4 Best Ash Vacuum Cleaners in 2023- [Tested by Experts]

Published by Ahmad Jamal on July 8, 2023 | Last updated on July 27, 2023

A cozy & comfortable house would usually enjoy the warmth of a crackling fire, but that also produces dangerous types of ash.

Those different types of ash can be severely dangerous and cause serious lung problems if you (or a family member) inhale them by mistake.

Therefore, you need the best ash vacuum to get rid of those types of ash, but fireplace ash vacuum cleaners are not as common as regular vacuums.

Additionally, the process of getting rid of the ash is time-consuming, dirty, messy, and – as mentioned above – potentially dangerous.

Therefore, I’ve prepared the tested list of best ash vacuum cleaners on the market, tested them, rated them, and provided you with the deepest analysis of each one’s performance.


Our Testing on the Best Ash Vacuum Cleaners

In our testing of ash vacuum cleaners, we have focused on identifying the best options specifically designed for the safe and efficient removal of ash from fireplaces, stoves, and other ash-producing sources.

Our team understands the importance of finding vacuum cleaners that can effectively collect ash without risking damage or creating a safety hazard.

Through comprehensive evaluations, we have considered factors such as suction power, filtration system quality, heat resistance, ease of use, and durability.

After thorough testing, we have identified the top-performing ash vacuum cleaners that excel at effectively and safely removing ash, preventing it from dispersing into the air.


What Is a Best Ash Vacuum Cleaner?

Best Ash Vacuum Cleaners are vacuums made specifically to collect the ash inside the fireplace or the pellet stove.

They are built differently than standard vacuums, as the materials used to manufacture the best ash vacuum should be heat-resistant, and durable.

I know that people can just wait for the ash to be cold, then proceed to vacuum it, but as I said in the intro, it’s time-consuming, you don’t want to add waiting for the ash to cool down to this list.

The difference between a standard vacuum and the best ash vacuum cleaner isn’t only in the build, as every piece of equipment, and every part of the ash vacuum should be heat-resistant as well.

This includes the hose, the cleaning head, and most importantly the dustbin.


Why Won’t Standard Vacuums Work on Ash Vacuuming?

Standard vacuum cleaners are susceptible to hot or warm ash, as they are not made of heat-resistant materials like the ash vacuum cleaners.

Therefore, if you attempt to try a standard vacuum to clean the ash, it may destroy the cleaning head, or the hose, or the filtration system on its path inside the vacuum.

If the ash was cold enough to not destroy any of these compartments, it’ll most likely inflict serious damage to the bag collecting dirt.

 As for the motor, overheating is a potential problem since the air filtration systems inside the vacuum are working with increasingly hot materials.

That’s why I prepared this article, to provide you with the best CleanersAdvisor advice on how to obtain a hot ash vacuum.

Best Central Vacuum Systems may have provided a similar solution to the ash-vacuuming problem, but it comes at a more expensive price.


What to Look for in The Best Ash Vacuum?

According to our tests, here’re the main factors you should look for when obtaining the best ash vacuum:

  • Power + Speed: Unlike regular vacuums where you need powerful suctions, you need the vacuum to provide fast speedy vacuuming when looking for the best ash vacuum.
  • Dustbin Capacity: Connected to Speed, you’ll need the dustbin capacity to finish vacuuming the ash in one take, all to reduce the risks and dangers of the warm or hot ash.
  • Weight: You’ll be moving it around more often; you won’t need a heavy ash vacuum.
  • Cord Length: Being portable means lightweight, but it also means longer power cord.
  • Hose Length: the longer the hose the further away you can reach inside the fireplace, and the further your breathing will away from the unhealthy ash.
  • Heat-Resistant Build: The main feature differentiating standard vacuums from the best ash vacuum.
  • Aluminum Crevice Tool: Same as all the tools & compartments of the best ash vacuum, they all should be heat-resistant, but the aluminum build proved efficient when dealing with warm ash.
  • LED Dust Indicator: This is a big plus, indicating when the dustbin needs to be emptied.
  • Filtration System: You’re dealing with some dangerous type of dirt, meaning that more than ever your air needs better filtration, and an advanced cyclonic or HEPA systems are a must in the best ash vacuum.

Best Ash Vacuum

PowerSmith PAVC101 PowerSmith PAVC101 Ash Vacuum Our Testers Pick Check Price
WORKSHOP Wet Dry Vacs Ash Vacuum Cleaner WS0500ASH WORKSHOP Wet/Dry Vacs Ash Vacuum Cleaner WS0500ASH Runner-Up Check Price
Shop-Vac 4041200 Ash Vacuum Shop-Vac 4041200 Ash Vacuum Most Expensive Check Price
Snow Joe ASHJ201 Ash Vacuum Snow Joe ASHJ201 Ash Vacuum Lowest Price Check Price

1. PowerSmith PAVC101 Ash Vacuum Review

PowerSmith PAVC101 Ash Vacuum

Technical Specs

Recommended Surface: ‎Fireplace, pellet stove, pellet stove cleanup, ash cleanup, ashes vacuum, ash vac, wood stove cleanup

Package Dimensions: ‎14″L x 14″W x 15″H

Wattage: 1200 Watts

Noise Level: 79 dB

Capacity: 3 Gallons

Weight: 13 Pounds

The PowerSmith PAVC101 is a picture-perfect ash vacuum, ranked #1 on my list of best ash vacuum cleaners, using its powerful motor, great design, and more.

This PowerSmith ash vacuum ticks nearly all the boxes you need in the best ash vacuum.

PowerSmith PAVC101 Ash Vacuum Benefits and Drawbacks

Powerful Motor

The PowerSmith PAVC101 is powered by a 10-amp motor, providing the perfect suction power.

Furthermore, the ash vacuum works as a vacuum and as a blower, to provide you with more convenience.

Suits Warm & Cold Ash

This versatile ash vacuum can work perfectly on both cold and warm ash, as it’s built with a heat-resistant metal hose, metal canister, and a heat-resistant outer layer.

This enabled the powersmith ash vacuum to work on warm ash up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit

Strong Filtration System

The powersmith ash vacuum features a 2-layer filter system, that has proven itself effective in purifying the air’s room while vacuuming the ash.

It includes a heat-resistant outer layer, while the inner layer is responsible for filtering the ash and dust effectively.

Portable

The powersmith ash vacuum enjoys a compact design, while the wheels provide portability in a convenient manner.

It only weighs 13lbs and has a 5-ft hose, which means that your experience will be as easy as it can be with the PAVC101.

Decent Dustbin Capacity

The sole downside to the powersmith ash vacuum is its decent dustbin capacity of 11-liters.

Despite being a large capacity compared to standard vacuums, but the ash vacuums can be put in a different category when you compare dustbin capacities.

What Our Testers Say About PowerSmith PAVC101 Ash Vacuum

“This PowerSmith ash vacuum is the best fireplace ash vacuum, using its compact heat-resistant design, powerful motor, strong filtration system, and amazing portability.”

Our Testers Ratings

Cleaning Power: 5/5

Filtration System: 4.5/5

Noise Level: 4.5/5

Versatility: 4/5

Maneuverability: 4.5/5

Price: 5/5

More Options: 4.5/5


2. Workshop Wet/Dry Vacs Ash Vacuum (WS0500ASH) Review

Workshop Wet/Dry Vacs Ash Vacuum (WS0500ASH)

Technical Specs

Wattage: 109.6 Watts

Package Dimensions: ‎17.75 x 13 x 14 inches

Recommended Surface: Hard Floor

Capacity: 5 Gallons

Weight: 13 Pounds

The Workshop WS0500ASH ash vacuum enjoys a compact design, and a powerful motor that provides speedy ash vacuuming sessions.

It also enjoys a bagless lightweight design and a relatively long power cord.

Workshop Wet/Dry Vacs Ash Vacuum Benefits and Drawbacks

High Performance Motor

The Workshop WS0500ASH features a 3.0-peak horsepower motor, that provides the powerful vacuuming performance you’ll need while vacuuming the ash.

Despite the fact that it’s advertised as a wet/dry ash vacuum, it only works on dry ash, be careful of that.

HEPA Filter Equipped

Unlike the best ash vacuum for the pellet stove in powersmith ash vacuum, the Workshop ash vacuum is equipped with a HEPA filter capable of coating the ash, dust, and fine particles it vacuums.

Not a single user review indicated that the filter got clogged or damaged by ash particles.

LED Hose

The end of the hose is equipped with an LED light, to provide better vision deep into the fireplace.

However, the hose is only 3-feet long.

5-Year Warranty

Workshop seems proud of its work, as it provides a long-lasting warranty with its ash vacuum.

You will enjoy a 5-year warranty with the workshop WS0500ASH ash vacuum, despite the fact that there are rare user complaints on missing or damaged parts in the first year of obtaining the vacuum.

Downsides

The downsides to the Workshop WS0500ASH ash vacuum include a relatively short hose of 3-feet and a 7.5-liter dustbin.

Furthermore, I didn’t like the fact that it’s named a Wet/Dry vacuum, while it only works on dry ash.

What Our Testers Say About Workshop Wet/Dry Vacs Ash Vacuum

“Workshop WS0500ASH is a great fireplace vacuum cleaner, equipped with a powerful motor, HEPA filter, long-lasting warranty. However, this fireplace ash vacuum lacks a long hose or a large dustbin.”

Our Testers Ratings

Cleaning Power: 4.5/5

Filtration System: 4/5

Noise Level: 4/5

Versatility: 4/5

Maneuverability: 4/5

Price: 5/5

More Options: 4/5


3. Shop-Vac 4041200 Ash Vacuum Cleaner Review

Shop-Vac 4041200 Ash Vacuum Cleaner

Technical Specs

Wattage: 700 Watts

Package Dimensions: ‎13 x 13 x 19 inches

Recommended Surface: Metal, Wood

Noise Level: 80 dB

Capacity: 5 Gallons

Weight: 13 Pounds

The Shop-Vac 4011200 Ash Vacuum Cleaner is a well-designed ash vacuum that enjoys a simple and long-living design.

It is also highly rated on online markets, indicating how positive the user experience with this ash vacuum cleaner is.

Shop Vac Ash Vacuum 4041200 Benefits and Drawbacks

Well-Fitted Design

The Shop Vac Ash Vacuum is manufactured to provide perfection as an ash vacuum.

Its design features both aluminum & stainless steel, covered with thermal protection.

Decently Powerful Motor

The Shop Vac Ash Vacuum is powered by a 750W, 6-amp motor, which is quite enough for the ash vacuuming chores.

It’s suitable for picking up cold ash, regardless of the source of the ash inside the fireplace.

HEPA System Inside

The perfection Shop Vac Ash Vacuum seeks is complimented by its amazing HEPA Filter.

This helps families with members suffering from seasonal allergies, especially that dust can easily be produced inside a fireplace.

Decent in Many Aspects

The Shop Vac Ash Vacuum doesn’t provide supremacy alongside its peers, but it provides the “perfect” performance.

Therefore, its power cord is only 6-ft long, but the dustbin capacity is too large at nearly 19-liters.

Short Hose

This seems like a feat among hot ash vacuum cleaners, as the Shop Vac Ash Vacuum suffers from its short hose.

It’s only 4-ft long, which means you’ll be closer to the ash inside the fireplace than you need to.

You may encounter a similar problem when countering fleas – similar in size to the ash -, and for that, you can check the best vacuum for fleas to know how to combat this problem.

What Our Testers Say About Shop Vac Ash Vacuum 4041200

“Shop Vac Ash Vacuum 4041200 provides the perfect performance you’ll be looking for in the best ash vacuum, using its many decent features, its HEPA filtration system, and its extra-large dustbin, as those amazing features earned it the #3 on the list of best ash vacuum cleaners.”

Our Testers Ratings

Cleaning Power: 4/5

Filtration System: 4/5

Noise Level: 4.5/5

Versatility: 4/5

Maneuverability: 4/5

Price: 4/5

More Options: 3.5/5


4. Snow Joe ASHJ201 Ash Vacuum Review

Snow Joe ASHJ201 Ash Vacuum

Technical Specs

Wattage: 500 Watts

Package Dimensions: 12.6″L x 64.8″W x 13″H

Recommended Surface: Hard Floor

Noise Level: 92 dB

Capacity: 18.2 Liters

Weight: 8.8 Pounds

You may not find the best ash vacuum for the pellet stove in the Snow Joe ASHJ201 Ash Vacuum, but you’ll find the best of both worlds (performance and price) in this vacuum.

It’s the best ash vacuum price-wise, in addition to its compact design, big dustbin capacity, and lightweight build.

Snow Joe ASHJ201 Ash Vacuum Benefits and Drawbacks

Affordable

The Snow Joe ASHJ201 Ash Vacuum enjoys a super-economical price, suitable for people with light wallets.

This means you’ll give up on some features, but the main features are still preserved by the Snow Joe Ash Vacuum.

Lightweight

At less than 9lbs, the Snow Joe ASHJ201 Ash Vacuum is considerably lightweight, providing the much-needed portability near a fireplace or pellet stoves.

It’s also a great choice due to the decreasing need for maintenance, while it suits small fireplaces due to its lightweight.

Dual Filtration System

The Snow Joe ASHJ201 Ash Vacuum didn’t seem to give up on a great filtration system despite the economical price.

Therefore, it’s built with an effective dual-filtration system, not as powerful as a HEPA filter, but still effective in small areas.

Downsides

Since it’s an economical choice, prepare yourself for a list of downsides.

It lacks wheels to provide the ultimate portability, which takes down the positivity of its lightweight.

User reviews indicated that the motor can overheat quickly on multiple occasions.

Last but not least, those user reviews pointed out that they question Snow Joe ASHJ201 Ash Vacuum’s ability to be a durable ash vacuum.

What Our Testers Say About Snow Joe ASHJ201 Ash Vacuum

“Snow Joe ASHJ201 is an economical pellet stove vacuum, that doesn’t provide the best of features but will provide the least level of performance, efficient enough to get rid of dangerous ash laying on the ground inside your house.”

Our Testers Ratings

Cleaning Power: 3.5/5

Filtration System: 3.5/5

Noise Level: 3/5

Versatility: 3.5/5

Maneuverability: 3.5/5

Price: 5/5

More Options: 3.5/5


Additional Steps on How to Keep Your Fireplace Clean

Since you’ve already finished scrolling through the options while attempting to find the best ash vacuum, how about I give you additional steps to keep your fireplace as clean as you’d like it to be, aside from any ash vacuum-related stuff?

Start by Using the Suitable Wood Type

Seasoned wood can always be a better option if you’re looking for better heating and beautiful fire.

The ash produceي afterward, can be easily cleaned or vacuumed, easier than other types of wood.

By other types of wood, I mean the greenwood, since it only produces unhealthy smoke and a worse type of ash.

Mix Things Up While Cleaning

Sometimes doing a single-step cleaning of your fireplace isn’t as efficient as you’d need it to be.

You can mix things up, by adding a mixture of liquids, soap, table salt, or vinegar, whatever suits you the best.

This would expedite the whole process of cleaning ash; it will also make hot ash vacuum-cleaning a lot easier in my experience since you’ll be dealing with easier and lighter types of dirt.

Do it Regularly

I’m not talking about daily cleaning of your fireplace, but don’t just clean it whenever you see it full of dirt and ash.

Schedule a weekly or bi-weekly appointment on your smartphone, and make it a habit of cleaning your fireplace on regular basis.


The Best Ash Vacuum Cleaners Compared

Vacuums/ Our Testers Rating In Each CategorySuction Power VersatilityManeuverabilityNoise Level
1. PowerSmith PAVC101 Ash Vacuum5/54/54.5/54.5/5
2. WORKSHOP Wet/Dry Vacs Ash Vacuum Cleaner WS0500ASH4.5/54/54/54/5
3. Shop-Vac 4041200 Ash Vacuum4/54/54/54.5/5
4. Snow Joe ASHJ201 Ash Vacuum3.5/53.5/53.5/53/5

Best Ash Vacuum FAQ

To Wrap Up

In this article, you got to know the difference between standard or regular vacuums, and ash vacuums, and how do ash vacuums provide better results when dealing with warm (or cold) ash.

Additionally, the best ash vacuum should have some specific features to be ranked as the “best,” and the powersmith ash vacuum managed to grab the #1 on the list of best ash vacuum cleaners.

In case you have any questions on the whole ash vacuuming or fireplace cleaning, don’t hesitate to mention them in the comment section below.