Cleaning out the wood burner..ick

country_wife · #1 02/16/07, 06:40 PM

There has to be a better way! We cleaned out the woodburning fireplace insert again today...what a mess! Is there a way to get the ashes out of the wood burner without getting them all over the house?

brownegg · #2 02/16/07, 06:52 PM

Well now it depends. Most have a clean-out on the bottom of the fire pit if it is on the gable end. if it doesn't then I suggest to go slowly, have a small shovel and take your time moving the ashes into a bucket inches away from the fire pit, cover with whatever and move outside. Really should not be a big deal.

Beeman · #3 02/16/07, 07:27 PM

If it's just ashes use a shop vac, if you think they might be hot put some water in the vac tank.

FrankTheTank · #4 02/16/07, 07:34 PM

Vacuum them... Watch for hot ones, they can be coals LONG after the fire goes out.

DocM · #5 02/16/07, 07:53 PM

Dunno, we clean our woodstove out about once in 4-5 weeks. A five gallon bucket and a camp shovel, scoop, careful placing the ashes in the bucket, not dumping from a foot in the air is the key. We don't get ashes all over. Maybe we're lucky.

TechGuy · #6 02/16/07, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beeman

If it's just ashes use a shop vac, if you think they might be hot put some water in the vac tank.

Except if the shop vac exhaust filter is less then ideal, you end up with a house a big cloud of ash! I wouldn't risk it. Plus the ash will eventually clog up the exhaust filter.

Beeman · #7 02/16/07, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TechGuy

Except if the shop vac exhaust filter is less then ideal, you end up with a house a big cloud of ash! I wouldn't risk it. Plus the ash will eventually clog up the exhaust filter.

My shop vac is 28 years old, no clouds, it has a paper element filter you just brush or wash, no risk.

country_wife · #8 02/16/07, 09:12 PM

Nope, don't have a shop vac. The stove is usually still full of live coals so I can't use the vacuum cleaner.

I've been doing it by hand, going as slowly as possible, putting the shovel down into the bucket before dumping, doing my best not to scatter the ashes. It's the teensy fine stuff that floats out and sticks to everything. I just thought maybe there was a better way.

Beeman · #9 02/16/07, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by country_wife

Nope, don't have a shop vac. The stove is usually still full of live coals so I can't use the vacuum cleaner.

I've been doing it by hand, going as slowly as possible, putting the shovel down into the bucket before dumping, doing my best not to scatter the ashes. It's the teensy fine stuff that floats out and sticks to everything. I just thought maybe there was a better way.

Got a spray bottle with water?, just dampen it a little.

Big Dave · #10 02/17/07, 02:57 AM

We have two small shovels. I just bought the one as one came with the fireplace poker and brush. This one I am letting my son take to metal shop and have him cut small diamond shaped holes in it. Reason is: ( in theroy ) to separate the ash & coals. I think it will work and I may market said item. Then I can clean out my firebox with out losing my coals. Shoveling has always worked best for us. We shop vac in the sping when doing the end of winter cleaning. Also clean the flue at that time. Just my .02
TRUTH & MERCY Big Dave

**Cabin Fever** · #11 02/17/07, 08:00 AM

I don't know what the big deal is. We just use a grain shovel and cafefully carry the scoop load outside. All it ever takes to clean either of our woodburners is one scoop load....takes about 10 seconds.

heather · #12 02/17/07, 08:15 AM

someone said to Go Slowly - that's the only advice I have - you have to 'place' the ashes in the bucket - don't let them drop at all or you will have an ash cloud

FreightTrain · #13 02/17/07, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Dave

We have two small shovels. I just bought the one as one came with the fireplace poker and brush. This one I am letting my son take to metal shop and have him cut small diamond shaped holes in it. Reason is: ( in theroy ) to separate the ash & coals. I think it will work and I may market said item. Then I can clean out my firebox with out losing my coals. Shoveling has always worked best for us. We shop vac in the sping when doing the end of winter cleaning. Also clean the flue at that time. Just my .02
TRUTH & MERCY Big Dave

there is already at least one on the market... they sell on ebay and who knows where else

jross · #14 02/17/07, 11:14 AM

I did not think "ick" was a legal word in homesteading.

VA Backwoodsman · #15 02/17/07, 12:31 PM

If you can sort out the coals and just have ashes to deal with, the shopvac could be used like was mentioned with a longer hose. the chimmney sweep that just cleaned our chimmney had a 25 foot hose he ran in through a window and left the vac on the porch outside. You wouldn't have to worry about the filter issue, even though his vac. didn't blow out anything. The exhaust is outside and wouldn't be a issue. I thought it was a pretty neat idea. (pun intended)