| Julia Bayly. Furthermore, I like this approach as it is a much safer method. Always burn safe! Additionally, many serious wood burners use no log grate at all and start their fireplace using 2” to 3” bed of ash left in place. Cleaning Dust and Soot Dust and soot are going to be the messiest aspects of your brick fireplace. As ash is accumulated from a wood burning fireplace one might wonder what in blazes to do with it. The dump door is opened to move the ash into the ash dump. Because of the wide 1″ Flange the maximum ash dump they will cover is 6″ X 10″. Hi guys, recently moved into a house and the ash dump in the fireplace is half full. Please try again. Many grates are shaped to cast more heat into the room so research which style suits your firebox. Step 2. I trust we will provide you with enough information to solve your chimney and fireplace needs. Trash the ash. Our DIY eBook solution is here. 44. Servicing the Ash Pit. I never had a dog named Sparky but just imagine the…, https://www.thisoldhouse.com/ideas/10-uses-wood-ashes, https://www.naturallivingideas.com/wood-ash-uses/, http://www.askaprepper.com/uses-for-ashes/. These are often found on the floor of the fireplace. The ash dump pit is under the fireplace (fire box) floor. Ash dump help. If you’re looking for a useful tool to help you managing your ash, pick up this Ash Bucket from Amazon: Your email address will not be published. In addition, many homeowners like to use the fireplace ash in their garden. Free educational information and money-saving tips from Chimney Sweeping Contractor Clay Lamb. I was more concerned on what some of you of may write when a gas supply, csst or steel, is running through an ash dump … Watch out: Failure to close the chimney cleanout door can result in a fire and will certainly interfere with good draft in the flue. So if you are looking for a dust free way to clean out your fireplace definitely consider an ash vacuum. $30.44 $ 30. If you’ve seen your ash pit and think it’s not a job you want to do, call in a professional! The nice thing about ash vacuums too is that they will keep it virtually dust free where if you have used a broom and shovel before they tend to kick up a cloud of dust that can get on your hearth and make a larger mess to be cleaned. If your existing cleanout door is rusted or the frame is broken, in most cases the correct replacement size is available. A great tip is to dampen the ash with a spray bottle filled with water. The flue itself looks quite 'clean', like the fireplace has hardly been used in its 45 year lifetime. When I go to the basement, I don’t see the clean out. He is also an award-winning educator and public speaker in the chimney and fireplace industry. Air will flow up through the chute from the ash dump and feed your fire--there's no reason it shouldn't be doing so unless, as noted above, you have alot of compressed ash already in the dump/chute that's restricting the airflow. Fireplace ash dump service full chimney pit door cleanout design victorian construction plan post fire pits modern contemporary wood burning 10 tips for maintaining a diy box grate doors clean out dr sweep inc in basement home ot installation cast iron fireplaces stoves and chimneys hearth smoke chamber hvac machinery should it be removed completely … Continue reading Clean Out Fireplace Ash If it is open, the direct upward airflow would consume the log much faster, not to mention cold air in the winter months. Most of all, stir up the ashes while they are still in the fireplace. Remove ashes from the pit and put them in a metal bucket or other nonflammable container. Additionally, the ash left behind by a fire is very fine which can make sweeping out the fireplace a … Your local chimney pro’s usually carry these items and they are available online. Dry ash, if it is moved too quickly, shaken or dropped, billows into dust clouds that cover everything close by and create a huge cleanup. Vestal Cast Iron Ash Dump Door, 4 1/2" x 9" 4.6 out of 5 stars 22. 5.0 out of 5 stars 1. Clean the inside surfaces of the firebox with soapy water and a sponge. On some homes there is a clean out door on the exterior wall just behind the fireplace on the chimney wall. Fireplace Damper. Be sure the ashes are completely cold before dumping them into a trash bin or other receptacle. The ash dump trap door/caddy is a time saving innovation. These come in kits and are a DIY project if you are handy. Keeping at least a 1-inch layer of ashes in the bottom of a firebox during the heating season helps protect the bottom of your firebox as the ashes are a buffer between actively burning wood which can damage or weaken the bottom of your firebox over time. This chimney cleanout access port served a common ash dump below both a fireplace flue and a separate heating appliance chimney flue. They fit the standard 4” x 8” ash dump opening in the floor of the firebox. 1 Results Accessory Type: Ash Dump Door. x 9 in. Also, the airflow from my vacuum cleaner must have rekindled and sparked a dangerous fire within my truck. Use an ash vacuum to remove the rest of the ashes. This Old House, https://www.thisoldhouse.com/ideas/10-uses-wood-ashes lists ten uses, de-skunk pets, hide driveway stains, enrich compost, block garden pets, melt ice, control pond algae, pump up tomatoes, clean glass fireplace doors, make soap, shine silver. FREE Shipping. in Virginia, http://www.woolwinefire.com/?page_id=929 , posts some handy tips. Take care not to drop the caddy if you have a deep ash pit. Such a door will allow the all-natural light moves your home more freely. In older homes and some newer ones the ash dump pit can be several feet below in a cellar. Cast aluminum has, in my experience, a tendency to crack. Due to intense heat and corrosion damage, ash dump doors need frequent replacing. Surprisingly, many companies still sell coal burning stoves. The ash pit … When scooping is finished, put the bucket outside in a place not close to combustible materials. Your email address will not be published. Even though they are made so one can open and close it from inside, I don’t see the need of another way for outside air to enter the home. The caddy type trap door can be used with shallow or deep ash dump pits because the caddy detaches from the trap door. This is a really easy way to dump ash if it works in your fireplace. The standard opening is 4 inches by 8 inches but the trap door looks bigger since it has a wide flange that fits over the opening. 1. They feature a center pivot door so the homeowners can use their fireplace tools to open and close them by pushing on the rear section. The Forever Cap 4 in. The chimney cleanout door replacement is not as just like other tracks for falling doors. I have owned and operated American Chimney since 1981. Step 3. Step 4. What is a damper? These are often found on the floor of the fireplace. This allows people to accrue a large pile of ashes to discard all at once. Get a bucket Honey, no get lots of buckets”. Wow!. This is a really easy way to dump ash if it works in your fireplace. SANDHILL 12'' x 12'' Cast Iron Clean-Out Door. Deposit the ashes in an empty metal container that has a lid, such as a small metal trash can. Voila! We offer a selection of ash dump doors and related fireplace accessories to replace your worn-out or missing ash dump door. A great tip is to dampen the ash with a spray bottle filled with water. Heads up: You'll want to wait at least 72 hours after your last fire before attempting any cleanup. There are several ways to use ash. Don’t ask me the chemical benefit of this. Most municipalities will accept (cooled) fireplace ash with the regular garbage. This allows the ash to draft up the chimney if need be. http://fireplaceflair.com/, Your Fireplace Damper. The ash dump is the space directly below the ash dump door and is where the ash falls anytime the ash dump door is opened. If it still doesn’t open try gently tapping the lever and louvers with a hammer. The ash dump door/caddy combination eliminates the need to use the ash dump pit. Embarrassingly, I was able did get the fire out, I cleaned up my mess, and I was on the way with a lesson learned well. I quickly pulled over on side of the highway, opened up the back doors and the entire van was bombarded with a thick black smoke. Unsubscribe at any time. The following tips can teach you how to clean a fireplace so that your home looks as warm as it feels. When I looked up into the chute with a mirror and a flashlight, I could see the metal flue pipe for the water heater. Ash Disposal. Fireplace and Stove Parts. Sweep out the bottom of the fireplace with the same brush, pushing the ash into a dustpan. Place a drop cloth on the floor or ground under the dump door. Learn how to fix your crown yourself. Dampen it and let the kids use it for body paint and graffiti. Allow the fireplace to cool for at least 24 hours. Ash dump help. Fireplace Ash, Dump Boxes & Clean-Out Doors, Chimney leaking ? If your fireplace has an ash dump, push the ashes through the metal plate in the floor of the firebox. ... Clean Out Door. Some are rather large, concrete closets. Wood ashes only need to be removed when they begin to smell or get in the way of fire building. Required fields are marked *. Clean the area carefully. Water damage can cause chimneys to deteriorate faster than anything. Now check your email to confirm your subscription. Our ash dump doors are constructed from a 16 gauge powder coated steel or 304 stainless steel. Use a lubricant and let it soak in for a while. Personally, I like to open the damper all of the way and then slowly shovel the fireplace ash. In this case the ash dump door is located in the cellar. There was an error submitting your subscription. There are several good video tutorials online. You can use a “metal can with a metal lid”. If your fireplace has an ash dump, push the ashes through the metal plate in the floor of the firebox. Determine the elevation – location – of the ash drop. Of the few times Full Service Chimney has tried this “ash-dump cleaning” it has taken no less than 4 hours (frequently more) and filled the basement with ash spilling through the open door. Thr purpose of these is to prevent smoke from entering the room. Chimney Cleanout Door Replacement. This would allow me to avoid drilling a hole in the bottom of my firebox and potentially breaking the bricks. The ash dump door is located in the middle of the firebox and makes it easy to remove ash from the firebox. If the ash dump door or clean out door has not been used and is stuck there are several methods that work to un-stick it. These can be “about” 12”x12”x12”. Others direct the fireplace ash to an outside door for much easier cleanup. I do not recommend the vented type. Use a wire brush if there is rust or any other buildup present. Take care not to drop the caddy if you have a deep ash pit. Often overlooked and under appreciated; Ash dumps only allow you to clean your fireplace and chimney flue with ease, and are an essential component for maintaining the health and function of your chimney. They allow you to sweep ashes into an ash pit located through the doors under your fireplace. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Unable to find clean out in basement. Success! Move the ashes and wood bits around with a fireplace poker or long metal-ended garden tool to ensure there are no hot embers. The homeowners’ fireplace ash shovels down into this cavity and may take many years to fill up. American Packing & Gasket Stainless Steel Furnace/Fireplace Clean-Out Door. The ash dump sits on the fireplace floor and generally is a louvered grate (trap door) with a lever that opens and closes as needed. Dump this in a leftover plastic grocery bag or trash bag and take it outside to your bin immediately. Also, the clean out runs straight down from the fire box (of the fireplace) into the basement and 90's to the clean out door. Typically, the drop is 12 or 14 inches below the bottom of the fireplace. Summer heat turns into cooler temperatures and less…, My dog Sparky. Ash Pit Underneath the ash dump is the ash pit, which is the place where dumped ash collects. Many gardeners spread ashes on their lawns or gardens, but wood ashes are highly soluble and leach lime into the soil. Especially, check for heat and embers and keep it all in a metal container with a tight lid on it. Another consideration is an ash box. Masonry fireplace with an ash-dump door leading to an enclosed, masonry ash-dump chute (the kind with the metal clean-out door on the face of the chute, down in the basement). Others direct the fireplace ash to an outside door for much easier cleanup. I want to bRick over both the exterior cleanout door and the ash dump door in the bottom of the fireplace. For security purposes, please enter the following code: Clay Lamb is a Cincinnati Chimney Sweep contractor and the executive producer of the YouTube channel, podcast, and blog Ask the Chimney Sweep. I first want to thank you for visiting our site. Obvoiusly you shouldn’t burn coal in your fireplace. 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