This vacuum cleaner is serious about moving air, with a lithium battery pack much more power than any previous unit. If you spill cereal or dog food, it'll pick it up, no problem. If you use it by the fireplace to collect ash, this device may disappoint you. This unit has a filter to prevent accumulated debris from passing through the motor and outlet. Fine ash clogs the filter and you lose airflow. You have to stop, empty the device, pull out the filter and shake it well so that fine ash spills out of the filter. Then it's good for another job. There are no chimneys, nothing else, go for it. Keep away from small solid particles.