Proper stove vacuuming techniques to keep fine ash from getting outside the stove?

[bostonfan49]

Entering my 4th season (enviro M55 FS Insert) I have learned that while vacuuming a stove it is very easy to stir up the fine ash and send some outside of your stove, circulating wherever it may go.....So, any Vacuuming tips greatly appreciated. I always wondered with my stove if it is possible ( I think I did it once) to run the combustion/exhaust blower to suck out any fine dust as you vac......
On the subject of stove vacs, I am on my second season with my Power Smith 101 and while I have good suction, the cloth bags are very hard to clean after even one each use,,,,very messy! Any vac out there that you can dispose of the fine ash and not make a mess? Thanks, Bill

 

[Bioburner]

Harman has the ability to run exaust while cleaning and helps. Leaf blower trick works too although don't need to be on high. Several of us use a shop vac with drywall bag and foam filter.

 

[Mr. Spock]

I purchased a cougar ash vac a while back. Waste of money. It filters well but it loses suction quickly and cleaning the filter is messy. I now just use our Kenmore canister vac. The paper bags hold the dust, don't lose suction and dispose without a mess. Plus it cleans the rest of the house. There are hepa filter bags available as well but have not found it necessary to use them. Use on stone cold stove only.

 

[stayfitz]

I purchased a cougar ash vac a while back. Waste of money. It filters well but it loses suction quickly and cleaning the filter is messy. I now just use our Kenmore canister vac. The paper bags hold the dust, don't lose suction and dispose without a mess. Plus it cleans the rest of the house. There are hepa filter bags available as well but have not found it necessary to use them. Use on stone cold stove only.

I own the quiet Cougar model and several Shop Vacs... I never use the Cougar and opt for higher suction with easier bag management (reasons stated above).

 

[bostonfan49]

Thanks all! I think I am going to go back to my Ridgid 6 gal with the drywall bag and I think their number 5 filter. In any event, I just emailed them for their thoughts and will pass around. I still worry about dust from the exhaust port....Someone mentioned putting a hose on the exhaust port and running out a window. That would make me happy, but letting in cold air.....no!
Thanks, Bill

 

[m159267]

Harman has the ability to run exaust while cleaning and helps. Several of us use a shop vac with drywall bag and foam filter.

+ 1.
Running the exhaust works perfectly for me. However I always brush the insides to the ash pan before using the vac.When the pan needs emptying I will pull and brush the pan area to a dust pan then vacuum.

 

[johninwi]

Thanks all! I think I am going to go back to my Ridgid 6 gal with the drywall bag and I think their number 5 filter.
Thanks, Bill

i use that same vac, only i'm using the blue filter,iirc the white are the cheap, blue are fair and green are hepa and very pricey. I've never noticed any ash out the exhaust. And if you overfill the bag, lay the vac on it's side and slide the drywall bag into a trash bag rather than lifting it out. When they really full, they tear easily, THEN you have amess.

I also have two hose that can be coupled together, handy, but the second hose can be attached to the exhaust and used to blow out corners the vac won't pull out.

 

[SwineFlue]

Can you get the exhaust blower to run? Like Bioburner and m159267 said, running it during cleaning really helps cut down the dust.

On the Quad, I momentarily turn up the thermostat to call for heat for a second. The stove then runs the exhaust blower for about 5 minutes. It works well enough that I usually don't use a vacuum, I just brush the ash down into the pan with a paintbrush.

 

[TimfromMA]

I use a Loveless Ash Vac. It's got a heavy cloth filter that's flame retardent. Whenever the filter get's clogged, I give a good blowing off using the air compressor and it's as good as new. Been using the same filter for 4 years.

 

[mralias]

I use a little shop vac with standard filter in place (paper filter). However, I run an additional hose out the exhaust and out a window for any blow by from the filter. Fortunately I have a window on either side of my pellet stove to do so.

 

[hwdemers]

Turn the stove on for a few seconds the push power button again. Should work for long enuff to clean, my service trucks use ridged vs vs with heap filters with no problems.

 

[bostonfan49]

ThAnks all again, yeah I think my M55 will allow me to manually turn on, wait a second and then turn off and have the exhaust blower run for a bit. Haven 't fired up yet this season......Bill

 

[Tonyray]

If u can, run the Exhaust blower while you are vacuuming...
this is my 30.00 Home depot homemader.[Sock/Clamp not included lol]
very light 2 gallon wet/dry.. Didn't want to lug around a 5 gallon jobber. I mean how much Ash can a stove have when u do it regularly...
took few months to fill up. Although Sock catches the dust, I wear a Mask regardless.