill off this house, 42 here. Patiently waiting for my PH to take her place....

 

First real frost here last night. Got down to 25'F.

 

I got my IS Monday. Had a few fires in it. I will recommend the ash pan 110%. Just rake the coals over the grate back and forth a few times and the ash falls right out of the stove into the pan. Done. Couldn't be easier.

 

That's exactly the path I took. FV then PH.

A couple years later PH + Palladian.

 

The biggest problem I'm having with my new PH this shoulder season is I enjoy the flame show so much I can't stop using it. I'm sweating and the old dog can't breathe so he takes numerous trips outside to cool off.

 

Just curious.....what did you have previously and how much area are you heating?

 

My PH has the ash pan and as I was reading this thread I was thinking how happy I am to have an ash pan again.

Last time I emptied the ashes the pan didn't want to pull out. I was thinking how happy I am with the stove then all the sudden I have to fight with the ash pan. A nail was in the stove and was hanging down from the ash grate, it was catching the back edge of the pan as I pulled. I would rather deal with a nail in the ashes than a nail in chainsaw chain.

Crisis adverted, I still am happy with changing from the T6 to the PH.

 

1700 sq feet open floor plan. Master bedroom on the second floor. Last year I had a fireview but it wasn't enough when it got real cold? Year before that a Colebrook Severn and a mini moe.
I wanted the PH before I toyed with any of those but they were fun and cheap to try while I saved up some coin. Even made made some money on the whole expieriment just by selling the fireview.