There are several things that can be done with ash left over from burning wood pellets. First, a little about the ash itself. Since wood pellets are made from 100% wood, they contain a small amount of minerals that are inherent in wood. After combustion, these minerals are left over in the form of ash. They make up less than 1% of the wood pellets by weight, and a fraction of 1% by volume.
The vast majority of ash falls down into the ash bin at the base of the pellet boiler. The ash bin sizes vary by boiler, but a good rule of thumb for a residential-size pellet boiler is that the ash should be emptied after consuming about a ton of pellets. If you find there’s still plenty of room left in the ash bin, you can reduce the frequency of ash removal accordingly.
Wood ash is non-toxic. It is slightly alkaline. It can be spread on a lawn, mixed into garden soil or compost, or dumped in the woods. It can also be used for making soap! If you have other good ideas for ash, let us know.
