Good Ash Vac

[Bluelaker]

Anyone have any suggestions on purchasing a good quality, good valued ash vacuum?

Thanks, Rob

 

[begreen]

I've always used a Shop-Vac brand unit with the sheetrock filter bag. Works great and not expensive for the smaller models. However, I never use it with any hot embers present.

 

[Fiamma]

Ummmm, Shop vac!
Get yourself a cheetahII ASH vac, in Naugatuck you can contact Brian at:
Prospect Country Store 174 Prospect St. Naugatuck 203-723-9466
or H&S;fireplace 203-266-7717

 

[Kenny1]

I just use a small shop vac with the drywall dust filter (make sure the ashes are OUT!!).

 

[begreen]

For more discussion search on Ash Vacuum. Here's a start:
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/2826/

 

[Gooserider]

I just used our upright house vac w/ the hose attachment on it. Supposedly it has a HEPA filter, so not a problem with dust getting blown through, and when the bag was full I just pulled it and tossed... NOT something I'd reccomend when there was any possibility of live coals being present - this was a mid summer cleanup after the stove hadn't been fired for 2-3 months...

In season I just use a shovel and ash bucket - no need to get every last bit, so I don't even try.

Gooserider

 

[HarryBack]

Ummmm, Shop vac!
Get yourself a cheetahII ASH vac, in Naugatuck you can contact Brian at:
Prospect Country Store 174 Prospect St. Naugatuck 203-723-9466
or H&S;fireplace 203-266-7717

I concur...a very good unit, fairly quiet, metal can, should be $210-$230. With mine, even though the naufacturer doesnt want you to suck live embers up, ive done it routinely with service jobs.....you get to the home where the "problem" stove resides, an lo and behold, theres a fire going....what do you do? Wait 1/2-1 hr for the fire to die down, or......just suck it out! Anyhow, works well for me.

 

[stoveguy2esw]

i use a "loveless" ash vac does a great job, a little loud , but its very effective , and i dont have to mess with drywall bags. its also capable of sucking up a stray ember (not for cleaning hot however) without causing a fire. its body is steel, and it uses a fire resistant filter (not fireproof but resistant) it also has a "shaker" for the filter that allows you to shake the ash off the filter without opening the vac which is a very nice feature.we at ESW carry them on our website here is a link http://www.englanderstoves.com/ash_vac.html

 

[BrotherBart]

I just shovel except of the once a hear cleanup with the Shop-Vac with drywall bag. Of course China Town (Harbor Freight) has this attachment that goes on sale for $29.99 frequently:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=40539

 

[Bill]

I use my shop vac, I bought a 10 foot extension hose, and leave the vacuum on the deck outside while I clean. I get any more stuff and I'll have to build another garage.

 

[BrotherBart]

I use my shop vac, I bought a 10 foot extension hose, and leave the vacuum on the deck outside while I clean. I get any more stuff and I'll have to build another garage.

That is what I used to do. Two years ago I was absorbed in cleaning out ever nook and cranny in the stove. When I finally pull my head out (of the stove too) the entire downstairs was a cloud of thick grey. The exhaust on the vac on the deck had been aimed toward the opening in the door the hose was going through and a piece of charcoal nuked the paper element. Blowing everything I was vacuuming right back into the house. What a mess.

 

[fbelec]

I use my shop vac, I bought a 10 foot extension hose, and leave the vacuum on the deck outside while I clean. I get any more stuff and I'll have to build another garage.

That is what I used to do. Two years ago I was absorbed in cleaning out ever nook and cranny in the stove. When I finally pull my head out (of the stove too) the entire downstairs was a cloud of thick grey. The exhaust on the vac on the deck had been aimed toward the opening in the door the hose was going through and a piece of charcoal nuked the paper element. Blowing everything I was vacuuming right back into the house. What a mess.

a learnin experience. i hate going to that school. i bet the wife didn't like you anymore.

 

[myzamboni]

I put about 4-5 inches of water in the shop vac tank and use the dry filter. This way a lot of the a lot of the ash is captured (not as effective as a wet-scrubber on a stack, but you get the idea)

 

[Henz]

I do the same as Smokey..I have a window next to the woodstove..Show vac it out in the spring..Durign the heating season I just shovel it out..never have a problem..Does anyone really do an overhaul on their stove mid way??? Reason>??

 

[BrotherBart]

I do the same as Smokey..I have a window next to the woodstove..Show vac it out in the spring..Durign the heating season I just shovel it out..never have a problem..Does anyone really do an overhaul on their stove mid way??? Reason>??

If we have a reasonable day in January I run a brush down the chimneys and clean out the stoves and inspect them, pipe condition and connections etc. And then cuss myself for two or three days until I get the ash beds built back up.

As much from years of habit with the old stoves as anything.

 

[Henz]

yeah I can see that..My Avalon Olympic burns so efficiently that I only have a very light fly ash left..

 

[BrotherBart]

yeah I can see that..My Avalon Olympic burns so efficiently that I only have a very light fly ash left..

Same with the ones I put in last year. Now that I know what to expect I may just run straight through this year. But as anal as I am about flue condition I know I will probably be up top after a couple of months to check'em. And after thirty years of having to tear things apart and move a tank out of the fireplace and the beast off the flue in the basement and then scrubbing the tile flues dropping two ropes down the pipes, putting the caps back on and going down and pulling them through is like a party, not work.

I think I did it last year just to keep the grin going on my face. First time I ever cleaned two chimneys in twenty minutes in my life.