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The by-product of a warm cosy fire is messy ash that spreads everywhere. Here, you will find the best ash vacuum cleaners buyers guide and reviews for 2021. If you enjoy a summer barbecue or lighting up your fireplace when it gets nippy, you will need to consider buying an ash vacuum to eliminate soot and ash with minimum fuss.
These ash-busting appliances are equipped with unique filters and suction power that never fades, to ensure that tiny dust particles are picked up effectively. When using an ash vacuum you can be assured that it will speedily suck up a substantial amount of ash residue and leave your fireplace, grill or barbeque with gleaming results.
Let’s admit it, barbequing with the family is a great joy. The thought of tasty chargrilled meat leaves me salivating,
Ash is a nuisance, it gets everywhere if left to gather. It’s better to get rid of it sooner rather than later. Ash loves to hide in the nooks of your grill and fireplace which is why it’s a bad idea to rely on a brush and dustpan to clean it. For this job, you need an ash vacuum to ease the burden.
An ash cleaning machine is a handy purchase for your wood burning stove or fireplace, keep reading to discover some of the great benefits it will afford you around your home. We will delve into the features to look out for when making your selection and also recommend the crème de la crème of top-rated ash vacuums.
In addition to cleaning to your fireplaces and barbeque stands you can use your ash vacuums to clean up residual ash from fire pits and pellet stoves. Your new appliance will make sure that ash doesn’t go flying everywhere during cleaning and it will massively cut down on the time it takes to clear up.
Most users will opt for an ash vacuum because of the convenience- it takes away the arduous effort of eliminating soot and it gets through tasks quickly. Another big advantage of using one is that it prevents your clothing from attracting ash stains which, in most cases, are impossible to wash out. Start using a top-rated ash vacuum cleaner to keep your fire areas immaculate and performing at their best.
I’ve sourced the cream of the crop and shortlisted a great range of ash vacuums available right now. Our summary will save you time and point you in the right direction when searching for the best machine in a sea of endless lists. Simply click the link below for our leading recommendations.
Recommended Reading: Best Fireplace Ash Vacuum Cleaners
What sets apart an Ash Vacuum?
Ash vacuums might look like a regular vacuum cleaner but they are some key differences that make them unique to a standard unit. They are specially adapted to suck up fine ash dust which is different to regular dust- for this type of job the machine needs specialised HEPA filters to catch minute particles and stop them from escaping or getting to vital parts of the machine. You can also use certain units as shop vacuums to pick up smaller dust such as drywall dust.
The collection tanks are made from metal and the hoses are impervious to heat and as a result, most models can pick up warm/hot coals without the risk of causing a fire. I would always advise waiting until the ash is cold before cleaning it up.
Vacuuming hot coals shouldn’t be a common practice as this could shorten the life of your vacuum cleaner. Although most ash vacuums are designed to deal with higher temperatures it’s best not to constantly push them to their limits to ensure that they remain performing at their best for many years.
The regular use of an ash vacuum will also optimise the performance of your fireplace, grill or pellet stove. They can achieve a cleaner burn when kept free from ash.
Perhaps you’ve heard about ash vacuums before and liked the idea of eliminating ash quick and easy or maybe this is your first time coming across them. Whatever the case, you’re thinking of buying one and want to do your due diligence. You’ve come to the right place!
There are tonnes of practical ash vacuums currently on offer but there are also just as many inferior products out there that are not worth the money. To ease the process of finding the best ash cleaner, for your requirements, I’ve done the hard work for you.
Throughout this article, you will find
Can an Ash Vacuum Cope With Hot Ashes?
It’s crucial to know if your ash vacuum can handle hot ash (some don’t) to take away the risk of an accidental fire. Some ash vacuums can only clean up cooled down ashes, therefore, you will need to let the fire die down and wait until the next day before cleaning the ash as the embers can stay warm long after the fired has been put out.
If your ash vacuum can only deal with cold ash this isn’t a major problem even if you light a fire daily, simply vacuum the ash shortly before igniting your next fire on the following day.
Ash vacuum cleaners that can tolerate hot ash are designed with a special tank which can absorb the heat, however, the temperature should not exceed 122°F or 50°C. That means you shouldn’t attempt to vacuum ashes while they’re still burning.
Recommended Reading: Best Fireplace Ash Vacuum Cleaners
Why an Ash Vacuum Cleaner is best for your Barbeque Stand, Fire Pit & Pellet Stove
I would highly advise against trying to use your standard vacuum to clean up ash. This is a mistake that could end up costing you money and even your safety. A normal vacuum cleaner is usually designed from a plastic material that is not fire-proof whereas most ash vacuums are made to handle the heat. As mentioned earlier, ash, even when cool, can still contain hot embers hidden in the pile. Don’t take the risk of using a regular vacuum.
The next reason why it’s a bad idea to use a normal vacuum for ash is the damage it can cause to the interior components of your machine. Ash particles are much smaller than regular dust and can rapidly infiltrate your normal vacuum’s filtration system and travel directly to the motor. This would soon spell the end of your vacuum and cost you more money to replace.
Ash vacuums are a great investment and can speedily complete tasks that would otherwise be messy and arduous. They are portable and budget-friendly too. The remnants of charcoal, after the family party, is unsightly ash residue but with an ash vacuum, you can have this cleaned up in no time at all.
Where Can You Use An Ash Vacuum?
By now, you already know that an ash vacuum can be used in any area that results in a build-up of ash. Places such as your fireplace, barbeque grill, pellet stove, fire pit, wood burning stove and coal fire can all benefit from the cleaning effects of an ash vacuum.
Certain models can be used to clean the soot from the base of your chimney but I wouldn’t go further beyond that. It’s best to leave Chimney cleaning to the professionals. A Chimney sweep, done properly, avoids the risk of a fire.
Ash Vacuum filtration
Ash vacuums need to be equipped with the best possible filters. High-grade machines are equipped with HEPA filters as standard. As mentioned earlier, this type of filter is necessary to capture ash particles that are smaller than regular dust. The HEPA filter will ensure that the ash doesn’t escape back into the air once caught.
You can rest assured that dust clouds will not fly out of your new appliance whilst you’re cleaning up the ash.
How BIG are Ash Vacuums?
In the world of vacuum
Aim for a capacity between 4 to 6 Gallons or 18 to 25 litres and you should be okay. This capacity is large enough to perform multiple tasks in one go but if you decide to buy a smaller ash vacuum, it just means that you’ll be emptying it more frequently than the larger-sized models.
Which is the Best Ash Vacuum?
We’ve searched the market and found the best performance ash vacuums from brands such as SHOP-VAC, PowerSmith, Vacmaster. The heavy lifting has been done for you and all you need to do is select a suitable appliance from our shortlist. Simply click the link below and get yours today.
Recommended Reading: Best Fireplace Ash Vacuum Cleaners
Ash Vacuum Buyer’s Guide
I hope that you’ve found the information provided in this article to be helpful in making your decision when it comes to buying an ash vacuum cleaner. Before we conclude I would like to highlight some important functions that should be taken into account prior to purchasing your new machine and also explain some of terminology that you will come across when making your selection. In addition to this I’ll also provide some helpful tips of useful ways to recycle the collected ash.
Important Functions To Consider When Choosing An Ash Vacuum Cleaner
Make sure you take your time when choosing a suitable ash vacuum. We’ve found that the big brands provide remarkable models, however, you should still know what those functions mean to you and how they will affect your cleaning regime.
To help you make the best choice, I’ve summarised 3 primary functions to keep a note of during your purchasing decision.
Capacity or Compactness?
Some ash cleaners contain great capacities and as a result, you can use them several times before they need to be emptied. Some of them are smaller therefore, will require more frequent emptying usually after a couple of tasks. A bigger model won’t need to be emptied out as often but it might not necessarily be the best choice for you. How so?
If you buy an ash vacuum with a larger capacity, the trade-off is that it won’t be portable, therefore, it might become a burden to move between rooms or from the pellet stove indoors to the outdoor grill. You’re better off deciding beforehand whether portability is more of a priority over longer intervals between emptying or vice versa. The best approach to this scenario is checking the weight of the appliance and its dimensions.
Suction Power
Unquestionably, a key feature that determines a vacuum cleaners effectiveness is its suction power and this couldn’t be more important when eliminating ash. Always check the motor’s power when scrolling through the specs. The criterion for any ash vacuum is a motor with a minimum of 5 to 10 amps of power. Don’t settle for anything less!
Hose and Power Cable Measurements
The last thing you want to discover, when your new ash vacuum cleaner arrives, is that the power cable and hose are too short to reach your stove or fireplace. Even if it’s a great performing machine, the convenience is compromised if it can’t reach the areas it needs to clean. Avoid short cables and hoses. Be sure to assess the length of the power cable and hose and match them to the dimensions of the room sizes around the house.
Recommended Reading: Best Fireplace Ash Vacuum Cleaners
Demystifying Confusing Terminology
HEPA Filters
HEPA is an acronym for High-Efficiency Particulate Air filters. This type of filter is commonly found in premium vacuum cleaners but for ash vacuums, it’s a necessity. It’s a special type of filter different from the alternatives. For a filter to be classified as HEPA-grade it should be capable of extracting more than 99.7% of particles that are bigger than 0.3 micrometres and as a result, HEPA filters are superior to regular filters.
PHP
PHP stands for peak horsepower. The wording implies that the vacuum cleaner has tonnes of power inside but in reality, PHP is just the wording used to calculate the output of a motor and not the functional horsepower. This isn’t as important as it might suggest and nothing to worry about. Check the amps instead, as mentioned earlier, the motor should come with a minimum of 5 to 10 amps of power.
Can I Recycle Ash?
The most obvious thing to do with ash is to chuck it in the garbage can but before you do that did you know that ash can be useful? Keep reading to discover some of the great things ash can do for you. Whether it’s indoors or outside,
To enrich garden soil
The ashy remnants from firewood are nutrient-rich and can revitalise your garden soil and strengthen some of your plants. The nutrients can promote growth and healthy plant life, however, not all crops take well to ash scatterings. I would advise that you research whether your specific plants can absorb ash nutrients before scattering them.
Ash is great on glassware
You might not believe me but ash is actually brilliant at cleaning your glassware and utensils and it leaves gleaming results. All you need to do is add some ash to a wet cloth or stir it into some warm water until it forms into a paste. It can also get rid of oil stains.
Ash can combat slugs
If slugs are an issue around your home you can easily get rid of them with a bit of ash. Simply scatter some ash in the areas where they commonly congregate and slugs will soon
Recommended Reading: Best Fireplace Ash Vacuum Cleaners
To Conclude
We’ve come to the end of our best ash vacuum cleaners buyers guide and Reviews for 2021. I hope this guide has highlighted the importance of these unique appliances when dealing with ash. Once you’ve got a better picture of what to look out for head on over to our shortlist of recommended appliances to see which machine best suits your needs.
Are you considering buying a fireplace ash vacuum cleaner or do you already own one? Please leave your comments in the section below. I’d love to hear from you.
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