Lighting up the fireplace is one of the most satisfying feelings ever! But what happens when you have to get rid of the ashes without making a mess all over the room? Our buying guide reviews the best ash vacuums currently on the market.
Cleaning up the ashes with your home vacuum is not safe, nor right. You can end up with a dysfunctional cleaner, so getting a vacuum meant for cleaning ashes should be high up on your list.
Below, you’ll find reviews of the best ash vacuums specially designed to get rid of ashes, together with their important features, advantages, and disadvantages. I also included a buyer’s list to guide you through features that can bring value to your next purchase.
Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: Bacoeng 5.3-Gallon Ash Vacuum Cleaner
- Best All-In-One: PowerSmith PAVC102 All-In-One Ash Vacuum
- Best Accessories: Cougar+ Ash Vacuum
- Most Portable: PowerSmith PAVC101 Ash Vacuum
- Best Budget: Snow Joe ASHJ201 Ash Vacuum
Ash Vacuum Buying Advice
Best Overall: Bacoeng 5.3-Gallon Ash Vacuum Cleaner
Key Features:
- Large storage capacity of 5.3 gallons
- Powerful 10-amp motor for intense suction up to 1200W
- Double-stage filter system with a reusable HEPA filter and filter bag
Pros:
- The design includes a protection mechanism that prevents overheating
- A filling level indicator to show you when it’s time to empty the vacuum
- Comes with accessories such as an upholstery tool, extension wands, crevice nozzle, carpet attachments, floor attachments
Cons:
- Meant only for cold ash
- Design aesthetics could be improved
The Bacoeng 5.3-Gallon cleaner is the best ash vacuum at an excellent price point, with a lightweight design and numerous useful features.
This vacuum is perfect for moving around the house because it comes with a 5 ft extended hose and a 15 ft cable. If you don’t have an outlet near the fireplace or the BBQ, the cord is long enough so you can reach all the corners and spots. One of its best features is the storage space as a part of the design to store all the extra attachments.
The double-stage filtration system will make sure to capture all the ash, preventing it from getting in the air. It’s equipped with a reusable HEPA filter and a washable Dacron filter bag. Since the filter is so efficient, the vacuum is perfect for people dealing with allergies and respiratory diseases.
This Bacoeng ash vacuum can pick up ash from your floors and carpets with intense suction power without letting it get into the air you breathe. Since the design includes wheels and a long cord, you’ll be able to move it with ease around the house.
It’s my absolute favorite product for ash removal thanks to the amazing filtration system, numerous tools, and the affordable price point.
Best All-In-One: PowerSmith PAVC102 All-In-One Ash Vacuum
Key Features:
- 10-amp motor with suction power up to 1200 W
- Four-gallon capacity to store ash
- Two-layer filtration system
Pros:
- You can use it as a blower if you connect the hose to the air outlet
- Long hose that helps you reach everywhere
- Although it’s strong, it’s very quiet
Cons:
- It’s on the costlier side of vacuums for ash
The PowerSmith PAVC102 All-In-One Vacuum is a great hot ash vacuum cleaner! With a mighty 10 amp motor, it can suck up all the cool and hot ash that gathers around your BBQ, fireplace, wood stove, and more.
The transport of the vacuum is simple because of the wheeled base. This model features a 10 ft long hose and a 16 ft long power cord. It does come with extra tools (deep cleaning kit, crevice tool, brush nozzle) with their own storage spot on the machine.
With a powerful motor, huge suction power, excellent filtration system, a long hose, and extension cord, the PowerSmith PAVC102 vacuum is the perfect purchase if you’re ready to splurge more. The price is completely justified! Let’s not forget that the product can be used as a blower, so essentially, you get two machines packed in one.
Best Accessories: Cougar+ Ash Vacuum
Key Features:
- Six-amp motor with suction power up to 700 W
- Three-gallon capacity to store ash
- Flame-resistant components that can tolerate high heat
Pros:
- 10-year limited warranty
- Can be used for both cold, warm, and wet ash
- Nine extra accessories that will make vacuuming easier
Cons:
- The canister size could be improved
- Doesn’t come with wheels for easy transport
- It’s costly but worth it
The Cougar+ is a quiet vacuum meant for cool and warm ash removal. Thanks to its numerous unique features and patented filtering system, it’s a great purchase for people who don’t need to clean large amounts of ashes at once.
The Cougar+ vacuum features a patented two-layer filtering system that catches even the finest particles, preventing them from getting into the breathing air. It has a fire-resistant metal construction, meaning it’s safe for warm ash removal.
One of the best things about this product is cleaning the filters without opening the vacuum. It has a special rod on the outer part of the construction, so by shaking it, the ash will move from the filter to a special canister.
This vacuum is a bagless design, meaning it has a canister you empty. The whole process is quite effortless and time-saving. Although the size of the canister is not as big as some of the other vacuums on the list, it’s still a decent size to cover smaller areas without you having to empty it several times.
The Cougar+ is the cleaner you need to remove cool, hot, and even wet ash, but you don’t need a large capacity. When you add the fact that the filter is so easy to clean, it’s a win-win situation.
Most Portable: PowerSmith PAVC101 Ash Vacuum
Key Features:
- 10-amp motor with intense suction up to 10 W
- Three-gallon capacity to store ash
- Fire-resistant, metal-lined hose, and canister
Pros:
- Suitable for cold and warm ash removal
- The vacuum has a limited two-year warranty
- It’s surprisingly quiet and easy to move around
Cons:
- The storage capacity of the vacuum could be improved
The PowerSmith PAVC101 Vacuum is the best product to purchase if you’re looking for a compromise between great quality and a reasonable price.
Although the storage capacity is not high, the vacuum fits enough to clean your stove, fireplace, or BBQ. If you need to clean more extensive areas, you might need to empty it once or twice or opt for a design with larger storage.
What I liked the most about this product is how amazingly quiet it is. Yes, this is not the most important feature when buying a vacuum, but it still makes the cleaning experience better. Since it has wheels, a handle, and a 16-foot cord, you’ll be able to transport it whenever you need to in only seconds.
Some of the extra attachments the packaging includes are two extension wands, a turbo nozzle, a brush nozzle, a filter, and more. The filtering system is made of two filters that trap even the tiniest ash and dust particles. Feel free to remove both filters, wash them, and use them again.
Thousands of people are happy with their PowerSmith PAVC101 ash cleaner, so now you can be too. If you don’t want to wait days for the ash to get cold, plus you want a vacuum with a warranty, I suggest you consider getting this one.
Best Budget: Snow Joe ASHJ201 Ash Vacuum
Key Features:
- Large storage capacity of 4.8 gallons
- Four-Amp motor with suction power up to 500W
- Dual-filtration system to capture all particles
Pros:
- It’s the most lightweight vacuum on the list, despite the large storage capacity
- The bagless design makes ash removal much simpler
- The filters are removable, washable, and reusable
Cons:
- It’s only meant for cool ash; you can’t vacuum hot ash
- The hose length could be improved
The Snow Joe ASHJ201 Vacuum is one of those products that so many people own and are happy with what it does. If you’re on a budget but still need to find a quality vacuum for your fireplace, this is the one I can’t stop recommending.
Equipped with an excellent filtering system, this vacuum cleaner features filters that are simple to remove, wash, and use again. The smart technology of the product will let you know if you forgot to insert back the filters. There is also a window where you can check how full the vacuum is.
If you need a hot ash vacuum cleaner, this one is not the product for you since the Snow Joe vacuum is meant only for cool ash. A feature most people will find very useful is the lightweight nature of the design and the added handle on the top for easier transport.
When you don’t want to splurge a fortune on a vacuum that you’ll use to clean up ash, this is the perfect product! It comes at a relatively low price for its quality, and it’s much more affordable than the other vacuums on the list.
The Snow Joe vacuum might not be the most powerful on the list, but it does a great job at getting rid of all the cool ash in your home. You can expect an affordable purchase that will last you a long time and will suck up all the ash without leaving any particles behind or letting them circulate in the air.
Side by Side Comparison
| Product | Our Rating | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
 Bacoeng 5.3-Gallon Ash Vacuum Cleaner View on Amazon –> View on Walmart –> | Best Overall Overall: 4.7 | Large storage capacity of 5.3 gallons Powerful 10-amp motor for intense suction up to 1200W Double-stage filter system with a reusable HEPA filter and filter bag |
PowerSmith PAVC102 All-In-One Ash Vacuum View on Amazon –> View on Home Depot –> | Best All-In-One Overall: 4.6 | 10-amp motor with suction power up to 1200 W Four-gallon capacity to store ash Two-layer filtration system |
Cougar+ Ash Vacuum View on Amazon –> View on Dustless –> | Best Accessories Overall: 4.6 | Six-amp motor with suction power up to 700 W Three-gallon capacity to store ash Flame-resistant components that can tolerate high heat |
 PowerSmith PAVC101 Ash Vacuum View on Amazon –> View on Walmart –> | Most Portable Overall: 4.5 | 10-amp motor with intense suction up to 10 W Three-gallon capacity to store ash Fire-resistant, metal-lined hose, and canister |
Snow Joe ASHJ201 Ash Vacuum View on Amazon –> View on Home Depot –> | Best Budget Overall: 4.5 | Large storage capacity of 4.8 gallons Four-Amp motor with suction power up to 500W Dual-filtration system to capture all particles |
The Complete Ash Vacuum Buyer’s Guide
Now that you know more about these five vacuums, it’s time to learn which features a design can include and why they are significant.
Hose and Cord Length
The hose and cord lengths can make or break your experience with these vacuum cleaners. Since they need an electrical outlet to work, it’s best if the design comes with a long cord. That’s how you’ll make sure you’ll be able to move the vacuum around without having to plug it into multiple outlets.
The length usually starts at 6 feet and can go up to 16 feet. If the fireplace is located in a small room, the cord length won’t be a deciding factor for your purchase.
The hose length, on the other hand, is something that should be high up on your list. If the hose is too short, you’ll find it harder to reach everywhere, and you’ll need to move the vacuum too much. Hard-to-reach spots become easily accessed with a long hose.
Material
Some vacuums are meant only for cool ash, while others are meant for both cool and warm ash. The second type is made of special materials that make the cleaner fire-resistant.
Power
The main reason you would consider purchasing one of these vacuums is so they can suck up the ash completely. High-power vacuums will have a 10 amp motor, while the less powerful variations usually have a 6 amp motor. Higher power means more intense suction.
Size and Weight
The size and weight matter, especially if you don’t have too much storage space. Bigger vacuums might have a bigger canister and more extensive storage, but they can be pretty robust and hard to store. But, if you have plenty of space to keep the cleaner, you won’t have to think about the size too much.
The size of the canister also matters. If you plan on using this cleaner every day, you’ll need one that comes with a large canister to store all the ash. The size of canisters usually starts at three gallons and goes up to eight gallons.
People who need a vacuum to clean fireplaces only once in a while can go for products with smaller storage capacity. It’s a given that these designs with a smaller capacity need to be emptied more frequently.
Weight is important in terms of transport. Lightweight designs are much easier to move around. If your vacuum is heavy plus doesn’t come with wheels, it will take more effort to move it while you clean.
Filtration System
The filtration system is one of the most crucial factors to consider when buying any type of vacuum cleaner. First of all, your new purchase should have a highly efficient filtration system. The system should also include a HEPA filter because it can get even the tiniest particles without letting them float in the air.
Accessories
Most vacuum cleaners come with extra accessories and tools that will help you reach corners, hidden spots, clean carpets, and more. Some of the helpful additions you should look for are crevice tools, extension wands, floor tools, upholstery tools, and more.
FAQs
No, vacuum cleaners for ash removal were designed for a reason. Your residential vacuum was not made to clean up ash from the fireplace or the BBQ.
Unfortunately, the parts of a regular vacuum can’t withstand heat, and you might end up ruining the machine.
Even if the ash is cool, there might be hot coals hidden inside. Imagine those going through the hose of your residential vacuum. It’s definitely not going to end well.
You shouldn’t use a home vacuum because ash can be very harmful to the motor. This is a machine that you spent money on and one you should use for a while. If you start vacuuming ash, the chances are it will soon need repairs (or you needing to buy a new machine).
How Often Should I Change The Filters Of My Ash Cleaner?
When you receive your new vacuum, you’ll also get a manual. To learn how to take care of the filters appropriately and how often to change them, go over the instructions. There is no universal answer to this question; it depends on the model and the type of filtration system.
If you see the filter is damaged, that’s a sign you have to change it right away. A damaged filter won’t do its job, so there is no reason you should keep it.
Final Thoughts
Buying a cleaner specifically made for ash is a great idea, even if you don’t light up the fireplace every day. Since you shouldn’t use your home vacuum for this purpose, one of these vacuums will be great for the BBQ, wood stove, oven, and fireplace.
Before you decide which product to purchase, don’t forget to research the different features, including the size, cord and hose length, filtration system, suction power, material, and weight.
The Bacoeng 5.3-Gallon Vacuum Cleaner outperformed all of the other products on the list. There is no doubt it will help you get rid of all the ashes around your fireplace, BBQ, wood stove, without leaving any particles around. It has a large storage capacity, a powerful motor, and an affordable price!
If you have any comments or first-hand experiences with ash cleaners, please post them below or share your pictures via our social media.
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