CT26 Smells like mold.

[blacksheep45]

Hello. I repaired a plumbing issue at home and as a result vacuumed drywall dust and a small amount of water. Several weeks later I noticed the vacuum blows out what smells like mildew, likely from the last job described.

I tossed the bag, but is my HEPA filter toast? Do I need to replace it, or is there a proper way to clean or air dry it? They're expensive at $115 and I've only had the vacuum about 6 months.

This also leads me to another question about the other  filter Festool sells for $46 (item #496170). Is it OK to use those filters too for this tool? When do other CT26 owners opt for this cheaper filter? If so, which applications would I definitely want to switch to the more expensive HEPA filter? Nearly all my vacuuming consists of wood dust, wood filler/primer sanding, and "soil/dirt" dust that may accumulate in the basement.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Though it is claimed that the CT extractors are ok with water, I would never do it. They say that you should always remove the bag, but I don't recall them mentioning the filter too?
Sure sounds like yours got wet and was left to deal with it on its own. Maybe taking it out to dry, out in the open air, would have helped?
I really don't know the intended purpose of the other filter? Maybe increased airflow in a situation of only large chips? Planer, maybe router? rather than sanding dust. Even if that would be the case, seems like a pain to deal with swapping. Just use the HEPA and be done with it.

 

[woodferret]

There's a sponge filter one was suppose to use with wet materials.  It's mostly a foam breaker, although I would have switched to that if there was chance of water pickup.  As for 496170, I'd switch to that for concrete work or anything you're already not in HEPA land like outdoors.  But you sound like a homeowner who does work while live-in, so I'd stick to just using the more expensive HEPA and switching to the foam for wet-work.

 

[six-point socket II]

The Festool vacs are absolutely fine with water, as long as you don’t use a filter bag and with appropriate sponge like filter that has already been mentioned.

Since this has not been observed, the currently installed filter will most likely have been “damaged” by water/humidity oneway or another. Especially gypsum/plaster + humidity/water = death.

Replace and be more observant next time.

Kind regards,
Oliver 

 

[Coen]

Do you have an AC model? 496170 isn't compatible with AC

Yeah, don't leave wet bags in the vac.