Pellethead Pro Ash Vacuum [Full Review]

Chris HuntAbout the Author: Hi! I'm Chris Hunt, and I wrote this article. With years of experience as a former firefighter and knowledge of combustible materials, I have personally researched and compiled the information presented here. Please note that the content provided is solely my opinion and should not be construed as professional advice. Additionally, I do not guarantee the quality or performance of any of the products featured. Please be sure to review the website's Disclaimer, Terms and Conditions before using the site. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases (without additional cost or expense to you).

Our Verdict: We rate the Pellethead Pro Ash Vacuum as one of our Top 3 ash vacuums on the market today.

Pellethead Pro Ash Vacuum – Full Review

The Pellethead Pro is one of the best ash vacuums today. It has a good reputation for its suction power in a product category notorious for poor suction. In addition, attention to detail and user experience are put into the intuitive design. Overall, it’s one of our favorite corded ash vacuums for the domestic market today.

Portability

Regarding portability, we usually look at the wheels/dolly for moving the vacuum around and the length of the vacuum cord.

The wheels on this model are fantastic. The vacuum comes with a detachable wheel dolly, meaning you can carry it without wheels. But we’d prefer to keep the wheels connected at all times. A significant part of this dolly is its dedicated holders for storing the accessories (discussed later).

But, the cord length is just 10 feet (ca. 3 m), which is about the middle of the pack. You can get hoses up to 15 feet (4.57 m) (such as in the Powersmith model), but you can get much shorter ones – down to 5 feet (1.52 m). So overall, the cord length does not incredibly impress us. You might need an extension cord if your stove, fire pit, or fireplace is too far from a power outlet.

So, overall, we give the Pellethead Pro ash vacuum mid-range marks for portability.

Filtration

The filtration system for this vacuum is robust. The vacuum uses a HEPA filter to catch excellent particles – including ash! (HEPA filters are used in many commercial systems, like airline air conditioners, and can even detect many viruses in their filters).

While the HEPA filter is critical for stopping ash, it uses a ‘pre-filter’ to catch larger particles. This device is the larger filter you’ll see inside the canister on the canister’s rim. The pre-filter saves the HEPA filter from dealing with larger particles, making it more effective and prolonged.

Suction & Ash Collection

The downside of a HEPA filter is that it causes significant drag on the motor and reduces suction. This feature is an unfortunate but unavoidable consequence of having the ability to catch ash in the filters.

In other words: ash vacuums have notoriously weak suction!

But here’s the good news: The Pellethead ash vac is one of the best in class for suction. The 10 Amp motor appears to do very well under pressure. Of all the crowdsourced online reviews we could find, the complaint accompanied the only negative review mentioning suction: “I had to clean the filter before use.” Sorry to tell you this, but that’s pretty standard. Of course, it would be best to clean HEPA filters very regularly.

(We discuss cleaning procedures later in this piece).

Canister Size

A 5-gallon canister is about average for this category. Of course, some smaller canisters, like the KIKO’s 3.5 Gallon canister, and a few more extensive options. But overall, 5 gallons (ca. 19 l) is the middle of the pack and seems sufficient for residential purposes. Unless you’re going through a hotel and vacuuming out 10 – 15 fireplaces daily, 5 Gallons is plenty.

Note that ash vacuums don’t have dust collection bags. Instead, the ash will end up inside the metal canister, allowing you to tip it out as compost in the garden or straight into the trash. Therefore, it would be best to ensure it is cool before dumping it!

Warm Ash Protection

Hot ash can damage the filters in ash vacuums. This statement is true for all ash vacuums, no matter the brand you get. However, the pre-filter in the Pellethead (and most other ash vacuums) is fire retardant. This feature allows you to vacuum ash up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit (ca. 60 °C) without causing damage to the filters.

But we’d strongly recommend only vacuuming ash that is cool to the touch. Excessive vacuuming of warm ash will, over time, burn holes in the pre-filter, rendering it mute.

The inside of the hose is metal-lined to further protect the product from damage from heat. This coating usually decreases the flexibility of the hoses, but for this model, that doesn’t seem to be an issue. 

Accessories and Blower Settings

The four accessories included are a brush attachment, crevice tool, aluminum hose extension, and a cuff link adaptor. The latter can help to fit other aftermarket tool attachments.

The crevice tool helps to get in between tight spots, for example, under the grate or in the deep corners of the fireplace. The brush attachment allows you to get into corners and other uneven surfaces where ash accumulates. Lastly, you’ll often use the aluminum hose when the ash is warm, as it helps to protect the end of the hose. This model’s aluminum hose doesn’t thin out like others (i.e., it’s not a crevice tool), so it has a much wider mouth for getting larger chunks of charcoal. We’d use it to break up the charcoal before suction, as the smaller the particles going in through that hose, the better.

Comparison with Major Competitors

Ash Vacuum

Size

Cord Length

Wheels

1. Pellethead Ash Vacuum Pro 5 Gallons 10 Feet Yes
2. PowerSmith PAVC101 All-In-One Ash Vacuum 5 Gallons 16 Feet Yes
3. Bacoeng Advanced Ash Vac 5.3 Gallons 15 Feet Yes
4. KIMO Cordless Ash Vacuum 3.5 Gallons Cordless Yes
5. Shop-Vac 4041300 Ash Vacuum 5 Gallons 6 Feet No
6. Snow Joe ASHJ201 Ash Vacuum 4.8 Gallons 5 Feet No
7. Vacmaster Ash Vacuum 6 Gallons 12 Feet No

Frequently Asked Questions

Can it Clean Ash from a Fireplace or Pellet Stove?

Yes. This residential ash vacuum works in fireplaces and pellet stoves. Furthermore, it can work for cleaning grills and pizza ovens. A 5 Gallon canister has enough dust storage space to clean any residential fireplace or grill.

Does it overheat?

There are no systemic overheating issues with this model, as with other models in this category. In addition, we have not seen evidence of overheating from the collective online reviews, which best indicate whether there is widespread overheating of a product.

But with that said, there are chances of overheating for ash vacuums.

How Often do you Need to Clean the Filter?

HEPA filters need very regular cleaning. They catch even the finest particles, so they quickly get clogged up with dust and ash. They’re not like your regular vacuum – you must take care of them.

As a HEPA filter gets clogged, the vacuum’s suction power decreases, and the chances of the motor overheating increase. So it’s essential to stay on top of cleaning the filters.

We would lean toward cleaning the filter after every use. This cleaning helps ensure maximum suction and minimizes the chances of the motor overheating.

How to Clean Ash Vacuum HEPA Filters

HEPA filters are fragile, and you need to handle them with care. For example, you should not wash them with wet sponges or hoses. Instead, use a soft brush such as a dry paintbrush, soft toothbrush, or compressed air.

Pellethead Ash Vault Pro 5-Gallon 10-Amp Power Ash Vacuum with Hose Accessories and Heat-Resistant HEPA FiltersCheck Price on Amazon

Final Verdict

This device is an impressive ash vacuum because of its quality user experience. In addition, it’s one of the more powerful domestic ash vacs today. The mid-length cord is not our favorite, but the quality wheel kit and reputation for power and longevity make up this. Lastly, we like that you can buy replacement filters easily from the manufacturer’s website.