Need ash vac reccomendations please......

Eureka airspeed gold. 90 bucks. Hepa filter. I've used on ash and sheet rock dust. Wash the filter from time to time. A lot of bang for your buck with this vacuum.

It has hose on it that I use for the hearths. It's affordable and has never been used for anything other than ash and Renovation clean up.

Bassmantweed said:

I have a great "regular" vacuum so the eureka looks like a pass for me. Looking ford me thing along the lines of a more traditional ash/fireplace vacuum.

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Just make sure that the filter on your vacuum will trap the ash. It's pretty caustic and can cause health problems if blown into your indoor air.

I would think most any vac that sports a HEPA filter would be sufficient to contain ash. HEPA captures the tiniest of particles. It is used by a lot for Asthma sufferers who are quite sensitive.

I use a HEPA vacuum for my pellet stove anyway,,,seems great.

Got a deal on a bunch of Festool "dust evacuation systems" (they don't like to call their HEPA vac by the "V" word). Keep the smallest one dedicated to pellet stove detail in season but haven't had any issues with using it in the shop as well. Works like a charm plus the hose is self storing, has a built in carrying handle and casters that actually work and don't fall off. Best of all it's incredibly quiet. I can run it night or day while everybody sleeps and never stir a mouse. Pricey for what they are, but worth it. Sometimes catch the smaller ones used on Craig's List for under a hundred but they go quick. Love all of their stuff and it lasts and lasts.

I use my regular shopvac. A big one with lots of horsepower.

I've got extra hose for it. I sit it on the floor under my basement window & run 2-1/2" hose from the blower output out thru the window. Couple lengths of hose gets me out around the corner, in case ash makes it past the bag & filter. I use 1-1/4" hose on the business end, with a piece of flexible sump pump hose stuck on the end of it. I can snake that in thru all kinds of places. I tried that setup for the first time last weekend, it avoids me having to take any flue pipe apart - I do one session through a door on the front of my boiler & another through the barometric damper opening. 10 minutes tops. The sump pump hose plays all kinds of neat tunes with the air being sucked through it. I just do that for everything downstream of the firebox & heat exchangers - the firebox & heat exchangers is another 10 minutes with a brush & scoop.

I've been looking for an older used one I can get and use it only for this - might try running it with no filters & just send all the ash out over my lawn. No ash to handle, no pipes to take apart, straight from the boiler to the lawn. Boiler & chimney all cleaned & lawn fertilized in 10 easy minutes. What could possibly go wrong with that setup?

Bassmantweed said:

Don't want to to spend $250 but will if folks tell me it's worth it....... What do use and do you like it?.

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I use the Powersmith and it works great for me. I highly recommend. I sucked up some real hot coals once and just barely singed the filter but the canister held together and allowed me to bring them outside and to a safe place. No dust out of the filter as far as I can see.

Just picked the powersmith ash vac up at Benny's in RI for $69 cash and carry. What a pleasant surprise which I wouldn't have known if not for everyone on hearth.com. thanks everyone

I just use my shop vac with a drywall dust bag. Works like a charm

+1 on the Powersmith (got mine from fleetfarm too). I keep it in the living room and it's much smaller than a shop vac. It's performed flawlessly.

My father in law does the same with his shop vac. My problem is my shop vac is a complete POS and the first time I used it would've been the last. Benny's is just a big surprise every time through... Today when I found the ash vac, they had a full pallet of bio blocks INSIDE like an end cap. Awesome. Powersmith for $69-score. Have a great night everyone.

Paul L, just curious. How long do you wait to cool the stove before using vac? Thanks

I also have the shop smith ash vac and
Like it. Made well.

RhodyPelletRook said:

Paul L, just curious. How long do you wait to cool the stove before using vac? Thanks

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I shovel out the main ash and coals to make room in the stove and just use the vac to clean up the front and edges. I do this every morning because my Quad insert doesn't have much room for ash before it's too full. The Powersmith will ingest some coals here and there without problem but I don't give it a steady diet of the hot stuff.

Interesting. I'll be using the vac with a pellet insert so cooling time is much shorter, but I think I'll use a similar process. Good to hear about your experience. The grand voyager is a sweet insert. Thanks.

Plus one one the power smith. I have it close to the stove and use it daily to clean up. I also use it when I'm shovelling out hot ash, hold it above the pail and any flying dust goes in the vac when you carefully dump the shovel

Bassmantweed said:

Don't want to to spend $250 but will if folks tell me it's worth it....... What do use and do you like it?.

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If referring to $250 units named after famous fierce felines, don't believe anything positive your hear about them. I fell for it and found they are just plain junk. First and foremost, they don't pull enough air to make them worthwhile.

The Powersmith works great for me - no dust or ash issues. This makes the wife happy

ewdudley said:

If referring to $250 units named after famous fierce felines, don't believe anything positive your hear about them. I fell for it and found they are just plain junk. First and foremost, they don't pull enough air to make them worthwhile.

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I've always found my cheetah ash vac to have plenty of suction and like mine fine ... as to whether it's worth the $250 -- that is for the individual to decide.

glennm said:

Plus one one the power smith. I have it close to the stove and use it daily to clean up. I also use it when I'm shovelling out hot ash, hold it above the pail and any flying dust goes in the vac when you carefully dump the shovel

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That's a great tip.