5 Best Shop Vac Ash Vacuum Reviews - With Buying Guide
Contents
Ash, especially in the fireplace, can be a hard thing to get rid of mainly because it flies into the air very easily. A broom is definitely something that will not help much because you will end up choking on ash and your hair will be full of ash particles. That’s why you need an ash vacuum because these are designed to deal with that annoying characteristic of ash. These 5 best shop vac ash vacuums are designed to prevent the finer ash particles from coming out the exhaust. They have superior filtration and others have special bags that trap the ash in there.
Why you should get an Ash shop vac?
If you have a fireplace or BBQ grill or any ash-producing fire, then that is reason enough to get a shop vac ash vacuum. You may ask however why get one if you already have a normal vacuum that you believe will do the same thing. Well, the reason is that one made for ash prevents the ash from escaping into the air and the motor is well protected to prevent clogging. Here are some points to keep in mind.
- Ash shop vacuums are made from stainless steel which will prevent fires
- Some of them have thermal switches in case the ash has hot embers
- Normal vacuums will be spoiled if they are used often for ash
5 Best Shop Vac Ash Vacuum Comparison
How to Choose Shop Vac Ash Vacuums
There are key features that you need to look out for when choosing an ash shop vacuum, these include:
Filter system
Ash is made up of powdery particles which can easily escape into the air as you vacuum, a good ash vac has the kind of filtration system that can trap the ash inside. Not every filter is able to do this. HEPA filters are recommended as the best filters since they are also used in air purifiers to ensure good quality air. Other filter systems are the double mesh filters that trap particles that manage to escape from the first filter system.
Fire safety
You should remember that you are going to be dealing with fire sometimes. Hot embers may be covered by the ash and you may assume that the ash is cold only to end up with a fire. The material used for the tank and nozzles should be resistant to fire. Stainless steel is the most recommended as it will not melt like plastic. However for extra care, some of the ash shop vacs have thermal switches that will go off is by mistake you take in hot embers, this way you can stop and check if there are anymore as well as dispose of the one that found its way to the tank.
Multi-purpose
To save money, you can get a shop vac that can vacuum both ash and ordinary household messes. By doing this you do not have to buy a second vacuum for the house. Not all ash shop vacs can do this but if you want to save money, look for those that can. You will read about some in this shop vac ash vacuum review.
Accessory Tools
The tools that come with the shop vac are of great importance as well. Look at the fireplace you will be cleaning and then think of the tools you will need to use. It is best if the shop vac you choose comes with the tools you need because you do not want to spend on accessory tools after paying for the vacuum also it is important that you can easily find replacements or add-ons when you need them otherwise you may find your ash shop vac becomes useless if the tools get lost or spoilt.
How to use the shop vac ash vacuum
Most of the shop vac ash vacuums can be operated very easily. The basic operation procedure would be to connect the hose to the port and then attach the tool you intend to use then plug in the shop vac to the power and take care that the nozzle is not facing something small that you do not intend to vacuum, face it towards the ash and then press the on switch which is usually at the top of the vac and begin vacuuming.
After the vacuuming is done, you need to take off the lid and then dump the ash in the bin or remove the collection bag and dump the contents in the bin.
Cleaning the Filter
Care for your ash shop vac requires that you ensure the filter is clean. A clean filter will ensure that the vac continues working well without clogging and the motor does not get damaged.
Cleaning the filter may vary according to the model you choose to purchase however the common ways to clean a filter include:
- Simply shaking it a bit to loosen the ash
- Removing it and blowing it with another shop vac
- Tapping the top of the vac so that the ash falls into the canister.
Recommended Shop Vac Ash Vacuum Reviews
Shop-Vac 4041200 Ash Vacuum Cleaner
Editor Rating:
This is a sturdy stainless steel shop vac with ample power to suck up ash and make the task of vacuuming much easier. The main feature that makes it suitable for ash is the HEPA filter. Ash is just like fine dust which can easily escape from the exhaust and into the air so the HEPA filter ensures that fine dust is kept within the canister. You may also like the fact that it has an auto shut off once hot coals find their way into the vac.
Key Features
- HEPA filter
- Stainless steel body
- Top carry handle
- Thermal cut off
- 5-gallon tank
- 6-foot cord
- Strong by-pass motor
Pros
- There is no ash that comes out through the exhaust as long as the filter is well cared for
- It shuts off if you suck in hot ash by mistake to prevent any damage
- The tank is big enough to accommodate ash from ordinary sized fireplaces or BBQ grills
- The stainless steel material is durable and easy to clean
- There is no need for collection bags
- Easy to carry around
Cons
- Both the cord and the hose are short so most of the time you need an extension cable unless your socket is within 6 feet of the fireplace.
Shop-Vac 4041100 Ash Vacuum
Editor Rating:
This shop vac is a lot similar to the 4041200 but they may defer in price. It also has filtration that ensures that ash does not escape into the air. Its stainless steel body makes it easy for ash to slide right out of the tank with very little cleaning needed after dumping. For a sturdy easy to use shop vac for ash, this is something you may like.
Key Features
- 3 stage metal screen filter
- Auto shut off if there are still hot embers
- 5-gallon tank
- 6 feet power cord
- 4-foot hose
- Top carry handle
Pros
- It does not let ash escape into the air as you vacuum
- The filter is very easy to clean by just removing it from the filter housing and tapping it a little on the ground or with your hand.
- It comes with a 2-year warranty from the manufacturer
- It has a safety feature that will shut off if there are still hot embers in the ash
- Portable
Cons
- It has a short power cord and hose.
shop-vac 4041300 ash vacuum for Hard to Reach Areas
Editor Rating:
Ash will have a hard time getting past the filters in this shop vac for ash. It is designed in a way that if it gets through the first and second filters, there is a third one to trap it. The suction is just right for ash and fine dust and there are a variety of tools to help clean different surfaces. It also comes with bonus tools to clean hard to reach areas.
Key Features
- HEPA filter cartridge
- Quick clean filters
- double filter system
- 5-gallon collection tank
- Stainless steel body
- Bonus tools for hard to reach places
Pros
- It retains more than 99 percent of ash in the tank
- The filters are very easy to clean even without removing them, you just tap and the ash trapped in them will fall into the container
- It has enough capacity to collect all the ash in an ordinary sized fireplace
- Stainless steel body makes it easy to dump the ash and clean the tank
- It does not clog easily
- There is no expense on bags as the ash goes directly into the tank
Cons
- With constant use the clips on the lid become loose
Shop-Vac 5986100 Stainless Steel Wet Dry Vacuum
Editor Rating:
If you have a bigger fireplace or BBQ grill, then you would need a bigger tank. This shop vac is equipped with an 8-gallon stainless steel tank and comes with a collection bag which effectively traps fine dust as well as ash in there. Unlike the other ash vacs, this one has a long cord and it can be used for other vacuuming tasks like picking up wet waste.
Key Features
- Large tank with 8-gallon capacity
- 12-foot power cord
- Collection bag to trap ash and fine dust
- Small wheels on the tank dolly
- Rear port that can be used as blower
- Stainless steel body
- Top carry handle
- On board tools storage
Pros
- It can be used both for collecting ash as well as general vacuuming around the house
- It has a long power cord
- It can be moved around easily using the wheels
- It can be used as a blower as well
- Onboard tool storage means you do not have clutter
Cons
- It comes with only one collection bag so you would have to spend on a replacement after some time.
Shop-Vac 5986200
Editor Rating:
This is a shop vac for every task including ash. It comes with a number of tools so that you can use it accordingly and its storage tank is a whole 12 gallons. You could vacuum your fireplace 3 times before you have to empty it or if you have a restaurant, you would appreciate its ability to vacuum all BBQ grills. It comes with a long cord and extension wands to ensure you have ample reach.
Key Features
- Stainless steel body
- Collection bag and filter cartridge
- Fitted wheel for mobility
- Top carry handle
- Rear blower
- Onboard tool storage
Pros
- The 12-gallon capacity is ideal for vacuuming construction sites as well as entire house
- The long power cord gives you freedom to move about without switching sockets
- It comes with a number of useful tools
- It is quite useful for sucking up water accidents
- Considering its size and performance, it is fairly priced
Cons
- It takes up storage space because of its size
- It does not have an automatic off switch if you take in hot embers
Conclusion
Hopefully, this shop vac ash vacuum review has given you insight into what you can get to deal with ash. There are a number of vacuums that are intended for this task but they have small differences that can make the difference. For example if you are looking to save money, you can go for the 4041200 while if you want strong suction, the 4041300 would suit you well and when it comes to size, the 12 gallon 5976200 is a good fit while the 6986100 is a general purpose vac that will handle the entire house including the fireplace. Just remember, none of them should be used for hot ash.
