Finally started using a shop vac on every job instead of just a brush

I used to just sweep everything down with a wire brush and hope for the best. After a nasty call back in March on a job in Salem, I switched to running a shop vac with a HEPA filter on every clean out. It grabs way more fine dust and creosote chunks, and my customers actually notice the difference. Has anyone else made the switch from brushing only to vacuuming?

3 comments

3 Comments

flores.emma3d ago

Wait, are you telling me the brush alone isnt enough? I used to be the same way, thought a good wire brush and some elbow grease did the trick. Then I did a job for this older couple with a woodstove and they complained about dust settling on everything the next day. Switched to a shop vac with a HEPA filter after that and honestly its night and day. The fine stuff that brushes miss totally matters, especially on those newer stoves with all the tight nooks.

evan5433d ago

Wait, wait wait... you're telling me the old couple actually called you out on the dust settling the next day? That's wild. I've never had anyone complain like that, but maybe I've just been lucky. @flores.emma, that's a real eye-opener though. The shop vac with HEPA filter sounds like overkill until you see all that fine gray powder that floats around for hours after a good brushing. I've noticed it too with the newer stoves, they've got these weird little baffles and channels that trap everything. You probably saved that couple from a lot of cleanup hassle. I bet most folks don't think about it until they get hit with that surprise dust cloud the next morning.

kai_burns733d ago

That shop vac trick saved my hide once with a Buck 91 insert (you know, the ones with those dumb angled baffles). I spent an extra 20 minutes running the HEPA vac over every seam and joint after brushing, and the homeowner texted me the next day saying how amazed she was there was zero dust. @evan543, you're spot on about the newer stoves having all those awkward channels - I've started carrying a crevice tool specifically for that because the brush just flings it everywhere. Honestly, I think most people don't realize how much of that fine powder stays airborne until they see it settled on their mantelpiece knick-knacks the next morning.