Heatmor 200X - Ash Management and Removal Procedures; Ash Raking and Pan Management; Ash Removal Frequency and Storage

56
Chapter 15
ASHES
Ash Management and Ash Removal
1. If ash management is decient, the HEATMOR™ will not perform to its optimum. It is
time well spent to ensure proper ash management. In the long run, the operator will
be paid back many times over in higher efciency and better performance. Improper
ash management results in one unfavorable condition starting a chain reaction of
additional problems.
2. Allow all wood in the rebox to fully burn out every day or two, and use this opportunity
to rake the ashes in the rebox, down into the grates. By timing the loading of wood
so the water temperature drops to approximately 130 degrees Fahrenheit, means all
fuel in the rebox is used up, and the only thing burning are the ashes. An hour or two
of this condition will ensure an easy, smoke free opportunity to rake the ashes. When
all fuel has been burned out of the ashes, they will be a pale brown color. With a light
raking assistance, they will fall through the grates into the ash pan below. It is best to
rake the area over the grate, every day, such that the grates are at least 25 percent
clear of ash. This allows upward movement of combustion air.
USE A LIGHT WEIGHT, LONG HANDLED, SOLID SPIKED, RAKE TO RAKE ASHES.
3. If the ashes don’t ow into the ash pan while being raked, the ash pan is possibly full.
Removing the ashes from the ash pan before it is completely full ensures the proper
airow from below the grates is maintained and also ensures the ashes can drop
through the grates into the ash pan. Ashes should be removed before the ash pan is
completely full.
4. Be careful not to pull the ashes too close to the front (or the rear) of the rebox, block-
ing off the combustion airow from the air boxes.
5. Do not allow ashes to build up on top of the grates. Air needs to ow through the
grates to fuel the re. A blocked grate can cause inefcient or non-existent combustion
conditions.
6. It is not necessary to rake or move the ashes that accumulate around the sides of the
rebox. Usually they will naturally ow onto the grate area, courtesy of being disturbed
as wood is added.
7. A rule of thumb is to remove ashes once per week. Choose a certain day of the week
and faithfully do the ash removal chore on that same day, every week.
8. Completely burned ashes will appear like our. They may be dusty when being re-
moved with the auger. A particle mask should be worn when removing ashes with the
auger.
9. Obtain a square, steel container, approximately one-bushel in volume that will t under
the ash auger tube. Auger out the ashes into this square container and immediately
dispose of them into the larger, sealed, metal container.
10. Removed ashes should be stored in a steel container, sealed with a steel tight tting
lid, and placed in an area free of combustible materials for a few days, to allow the
ashes to completely cool before being disposed.
11. If wood with nails is burned, the nails will nd their way through the grates and can
be remoed with the ashes. Normal nails should pose no problem. If the nails are “U”
shaped, they may loop over the grate with a magnet. With proper handling, it is not
necessary to let the re go out or the ashes to cool before removing ashes.