Disposal of Woodstove Ashes

upthesaukee · 01-24-2015, 02:00 PM

With today's snow, I was once again reminded how important it is to properly dispose of my woodstove ashes. Before the storm started, I took the bucket that is in the photo, and moved it close to the tree from about 10 or 15 feet out into the driveway. I last emptied the ashes yesterday morning, and the temperatures have been in the teens and twenties since then.

The snow started this morning around 7 or 730, and as it winding on down now at nearly 200PM, as you can see there is no snow on top of the bucket. It has melted as the snow fell, and there is only water, standing water, on the top of the bucket. The bucket is still warm to the touch, not hot, but warm to the touch.

Here in the lakes region, I would estimate there is a house fire each week, or at least every two weeks caused by improper disposal of woodstove ashes, either by newspaper account, TV or radio reports, or via the scanner.

Just a good visual indication of how important it is to carefully dispose of woodstove ashes. They will stay dangerously hot for many hours. Keep the lid securely fastened.

tis · 01-24-2015, 03:16 PM

Careful of those trees, up. Don't want to burn them down!

bclaker · 01-24-2015, 03:22 PM

My friend and his wife were visiting us at our camp on Mousam Lake one weekend. We had a fire in the fireplace and the next morning I took the bucket out and dumped it over the banking and he and I went hunting. When we got Back, our wives said, when they got up, shortly after we left, they smelled smoke and were able to put the fire out with the nearby hose. If they had not been there, it would have been good by camp. The bucket may seem cool, but I think the outer ashes act like insulation for the hot core.

upthesaukee · 01-24-2015, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tis

Careful of those trees, up. Don't want to burn them down!

You are right. Woodpile is under the blue tarp and the bucket is a couple of feet from the tree.

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Slickcraft · 01-24-2015, 04:12 PM

Thanks to upthesaukee for the reminder on disposal of ashes.

I use the same type of galvanized bucket and have but one thing to add. A few years ago a strong wind took the cover off. I had a chunk of broken cement block laying around and now it sits on top of the bucket cover.

01-24-2015, 02:00 PM	#1
upthesaukee Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 5,597 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 2,455 Thanked 1,979 Times in 1,080 Posts	Disposal of Woodstove Ashes With today's snow, I was once again reminded how important it is to properly dispose of my woodstove ashes. Before the storm started, I took the bucket that is in the photo, and moved it close to the tree from about 10 or 15 feet out into the driveway. I last emptied the ashes yesterday morning, and the temperatures have been in the teens and twenties since then. The snow started this morning around 7 or 730, and as it winding on down now at nearly 200PM, as you can see there is no snow on top of the bucket. It has melted as the snow fell, and there is only water, standing water, on the top of the bucket. The bucket is still warm to the touch, not hot, but warm to the touch. Here in the lakes region, I would estimate there is a house fire each week, or at least every two weeks caused by improper disposal of woodstove ashes, either by newspaper account, TV or radio reports, or via the scanner. Just a good visual indication of how important it is to carefully dispose of woodstove ashes. They will stay dangerously hot for many hours. Keep the lid securely fastened. Attached Images __________________ I Live Here... I am always UPTHESAUKEE !!!!

01-24-2015, 03:22 PM	#3
bclaker Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Laconia Posts: 479 Thanks: 545 Thanked 147 Times in 66 Posts	I Second the Warning My friend and his wife were visiting us at our camp on Mousam Lake one weekend. We had a fire in the fireplace and the next morning I took the bucket out and dumped it over the banking and he and I went hunting. When we got Back, our wives said, when they got up, shortly after we left, they smelled smoke and were able to put the fire out with the nearby hose. If they had not been there, it would have been good by camp. The bucket may seem cool, but I think the outer ashes act like insulation for the hot core.

The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to upthesaukee For This Useful Post:
bclaker (01-24-2015), RLW (01-24-2015), trfour (01-24-2015)

01-24-2015, 03:16 PM	#2
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,719 Thanks: 752 Thanked 1,457 Times in 1,014 Posts	Careful of those trees, up. Don't want to burn them down!

The Following User Says Thank You to bclaker For This Useful Post:
upthesaukee (01-24-2015)

The Following User Says Thank You to upthesaukee For This Useful Post:
tis (01-24-2015)

01-24-2015, 04:12 PM	#5
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and The Taylor Community Posts: 3,299 Thanks: 1,222 Thanked 2,081 Times in 953 Posts	Thanks to upthesaukee for the reminder on disposal of ashes. I use the same type of galvanized bucket and have but one thing to add. A few years ago a strong wind took the cover off. I had a chunk of broken cement block laying around and now it sits on top of the bucket cover.

The Following User Says Thank You to Slickcraft For This Useful Post:
upthesaukee (01-24-2015)