Vac for one-time fireplace cleanout?

[Julian Tracy]

Hello all,

I need to clean out a fireplace for a client - a one-time shot deal.  I have a CT22 with Hepa, a Fein Turbo II with a pleated filter and paper bags and a Grainger Dayton industrial shopvac with Aftermarket Hepa filter and bags.

I'm not sure if I want to subject my CT22 to ash dust, though it's the one I have the most confidence in.  Would you advice NOT using it or would it be ok for a one-time cleaning.

Those cloth-like Festool Hepa filters start to get a bit worn if you have to take them out and tap them and blow them out to clean them up.  How much will a new bag capture for such a purpose?

I could use the Dayton vac with it's Hepa filter and bag, but wouldn't want to get it all set up and turn it on and have some blow-black of fine ash dust out of the exhaust....  they have new carpeting.  Most I can add to the job for this task is maybe $25 - enough for 3 new bags or so for the CT.

What do you guys think?

Julian

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Sorry about being blunt but, call a chimney sweep.  Why worry about messing up your stuff.

 

[Holzhacker]

I have a CT22 and a Fein TII. I would use the TII over the CT. I would be leery about bag capacity on the CT and dealing with cleaning it later. The Fein is easier to hose down the can and wipe off the top. Also the Fein has a larger diameter hose to start. Unless you bought another hose for the CT it has that crappy small diameter hose. That hose is BS for the price of the Vac. I've had my TII for years and my CT for a couple months. For the shop I would buy another Fein over a CT. For jobsites I would buy another CT solely for the convenience of stacking systainers on top. It makes going into a job sooooo easy.
I realize both Vacs are very expensive and wouldn't want either to break. Nonetheless I buy tools to use them. If I don't think the tool can handle the job I shouldn't have bought the piece of crap.
On a side note when I need to Vac nasty stuff, not inside of someone occupied space, I go to HD and buy a piece of crap Ridgid vac and toss it in the dumpster with everything else afterwards.

 

[Bob Marino]

Julian,

I have cleaned out my woodburning stove insert in my living room with the CT22  a while back and didn't notice and significant (if at all) blackening of the filters, but my stove is fairly small and am not sure how large a fireplace you are talking about. I think that between what's captured by the paper filter bag and the HEPA's and the fact that he CT's are so well sealed with that rubber gasket, your client's carpets will be clean. I am also not sure how abrasive the ash is or isn't, but on a one time basis, it should pose no threat to the vac or the filters.

Bob

 

[Tim Sproul]

Hello all,

I need to clean out a fireplace for a client - a one-time shot deal. 

When I clean my fireplace of ash, I just use a dustpan.  I carefully scoop the ash into a garbage can (with a new plastic liner).  There is no clean up afterwards of the surrounding area.  Just move slowly, especially when emptying the dustpan into the garbage can.  Place the dustpan all the way to the bottom and then tilt to empty the ash into the garbage can.  If there is a little left in the fireplace, I don't worry too much about it.  It's a fireplace, not a display cabinet.  Don't let the client see you do this if you're charging them a significant amount of $ for the cleaning.........

If you still want to vac the fireplace, look and see if there is an exterior door or window close by.  Put the vac outside.....if any dust escapes, you won't worry about it too much.

Stack some kindling and firewood into the fireplace when you're done.  It will hide any bits you missed or any soot on the walls of the fireplace and make it look better than an empty fireplace.

 

[Aegwyn11]

Isn't there a way to hook a hose to the CT so that it exhausts through the hose? Then you could just route the hose through a door or window to outside?

I would think SLOWLY sweeping the bulk like Tim said, then if necessary using the CT with the exhaust hose to outside would be ideal.

 

[paul_david_thomas]

I've swept a chimney using my midi to clean up with. No problems...  Equally I use my MFT/3 to paint doors (flat) on... look, these things are tools to use... I say use them !

 

[JeromeM]

Isn't there a way to hook a hose to the CT so that it exhausts through the hose?

No. No way at all. [eek] [eek]

Then you could just route the hose through a door or window to outside?

I would think SLOWLY sweeping the bulk like Tim said, then if necessary using the CT with the exhaust hose to outside would be ideal.

 

[billybokay]

sweep and dust pan first and then dont even hesitate to use the ct 22
I do it all the time with absolutely no problem. House is clean and no evidence in the ct 22, unless perhaps you take the bag apart.

 

[Brice Burrell]

Isn't there a way to hook a hose to the CT so that it exhausts through the hose? Then you could just route the hose through a door or window to outside?

Yes, the CT 22 and 33 have an exhaust port on the side down low between the wheels. A second hose can be attached to exhaust the filtered/exhaust air. The CT mini, midi and the new CT 26 and 36 don't have this feature. 

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

I use that feature all the time when I am oil, or shellac priming indoors.  Works like a champ. 

Side note:  Bin Shellac does not come off your CT, although carb cleaner manages to remove everything, including the pigment in the plastic.