Once again the Appliance Hunter has been out scouring the lands, this time going through fields of ash trying to find the best ash vacuum cleaner.
And he succeeded once again!
I’ve found that there are loads of great ash vacuums available so I’ve reviewed some of the best ones available on Amazon so you can order yours today.
A quick note on hot ash vacuums.
Please don’t vacuum up ash that is still on fire, or is still smouldering, no vacuum can have a fire inside it. Hot ash vacuum cleaners can be used the next day when the fire has gone out but some areas are still warm. Warm so you don’t want to touch them but not so warm they will light a fire.
I’ve got a quick summary below which you can check out and then more info further on for those who want it. I’ve linked mainly through to Amazon for the lowest prices but you can also buy a lot of these ash vacuums from Screwfix and Tool Station
I have made a quick update for 2024 and am happy to see, that the majority of the Ash Vacuum Cleaners from my previous edition are still top-performing ones.
Top 5 Best Ash Vacuum Cleaners UK
- Top Choice – Karcher AD 4 Premium 16297330, Ash Vacuum
- Best Quality/Price Ratio – De Vielle Cold Ash Vacuum Cleaner
- Best Budget Choice – Oypla 20L 1200W Fireplace Ash Vac
- Best Ash Vacuum For Wood Burning Stove – BACOENG Ash Vacuum Cleaner with Double Stage Filtration System
- Best For Pellet Stove – VALIANT FIR274, Ash Vacuum for Fireplaces
1. Top Choice – Karcher AD 4 Premium Ash Vacuum
Brand: Karcher
Handles Hot Ash: Yes
Pros:
- Metal hose
- Metal container
- Quick emptying
- Works as a normal Vacuum Cleaner
Cons:
- More expensive
But, the Karcher is made with flame-resistant material and heat-resistant metal so that if your ashes are still warm in the morning you’ll be able to vacuum them up with no problem. Best to wait till they’re as cool as possible but this provides that extra safety net and won’t ruin your vacuum.
What I love about this ash vac, in particular, is it comes with a regular head on it so you can use it as an everyday vacuum too! It’s got good suction power and a nice big canister so you can get all your cleanup done in no time.
Comfortable to use and an easy empty system to dispose of the ash when you’re done.
Plus it’s got the all-important filter system to catch all the ash particles before keeping the air clean, and an exhaust filter system so that any fine dust that passes through the first filter will get caught in the second.
Overall: The best ash vacuum cleaner you can buy in the UK, it comes at a higher price but when you factor in it doubles as a regular vacuum you’re on to a winner.
2. Best Quality/Price ratio – De Vielle Cold Ash Vacuum Cleaner
Brand: De Vielle
Handles Hot Ash: No
Pros
- Powerful Suction
- 3 Filter System
Cons
- Shorter Lead 4m
The De Vielle cold ash vacuum is another great choice. It’s got a 3 filter system so that absolutely no ash or dust is expelled out the other end when it’s running.
The power cable is a bit short at about 4m long but it’s plenty big enough for in the house. It’s just if you’re running the cable from the house out to the garden you might find it a bit annoying.
The motor is 1200W so is hugely powerful which helps you get a deep clean of whatever you happen to be cleaning.
It is just a cold ash vacuum so you’ll have to wait till all the remains of the fire are nice and cold.
The Karcher above is a better ash vacuum but this one is cheaper, so if you are extremely cautious of your money-spending efficiency, I would recommend the De Vielle Ash Vacuum Cleaner.
Overall, a great cold ash vacuum filters the air effectively for a very reasonable price
3. Best Budget Choice – Oypla 20L 1200W Fireplace Ash Vac
Brand: Oypla
Handles Hot Ash: No
Pros:
- 2-layer filtration
- Compact size
- Carry handle
- Lightweight
Cons:
- Not the sturdiest
As we are in 2024 and the economic prospects do not seem going in right direction, having a great budget choice is a must.
This is a nifty little ash vacuum, it’s cheap and with that comes a price of how good it is so you might find the filter tends to slip off and you need to take some extra care, and you’ll need to wash the filter more often.
But if you’re only looking at occasional use, or you don’t mind the extra hassle it does a great job with the vacuuming itself. A nice wide 1.2 m long hose to reach right in any wood burner, stove, charcoal grill or whatever other ash you’re vacuuming out. I found for my wood burner the wheels don’t add much as I carry it inside from the shed. But they do stop the floor getting scratched if I accidentally yank the hose so I suppose that’s a plus.
This model upgrades from the previous one by adding in an extra 5L of storage bringing it up to a 20L capacity. So it will need emptying more often but that’s more than big enough to finish any job you have at hand. Whether or not you need to empty it after every use will vary on how much ash you need to clean.
The upgrade for this model also allows you an extra 200W of suction power, which is enough to make a noticeable difference to how clean your fire looks. It also helped suck out some of the dust that I had trapped in between the stones of my hearth.
The small size does lend itself to those short on storage space, or to those who have an already full shed full of essentials that you couldn’t possibly get rid of.
Overall: A good ash vacuum for the price, good for occasional use and of course people on a tighter budget. But you will get on better if you spend a little more.
4. Best Ash Vacuum For Wood Burning Stove – BACOENG Ash Vacuum Cleaner with Double Stage Filtration System
Brand: Bacoeng
Handles Hot Ash: No
Pros:
- Dual filtration system
- 2m power cable
- 1m suction hose
- HEPA Filter
- Overheating Prevention Mechanism
- 15 Litre Capacity
Cons:
- No Extra Accessories
If you need to clean ash from a wood-burning stove this is the vacuum for you. It’s got a large capacity at 20 litres so you won’t have to continuously empty it and it’s got an overheat prevention mechanism in the engine so even if the ash isn’t as cold as you thought it won’t heat up and break the motor.
It’s also got a HEPA filter in it which works to pick up all the fine dust that can trigger allergies. Far better than using a shovel which causes big clouds of dust to go everywhere.
It’s also got a nice and long 1.5 m hose so you can get right into every nook and cranny of your stove and get rid of all the wood ash.
I also liked that it’s got an indicator that tells you when the filter is clogging, once it’s 100% covered a light turns red that lets you know it’s time to empty and clean the filter.
Overall: A great choice for vacuuming up a wood stove or even a fireplace. And a long enough power cable that you could take it outside too.
5. Best For Pellet Stove – VALIANT FIR274, Ash Vacuum for Fireplaces
Pros
- Compact design
- Great suction for pellet ash
- HEPA filter for clean air
Cons
- Filter is messy to clean
- Unsuitable for hot ash
I really enjoyed using the Valiant FIR274, I had to borrow my friend’s pellet stove, by which I mean I asked him if I could clean it and he obviously said yes, and this worked nicely.
The whole thing is nice and lightweight so lugging it out the cupboard is easy. Yet the suction is powerful and the HEPA filter allows for effective clean up with no fine dust getting sprayed around your room. Compared to the Karcher or the Deville it doesn’t quite hold up, they have better filtration systems and more capacity but for the price I’m impressed.
A lot of Ash vac brands seem to come and go but I hope the Valiant stays around because they have a cracking piece of kit. I will say that trying to clean the filter is a messy job but thankfully one that doesn’t need to be done too often. And the insides will be ruined if you try and vacuum anything except stone cold ashes.
In my research, I read about one poor guy who used this to vacuum up hot but not glowing ash and he melted a hole in his filter. After that whenever he used it all the ash would come spurting out the back! So please let your stove cool fully before vacuuming it.
Overall, a great ash vacuum for a pellet stove. Great price, good suction, compact body, no complaints at all.
Can It Take Hot Ashes
An important question since you don’t want to accidentally set your ash vacuum on fire!
Most ash vacuums are designed for cold ashes, so you have to let the fire cool overnight and sometimes into the day before you vacuum it.
Not a huge problem, even if you use the fire every day you can just vacuum it before you light it and it should be cool enough.
Hot ash vacuums, on the other hand, are designed to handle hot ashes, but this normally means up to about 50 degrees Celsius. So please don’t try and vacuum up ashes while they’re still on fire!
Where Can You Use An Ash Vacuum
Unsurprisingly you can use your ash vacuum pretty much anywhere that ashes are!
So you can use it on the BBQ, a fire pit, a wood-burning stove, coal fire, and you can even clean the bottom of your chimney.
But I wouldn’t recommend cleaning the chimney just in case, always get a professional chimney sweep to do it. A chimney fire isn’t worth it.
But the fire underneath is way easier to clean with an ash vacuum, and some come with a blower that helps get rid of the last of the dust of an outside fire.
Does It Have A filter
The Best Ash Vacuums have some sort of filter and preferably a HEPA filter.
A HEPA filter helps get rid of all the tiny particles that can sometimes be blown back out of the vacuum while it’s sucking everything in.
So it avoids any dust clouds getting spat back out at you while you’re trying to clean.
How Big Your Ash Vacuum Is
Now we all know that size doesn’t matter right?…
Well in Ash Vacuums it does matter a little but still not majorly. Unless you know you have an especially big fire pit then most standard sizes will be fine.
More specifically, anywhere between 18-25L is going to be more than big enough. While smaller than that will be fine for smaller fires and barbecues, you’ll just have to empty it more often.
F.A.Qs
Can I vacuum ash with a shop vac?
I’m afraid not, neither shop vacuums or household vacuum cleaners are up to the job of vacuuming up ash which involves big chunks and small dust particles at the same time. Not to mention residual heat.
Can you vacuum ash with a Dyson?
Only if you’re looking to break it on purpose as an excuse to get a new vacuum cleaner, otherwise I wouldn’t recommend it!
How do you use an ash vac?
Pretty straightforward. Allow the ashes to cool overnight, ideally spreading them out so they can cool off completely. Then in the morning plug in your ash vacuum and use it as you would any other vacuum.
How do I clean my ash vacuum filter?
You’ll want to empty the ash vacuum and hand wash it in the sink, don’t put it in the dishwasher, run it under the tap and rub it down with a brush or your hand to clear out all the dust.
bash it against a wall before you take it inside too to get the worst of it off before you trail it through the house.
How does an ash vacuum work?
They are just big metal canisters made with more durable and heat resistant motors and metal lined hoses. The ash gets put in the canister then the air that has to escape goes through one or two filters to get rid of any small dust particles before fresh air is expelled out the exhaust.
Older Ash Vacuum Reviews
I’ve had this article live for several years now and update it about every 6-12 months. Over that course, a lot of great ash vacuums have come and gone. All of the ash vacuum cleaners below are no longer for sale as far as I’m aware, but if you can find them second hand they are still great choices.
Lightweight Ash Vacuum Cleaner
Brand: VonHaus
Handles Hot Ash: No
Pros
- 25 L Capacity
- Wheels For Easy Movement
- 6m Power Cable
- Hepa Filter
Cons
- Cold Ashes Only
The VonHaus ash vacuum is a great vacuum cleaner. It’s available in a few different sizes but the 25L capacity is the best value.
One thing I love is that it has castor wheels!
It’s such a little thing but after a few uses, it can get very full and very heavy. Especially for how bulky a shape they can be it’s great just to have some wheels so you can wheel it out, use it and wheel it back.
Just don’t forget you have to pick it up to empty it, so don’t let it get too full!
This has the all-important HEPA filter so it takes all the little bits and pieces out of the air so you can breathe easily after you use it.
Overall, a great ash vacuum, the wheels make it so much easier to move around and use.
Powerplus powx300 Ash Vacuum Cleaner
Brand: Powerplus
Handles Hot Ash: No
Pros:
- HEPA filter
- Stainless Steel Tank
- 20 LitreCanister Capacity
Cons:
- No Caster wheels
While this does have a nice powerful motor at 1200W and a HEPA filtration system it’s missing one thing…
Wheels!
But I’m lazy, why carry something when you can wheel it right?
Apart from that, it’s a great choice for a pellet stove, it can vacuum up every last piece and has a metal body to keep the ash secure.
Emptying it is nice and easy, there are just a couple of clips on the lid that unhook and let you tip it into the outside big. It’s bagless of course so that saves a little bit of hassle too.
Finally, it’s got a metal nozzle both for the comfort of use and so you can poke it around the ash without melting it.
Overall: A great little vacuum, about £10 more expensive than I’d like for no wheels but a good powerful motor.
Pifco P28005A Ash Vacuum Cleaner
Brand: Pifco
Handles Hot Ash: Yes
Pros
- Can Take Hot Ashes
- 18L Capacity
- Powerful Suction
- Great Price
Cons
- Quite Noisy
Again this is a hot ash vacuum but it maybe should be called a warm ash vacuum, up to 50 Degrees Celsius. So if the fires still warm the morning after you can use it but you can’t use it on very hot ashes.
Apart from that Pifco have nailed it.
A nice easy to empty ash vacuum with a really powerful suction so you can get a thorough clean while you’re using it.
It’s got a filter for getting all the small dust particles which are washable so you can keep reusing it which is great.
When it’s full it can get a little heavy but it’s not a huge problem and it’s really easy to empty because there’s no bag.
Overall, obvious why it’s the most popular ash vacuum, great price, strong suction and easy to empty.
Ovation Fireplace Ash Vacuum
Brand: Ovation
Handles Hot Ash: No
Pros
- HEPA Filter
- Small Size
Cons
- Short 2.5m Cable
Cheap and cheerful, the Ovation Ash Vacuum is perfect for use in the home, it’s only got a small power cable but it’s nice and portable so you can store it easily and take it out when you need it.
It’s got a 15 L capacity so you’ll need to empty it fairly regularly but it empties nice and easily so it doesn’t cause much of a problem.
There’s a HEPA filter present so any ash gets filtered so it’s just air coming out the other end. No surprising dust clouds exploding out the back!
Overall, a great choice of vacuum is you just need it in the house and you’re looking for something small to store easily.
Conclusion
And there we have it, you now know everything you need to about hot ash vacuums and cold ash vacuum cleaners. I hope you found one you liked and clicked through to Amazon to order yours today. Most have free delivery and short delivery times so you can be using yours in no time.
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