Portable wet/dry vac for fireplace ash

[Shane6377]

My 2.0 gallon Shop Vac died on me the other day and I'm looking to replace it. It's main task will be cleaning out fireplace ash.

I have a larger wet/dry vac for big jobs so I really want to keep this one smaller and portable.

Anyone have a good recommendation... particularly if you have used it for ash?


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[fsae0607]

You can use your large wet/dry vac for ash if you buy the bags they sell at your local big box store in the shop vac aisle. Also good for drywall and plaster dust.

If you can find a bag for your small shop vac, then you're good.

Just make damn sure those ashes are not hot before vacuuming!

 

[mikec35]

My ex vacuumed ash that was not quite ash yet- still some smoldering wood in the bottom of the pile and caught the shop vac on fire. I'd be leary of using a shop vac for this task unless you are 100% sure the fire is burned out. Search ash vacs or ash attachments.

 

[Bretny]

Dont use anything but an ash vac for the fire place. Even if its out for days all it takes it one ember to get sucked up and your vac catches fire 3 days later and possibly your house.

 

[C1070RS]

This Power Smith ash vacuum kicks ash, no pun intended. Very easy to use and no mess.

 

[Roundhouse]

Yeah
This can be dangerous

I have done it but i used a shop vac with the metal can
And I used some pvc pipe to keep the vac outside the house in case it caught on fire

 

[jfish]

I assume by reading your post that you have been using a wet/dry vac on your ash. And you're still alive, so....

Anyway.

I've been using this vac for about 6 or 7 years. Vacuuming ash from my pellet stove. The previous vac lasted approx 15 years vacuuming the ash.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-...EC-_-mobileweb_search_rr-_-NA-_-202077241-_-N

I use the blue or green hepa filter and a bag inside. It's excellent. Super easy to change the bag. The bucket is always clean, the exhaust air is clean.

I get the 5 gallon bags on Amazon

 

[Shane6377]

Dont use anything but an ash vac for the fire place. Even if its out for days all it takes it one ember to get sucked up and your vac catches fire 3 days later and possibly your house.

It should be pretty obvious that you don't **** up hot embers into a vac. [emoji23] I scoop out the majority of ash with a shovel into a steel bucket. The vac gets used for clean up.



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[Jazz1]

Yeah
This can be dangerous

I have done it but i used a shop vac with the metal can
And I used some pvc pipe to keep the vac outside the house in case it caught on fire

I caught my wife’s vacuum on fire cleaning out carb type oil furnace,flames were shooting out exhaust. Permantly blackened the pink plastic housing of Hoover although no actual damage.
She immediately bought me a 15 gallon stainless Shop Vac. I’ve replaced motor once in 20 years

 

[theoldwizard1]

The Milwaukee M18 Fuel looks very nice, better than the smaller M12 ! Make sure you have a GOOD filter installed and, of course, that ashes are stone cold.

 

[SteveCh]

This Power Smith ash vacuum kicks ash, no pun intended. Very easy to use and no mess.

I have one of these for my wood stoves and fireplace. Only for ash use. I got it from Amazon less than $80. Reusable filter material, and it works great.

 

[lukedwag]

I just got the 2 gallon m18 cordless and use it for the woodstove cleanup and for the cars/trucks. Works mint. I do shovel most everything out first though.

 

[pajeepman]

This Power Smith ash vacuum kicks ash, no pun intended. Very easy to use and no mess.

I have one of these and I love it. Bought one for my father in law and he loves it also. Is says it iso k for warm ash not hot ash. Only thing I would use for hot ash is a metal bucket/ash bucket.

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[brownbagg]

i use a dust pan

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Do it safe, big (and right):

http://www.mastercraftusa.com/products/Sootmaster.php

Tommy

 

[rburke65]

I have a wood burner and just take a small shovel to clear out the ash pan into a metal can. The things you learn on this site.....I have never heard of an Ash Vac!

 

[tarmy]

Just a FYI...whatever vac you use...will stink of the ash material...forever. The particulants are very fine and some remain in the canister...

 

[gemniii]

As trarmy wrote

The particulants are very fine

.
Just like drywall dust.
I use a 2 gallon w/d vac attached to my ROS when sanding drywall, no bag. I put about 2" of water inside and run a tube from the intake down below the water. Acts like a hookah. Probably would work the same with wood ash.

 

[Marctrees]

Seems to me no matter what vac you use... to go dump outside in safe place IMMEDIATELY AFTER EVERY USE... and even prudent to leave vac outside for the night.

Marc

 

[ezridr60]

Shop vac, unintended consequences

A few years ago. A text from my daughter in San Diego, it starts out, "I think you are the only one who will see the humor in this". She had been using a shop vac to clean up the house, she's in the living room, can't figure out where all the smoke and particles are coming from, turns around to find the shop vac exhaust is pointed directly into the fireplace. I'm sorry, I laughed.

 

[road_king]

This Power Smith ash vacuum kicks ash, no pun intended. Very easy to use and no mess.

+1............

 

[Ign]

The Ridgid ash vacs go on sale at HD right now. They're on clearance at my store.

I've got one and I will say the power is lackluster but it's enough - barely - but enough just the same