Any advice for choosing an ash vacuum?

[Cat Woman]

I really want to break down and purchase an ash vacuum for my wood burning stove. I'm getting really tired of constantly dusting because of all the ash dust Any suggestions for the best bang for my buck? One that can suck warm ashes is a must. I don't know if I should just go to my local Farm & Fleet who has them on sale for $190 which is a Love-Less Ash Co. Brand??? It looks like it has cleanable filters vs. buying new filters which is a plus in my book. I have also looked at the one Plow & Hearth has which is $40 more plus shipping...

 

[whitedust]

Not sure which Love-Less Ash vacuum you are looking at. I burn wood 24/7 Oct - March & had Love-Less for 8 years & never changed filter & don't exspect too. I just empty ashes shake out filter & go at it again. Love-Less Ash vacuum does not eliminate shoveling out ashes just dust & ash control when you load new wood. I could not burn 24 /7 without it way too messy as you know. Darn thing is super loud so be aware of that or wake everybody up for sure.

 

[woodi]

Don't use a shop vac I did 1 time 2 be nice 2 my wife in fireplace.She came out of bed room 20 ft away from me and I couldn't see her.But I could sure here her.

 

[Cat Woman]

Well according to Blain's website they carry the Cheetah II model. We burn Oct-March 24/7 also. I scoop out just the sides every morning before putting new wood in. This area has most the ash but some small embers get scooped too and when I dump it ever so carefully the hot embers make the ash fly into to the sky... good bye clean house Yes that is something I read in the reviews is that they are loud BUT I'd rather have loud for a few minutes every morning than dusting all the time. Anyways, Loud = Powerful right? lol.

Thanks woodi for the advice, lol.

 

[whitedust]

Cheetah II can handle burning ash no problem. No........ just loud & fire proof not very powerful at all made to suck dust & very small ash only or you will clog the hose. I use the corner tool & brush tool to clean up dust & ash after I scoop ash. Menards has black ash pail with top that I use to scoop out ash. If you scoop ash without pail top you will have dust everywhere sounds like your main problem. Also allow ash to build up in pail & you will have less dust as ash likes ash to cushion each scoop ash hitting bottom of empty pail causes dust to bellow. Are you using an ash pail with a top? Also your stove pipe might need to be brushed since a good draw should carry most dust up & out. Cheetah II does not replace scoop & covered pail just improve dust clean up. Also there is a plunger bolt that you use to clear filter. Always cover top of Cheetah II with your hand after using plinger to contain dust that just got past the filter. I could not burn & control dust without Cheetah II but I use it constanly with every fresh load.

 

[Cat Woman]

I do not have a cover for my pail and it would probably help reduce my mess alot! I'm going to get one ASAP and see if that will solve enough of my problem. It'll be alot cheaper than buying a vac right now. I don't think my pipes are horrible but it is probably time to get on the roof and do that. Muchas Gracias whitedust!

 

[polarisrider1]

I do not have a cover for my pail and it would probably help reduce my mess alot! I'm going to get one ASAP and see if that will solve enough of my problem. It'll be alot cheaper than buying a vac right now. I don't think my pipes are horrible but it is probably time to get on the roof and do that. Muchas Gracias whitedust!

What ever brand you go with get a vac that has all metal parts, including the hose. Fire proof filter. A good vac. For the purpose intended run about. $250.00