Suggestions For an Ash Vacuum

That model certainly looks like an option. Good reviews too!

Another option: perhaps get a coal rake, rake them to the sides, scoop our ash only (not warm), and repeat. Personally, I do not have an ash vacuum. I simply scoop out during the winter and vacuum after the season with my shop vac.

Andrew

1. Best option is a stove with an ash pan.
2. If you have decent draft and work close to the door of your stove, it should suck all that dust up the flue.
3. Many without the options above buy the vac you linked, and just keep it running while they scoop. Hold the nozzle near the top edge of your ash bucket, to pull in any dust floating about.

You may get away with sucking up hot embers for a long time with that ash vac, but if it's part of your daily life, chances are high for an eventual problem.

I won a Cheetah ash vac that I like -- very noisy -- my only complaint.

That said, I do not use it to suck up ash in the firebox when I am burning . . . it only gets used for a clean out at the start or end of the season and for cleaning up spilled ash on the hearth . . . too much of a risk in sucking up an embers or coals.

davidmsem said:

Any suggestions for a ash vacuum?

I like burning wood for heat but I'm getting way to much free particulate into the room when scooping out ash that has some red hot embers in it. I can find a vacuum to handle this.....Any suggestions? All say don't use with hot ash.

Is this the best option?
http://www.amazon.com/PowerSmith-PAVC101-Amp-Ash-Vacuum/dp/B0060EUA32/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1441537472&sr=1-1&keywords=ash vacuum

Click to expand...

I have one of those vacuums, bought it a couple years ago. It is not a heavy-duty unit, nor is it priced as such. They work very well, and I find the noise level to be less than any vacuum I've had, including my shop vac. They are designed well for ash.

However, I cannot imagine using a vacuum to remove ash with embers. I use mine to clean up around the fireplace hearth and to remove ash inside the oven-surround of my wood cookstove, not to remove ash from a firebox. All three of my stoves have ash pans, and I use those.

But I like the PowerSmith. It isn't built like a tank, but the design does catch and contain the fine ash particles. I only use it for ash. I doubt it would hold up for many years if used as a full-time vacuum for normal home cleaning.

I have the powersmith, works great. I do not use it to suck up knowingly hot embers, but do use it on warm ash both in the wood stove and in the pellet stove. I use it mainly for stove cleanouts when the stove is just warm or cold. I do use it on the pellet stove hot though. I only usr it for ash. I also immediately empty the vac into an outside metal trash can as soon as i am done.

My first one died after about an hour os use. Called powersmith and they told me i had to pay for shipping both ways. So i called amazon and returned it for a replacement freeof charge. Replacement is running fine with no issues

The Powersmith worked well for getting the ashes (no embers) out of my stove last season. Easy to use and no mess in the house.

I pull out the ash vac every Saturday morning, to vacuum around the hearths before loading the stoves. Not much chance in sucking up a live coal, there. But, given the high consequence of a vacuum catching fire in a closet, I go with the dedicated ash vac. It usually goes out on the patio for a day after use, as well. Can't be too careful.

I love my PowerSmith - I use it to vacuum up the ash from my pellet stove ash pan, inside my pellet stove, and the ash from my woodstove. I usually wait unit i'm 100% confident there isn't anything hot before vacuuming.

The only issue i have with it is the brush attachment to the hose. It constantly flipped up while using it and now the bristles are all matted. Has anyone found an alternative attachment that works well and fits?

I just use an old dirt devil canister vac to clean up spilled ash from door and around hearth. I don't use for hot coals but what is nice you take the canister off dump the ash in the metal trash can, bang the filter out then reuse. I also use for year end cleaning.