Shop vac

Eros...yes you can use a shop vac as long as you use "high efficiency bags"...cold ash, cement dust. You also must run it with the highest filtering capability HEPA filter. Most shop vacs have this capability... The HEPA filter usually is good for a minimum of one heating season and typically can be washed. The bags can last many cleanings.....just make sure that each time you put in a new bag, that it is "seated" properly. As far as the exhaust end, you have 3 options...if your still concerned. You can run a hose of the exhaust port.....a bit cumbersome. You can drape a damp wash cloth over the exhaust port....or you put another small HEPA filter over the exhaust port. I have a pic posted on another thread. Ash vacs are great, I have a Power Smith that many folks here use.....I just find the filter very hard and messy to clean but that just my opinion....PS, if you don't use a HEPA filter in the shop vac you WILL blow ash all over your house..... Bill

If you're going to use a shop vac, make ABSOLUTELY SURE that your ash is cool.

Eeps24 said:

Thanks for the info... So not only a hepa filter but I also need a bag for the shop vac as well

Click to expand...

Yeah...as Tim said Cold ash, you don't want a fire! The vac bags usually have an 800 number on them and you can call and ask about any possible higher efficiency bag available....Bill

If I were you, I'd spend a few extra bucks and get an ash vac.

Potentially warm or hot ash in a plastic vac that has paper filters and or bags..... Is it really worth the risk?

Get a Gore Cleanstream HEPA filter for your Shop-Vac.....they work great, are washable, and last a long time.

Eeps24 said:

Can I use any shop vac to vacuum out my insert (52i)? Not sure if it will blowout dust/ashes out the other end.

Or perhaps a certain filter needed?

Click to expand...

regular shop-vac will work if you are careful but below are two links to ash vacuums that are used by many posters here:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0060EUA32?keywords=ash vacuum&qid=1448462704&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FKYEWXW?keywords=ash vacuum&qid=1448462704&ref_=sr_1_8&sr=8-8

Harbor Freight has a small shop-vac ($32) that is perfect for cleaning pellet stoves. You can usually find all sorts of vacuums in the Thrift Stores that can be adapted to exclusive stove clean-out duty...The smaller tank-type are best..Just be sure the stove is STONE COLD before you vacuum it. The little hand-held "Dirt-Devil" types are useless, they plug up in seconds..The fine fly-ash you will be vacuuming will clog ANY vacuum filter system fairly quickly so be prepared to clean or change the filters often..With a "shop" type Vac, you can put 2" of water in the bottom and this helps trap the dust and keep the filter from clogging up but it leaves you with the the nasty chore of cleaning the mud out of the vacuum..They make special ash vacs, Cougars and Cheetahs, but they are VERY expensive....

Eeps24 said:

Thanks for the info... So not only a hepa filter but I also need a bag for the shop vac as well

Click to expand...

Shop Vac

Pelleting In NJ said:

Get a Gore Cleanstream HEPA filter for your Shop-Vac.....they work great, are washable, and last a long time.

Click to expand...

Do you used a fine filter yellow bag with the Clean Stream Hepa filter?
Thanks for the Help

I found a washable filter that works great, but I can't for the life of me find it anywhere anymore. I believe it was Sears, but like others say it was Hepa and I make sure the stove is completely cold.

True Story.. My mom tried to help my dad out by cleaning out their stove. She didn't realize there was a hot ember in it, and while the vacuum didn't catch fire the ember made a hole in the filter and the entire room was covered in ash as a result.

I just use the Cleanstream HEPA filter, no extra filter bag on top of it.