Removing soot and keeping your combustion appliances clean can be daunting unless you have a proper soot vacuum to make the process efficient and straightforward. Homeowners usually hire professional services to bring these machines and remove soot.
Soot is an incredibly fine powder that can pollute the air around us, leading to respiratory system health conditions. It is highly important to remove soot safely, as hazardous, unlike other waste products of the combustion process, such as ash. To ensure effective soot disposal, you should use only professional equipment.
Using standard vacuums is not a good idea as they will clog up and eventually burn out.
This is when soot vacuums come into play to provide a clean solution to a dirty problem.
Working Mechanism Of A Soot Vacuum?
Before investing in this type of vacuum, it’s essential to understand the difference between soot, ash, and dust particles.
Soot and ash are often mistaken, and some people use the terms interchangeably. However, these two are very different. Ash and dust particles are relatively harmless. Soot, however, is carcinogenic, which is toxic and disrupts the entire environment. Since scoot particles are microscopic, it is essential to use soot vacuums to remove them properly and make the air healthy and clean.
What is the difference between a regular vacuum cleaner and a soot vacuum?
The main difference is that soot vacuums, unlike regular ones, are made to withstand ash’s effects.
Everything is built differently from the filter to the motor than in your regular day-to-day vacuum. A typical vacuum cannot effectively remove soot. Since the soot particles have an oily residue, they will fill the ordinary vacuum filters and significantly shorten their life. With a correctly chosen scoot vacuum, you can easily clean your fireplace and not worry that it will melt.
Confusing Terms Explained
HEPA Filtering
HEPA is the short term for High-Efficiency Particulate Air filters. If you are on a hunt for a reliable soot cleaner, look out for ones that have a HEPA stamp. HEPA-qualified soot vacuums consistently remove more than 99.7% of particles larger than 0.3 micrometers. Put merely, HEPA filters are significantly better than ordinary ones.
This being said, fireplace vacuums that use HEPA filter cartridges are generally much more expensive.
Peak Horsepower (PHP)
PHP is a term used in the vacuum industry to measure the output of a motor – not the operational horsepower. So the word “horsepower” does not necessarily mean that the vacuum has some serious power. When choosing the right vacuum, “horsepower” should not be the deciding factor.
FAQ
Can You Vacuum Fireplace Ashes?
If you intend to use your regular vacuum, the answer is “No.” That can bring multiple problems.
Firstly, the vacuum may not retain fine particles inside the bag; and will almost surely release fine dust into the room.
We have already talked about how harmful these particles are, so you definitely do not want to breathe them in.
Next, it will not filter cinders or warm ash, which can choke the pipe or damage the bag.
If you do not wait a few days for the ashes to cool down, an ordinary vacuum’s plastic interior parts could melt or even catch fire.
Finally, regular vacuums’ bags and filters cannot filter fine ash, so it will clog up and burn out the motor.
Therefore, you should vacuum the fireplace only with specialized ash vacuums that can safely do the job for you.