Switched from vacuum attachments to a shop vac for summer cleanouts, night and day
I used to spend forever with the little hose on my truck vacuum trying to pull ash and soot out of fireboxes during the off-season. Last month I rigged up a 4 inch shop vac hose to my 14 foot extension rod using a coupler and some duct tape, and it clears a fireplace in like 3 minutes instead of 20. The bigger hose also handles the loose mortar chunks and bird nests without clogging every other sweep. Has anyone else built a cheap adapter like this, or do you guys spring for the fancy rotating vacuum kits? I'm in Portland and my neighbors think I'm nuts but my back thanks me.
Duct tape and a 14 foot extension rod? That's insane. I half expected you to say you fell off a ladder trying to balance that thing. But honestly, 3 minutes vs 20 is a game changer, I'm just surprised the tape held.