Ash Vac v Shop vac

[Lowarea]

Newbie started burning in February and have learned a lot. Until now I've been using my way to big shop vac.

I need to buy either a smaller shop vac or an ash vac. What do you think? Recommendations?

 

[DexterDay]

6 gallon 3 HP Shop vac with HEPA filter and Drywall filter bag inside.

No matter what anyone says, NO vac is rated to suck Hot Coals. All vacs need to let the stove cool.

Save your money and buy more pellets


Been doin this for 5 seasons and had an ash vac. Hated it. Short hose, low suction, and filter clogged after second use...

My pennies. Everyone has there own ways. Some like the expensive ash vacs. Some don't.

 

[subsailor]

I would buy a 5 gal shop vac with a hepa filter and a drywall bag. The ash vacs just don't have the suction of a shop vac and most aren't rated for hot coals.

 

[ScotO]

Like Dex said, ash vacs ain't what they are cracked up to be. I've been using a shop vac for years, never once had a hot coal in it. Now, that said, I don't vacuum the stove out. I just shovel it out into a pail. But I use the shop vac to keep any fly ash and dust from getting all over the place. With a HEPA filter and drywall bag, it does the job pretty darn well. Again, DON'T VAC A HOT STOVE OUT NO MATTER WHAT!!

 

[subsailor]

6 gallon 3 HP Shop vac with HEPA filter and Drywall filter bag inside.

No matter what anyone says, NO vac is rated to suck Hot Coals. All vacs need to let the stove cool.

Save your money and buy more pellets


Been doin this for 5 seasons and had an ash vac. Hated it. Short hose, low suction, and filter clogged after second use...

My pennies. Everyone has there own ways. Some like the expensive ash vacs. Some don't.

I guess we have had the same experiences. Got an ash vac for Christmas. Used it once.

 

[DexterDay]

I guess we have had the same experiences. Got an ash vac for Christmas. Used it once.

Yep. Hated it....

Like Dex said, ash vacs ain't what they are cracked up to be. I've been using a shop vac for years, never once had a hot coal in it. Now, that said, I don't vacuum the stove out. I just shovel it out into a pail. But I use the shop vac to keep any fly ash and dust from getting all over the place. With a HEPA filter and drywall bag, it does the job pretty darn well. Again, DON'T VAC A HOT STOVE OUT NO MATTER WHAT!!

Yep.. Even the most expensive units say only "Warm Ash" not Hot Coals

All stoves (whether its wood or pellet) need the proper time to cool. Pellet stove about an hour, my woodstove, about 1-2 days (depending on how deep ash bed is and what wood was burned, stirring up after a half day out).

 

[moey]

I use this with a drywall bag on sale at lowes right now $36.97:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_334639-20097-9330611_0__?productId=3326078&Ntt=shop vacuums&pl=1&currentURL=?Ntt=shop+vacuums&facetInfo=

http://www.lowes.com/pd_11931-20097-9067111_0__?productId=1006323&Ntt=drywall bag&pl=1&currentURL=?Ntt=drywall+bag&facetInfo=

I dont use a Hepa filter I do vent the exhaust out my window though. The filter is white I have never used it for anything other then the pellet stove and its still white thats enough to convince me no ash is getting through the drywall bag.

 

[Hoot23]

Shop vac works great.

 

[Lowarea]

Thanks it's unanimous, I didn't think that ever happened here!

 

[bf525]

Newbie started burning in February and have learned a lot. Until now I've been using my way to big shop vac.

I need to buy either a smaller shop vac or an ash vac. What do you think? Recommendations?

I Bought the Powersmith ash vac thru Amazon last fall,and really llike it no dust, vaccum replacement bag cheap to buy about 8 dollars only thing I did was replace hose from my old shop vac hose a little longer. Much better than using Shop vac
http://www.amazon.com/PowerSmith-PA...TF8&qid=1357780621&sr=8-1&keywords=ash+vacume

 

[mithesaint]

I have both, and use both. I use the shop vac for real cleaning. Shut the stove down, let it cool down, clean it out. Much more suction, much bigger filter.

I use the ash vac for quick clean ups if I don't want to or can't wait quite as long for the stove to cool completely. I'm not sucking up coals or anything, but I'm much happier to put potentially warm ash into the metal ash vac.

 

[glenc0322]

I use a 2.5 gallon shop vac with a Hepa filter and it works great I have good suction and its very compact. I have been using it for 2 years with no problems
http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/202769...=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053#.UWn7VKI3u18

 

[fmsm]

I use both, biggest difference is I will use the ash vac for warm coals and not think twice. For my biweekly heavy cleaning it is the shop vac with the drywall bag. I then leave the shop vac outside for a few days to make sure. BTW I have an ash vac next to each pellet stove makes the fast vac a breeze especially good for the Whitfield as it needs moe frequent attention.

 

[DMZX]

I have used an old Hoover upright with an allergen Z Bag for the last two seasons. Works great. Compact,and the bags are cheap.