Favorite ash vac for pellet stoves?

As per my recent newbie threads I'm gearing up for my first winter burning pellets. Just placed the order for the stove itself (55-trpah from timber ridge). Will be ordering pellets on Monday and picking up the materials for the install by the weekend.

Last thing I need (that I'm aware of!) is to find an ash vacuum. I'd like to stay under $100 if possible - looks like there are a handful around that price range, so - anyone have feedback?

I recently purchased a PowerSmith ash vacuum that so far I am happy with. Has a metal lined hose and a metal canister with a high temp filter so that warm ash can be sucked up. Also has decent suction. I found it on line for about $89

I use a $30 ShopVac with a $30 Gore Cleanstream HEPA filter.

Melissa, where did you find the powersmith online? I see it at amazon for that price but it's out of stock. Can't seem to find it anywhere else...

I too just did a search to see if the seller name popped out at me but it didn't. My receipt says AG Warehouse but I dont see that online either. I know when I purchased it there were very few in stock. I wonder if Amazon could give you an estimate, or tell u how long it has been out of stock.

I use the Cheetah ash vac linked below. It came "free" from the dealer with my stove. It works fine, but it's not worth the $200 list price, IMHO.

http://www.amazon.com/Dustless-Tech...id=1350785733&sr=1-1&keywords=cheetah ash vac

Another vote for a Shop Vac and HEPA filter.

I got mine at the Big Orange store about 4 years ago
Was an open box floor model.
Cost was <$25
The HEPA filter was around $30.

Works great for me.
Good Luck,
---Nailer---

Me too, shop vac with a hepa filter and I buy the drywall bags. Great suction and I get no dust blown into the room.

Shop vac, HEPA filter and Drywall bags here.


Even ash vacs are not rated to suck hot coals. Let the stove cool properly amd either will work. You can spend $60 or $260. Up to you.

Shop Vac here too. Make sure you use a hepa filter or every time the wifey dusts you're going to hear about it. I wonder when someone will chime in and warn me about a vacuum fire? Should be soon...

I use shop-vac with HEPA filters.

I have been using this
http://www.amazon.com/Cleva-EAT605S...d=1350820366&sr=8-6&keywords=fireplace vacuum
for about a year. It is loud and not very powerful, but it gets the job done. It won't
do heavy lifting, but it will pick up an occasional pellet or clinker. As i said, it gets the job done. It is small, but i only emptied it once last heating season and it was far from full.
The hose is lined with spiral cut aluminum for fire resistance and the three filters are fiberglass, perforated metal and hepa.

Dwizum, not having used a shop vac form this purpose, I cannot speak to it. There was a previous post in another thread where someone inadvertently sucked up a hot coal and suddenly his shop vac was blowing flames. As stated above, you just have to have a cold stove and ash with the shop vac. The PowerSmith I use is rated to hold ash with a temp of 140.

I used to use a small Ridgid shop-vac type with a Hepa filter but i found it was too messy cleaning the filter. I bought the PowerSmith Ash vac and it is awesome. Super suction, fairly quiet, light and compact. Can vacuum warm ashes with it. I paid around ~$85 on Amazon free shipping.

http://powersmithtools.com/portfolios/ash-vacuum/

shop vac, hepa filter and drywall bags. I generally clean my stove every Sat morning. I leave the shop vac outside for the day just to be on the safe side.

I won a Cougar ash vac in a contest, been used twice. Shop vac gets the call.

Shop vac with drywall bag. Minimum stove cool down of an hour. Vac stuck outside after for the rest of day. Ounce of prevention worth a pound of cure.
Stainless five gallon vac $30, 3 pak of drywall bags less than $10 and bag lasts the season.

I use a Cleva Ash Vacuum and it works fine.
Thanks for reminding me, I need to empty it.

Bill

PS: Lowes now sells them for $79.99, a lot less than I paid a year ago.

I purchased this one made by Hearth Country out of Vermont, but it's actually manufactured in China. It's the only one I could find in this part of the World that was on the shelf. It gets the job done, but for the $159 Canadian that I paid for it, it's like.....meh. I've got my fingers crossed that it will take me through the season and I might look into swapping it for late 2013. I hate buying stuff that doesn't impress.
http://www.amazon.com/Meeco-Mfg-Co-...-1-catcorr&keywords=hearth country ash vacuum

Cheetah ash vac. It's great for every other day really cleans it down.

I think pelletsdirect has them for $119 or something like that?

Cougar Ash Vac works great for me. It gets used a couple of times a week.

I use an old Hoover upright with allergen Z Bags. Works like a charm.

Shop vac with a drywall filter. A cover bag on the filter keeps it cleaner longer. Had an ash vac but also had a hot spark, my bad, no more ash vac

I have that one too. Fortunately I only paid $69 for it. Not very impressed. The filter is waaaaaay too small and clogs quickly. My shop vac with a Hepa filter works better.

Ash Vac.
Use it for our pellet stove and our wood burning insert.
Works great. Had it for 2 seasons now and no complaints.
You get what you pay for in this case.