How can I unstick my ash dump door?
Solved my own problem. 

To unstick the ash door from the inside:


Sweep the loose ash off of the door and away from all the edges and hinges
Wire brush around the edges of the door
Sprayed a rust spray (PB Blaster brand) around the edges
Let soak for 15 minutes
Operate door using the poker several times
Tidy up inside
Clean out the ash dump BEFORE the next fire. A solvent puddle could be dangerous.


I did all the opening and closing of the door using a poker. This is the tool that should be used when the ash door is opened normally. Using something more aggressive like a pry bar may have simply bent the door.

The exterior access will be a weekend project. Previous owner painted it shut.

I am following up with my chimney inspector. I feel he did an adequate inspection of the chimney but for my money I would have preferred he checked EVERYTHING. Ash dumps can sometimes hold debris or varmints.