Ash Can Modification

lsayre wrote:I've always had what may amount to an unfounded concern that an ash tub will emit CO if left out to cool within the confines of the house. Should I have this concern? It sure would be nice to let a few ash tubs sit around until the weekend.

No combustion - no CO....

dj

I've thought about that too. With a stoker working PROPERLY, there shouldn't be any live coals in the ash bin,...HOWEVER,...
I guess better safe than sorry. I empty my ash tub every day whether it's full or not. Hold over habit from my hand fired days. I'm down to check the boiler at least morning and night. Only takes a minute to pull the tub, carry it 10 feet out the door and dump into a metal trash can with locking lid. Dump the can when it's about 3/4 full

lsayre wrote:I've always had what may amount to an unfounded concern that an ash tub will emit CO if left out to cool within the confines of the house. Should I have this concern? It sure would be nice to let a few ash tubs sit around until the weekend.

I would think the ash tubs are safe along as they are covered. Any smoldering ash would quickly go extinguished due to lack of oxygen in a covered ash can.. But, just to be safe, mount a CO detector in the same room and see if you get any readings. My basement isn't very tight. I don't think CO from my ash tub is a concern, although its crossed my mind too

lsayre wrote:I've always had what may amount to an unfounded concern that an ash tub will emit CO if left out to cool within the confines of the house. Should I have this concern? It sure would be nice to let a few ash tubs sit around until the weekend.

Unless your boiler is spitting out still-burning coal, this should not be an issue. My ash tubs sit right in front of a CO detector, it has never registered anything from a fresh tub of ashes.

Rob R. wrote:

lsayre wrote:I've always had what may amount to an unfounded concern that an ash tub will emit CO if left out to cool within the confines of the house. Should I have this concern? It sure would be nice to let a few ash tubs sit around until the weekend.

Unless your boiler is spitting out still-burning coal, this should not be an issue. My ash tubs sit right in front of a CO detector, it has never registered anything from a fresh tub of ashes.

Great to know. I think I'll get a couple more ash tubs and start doing as Rob does.

During cold temps and heavy burning, I need to muscle out the ash can about once a week. So far this year, I've emptied in once but will empty it again tomorrow

Rob R. wrote:

lsayre wrote:I've always had what may amount to an unfounded concern that an ash tub will emit CO if left out to cool within the confines of the house. Should I have this concern? It sure would be nice to let a few ash tubs sit around until the weekend.

Unless your boiler is spitting out still-burning coal, this should not be an issue. My ash tubs sit right in front of a CO detector, it has never registered anything from a fresh tub of ashes.

This morning I swapped out ash tubs, and sat my full tub right under a CO detector. Hours later the detector read zero and showed no history of having had any rise from zero in-between.

And that's all there is to say about that.