The Air-Care DuctMaster III is a contact cleaning machine. A powered brush on the end of the hose agitates the duct wall while four vacuum motors extract the debris at the same moment, so agitation and collection happen in one pass. That is a different principle to a negative air machine, which only pulls.
Air-Care state in the manual that the DuctMaster has significantly more static pressure than their TurboJet negative air machines, and will pull heavy, moist or sandy construction debris out of dryer vents, commercial ducts, chimneys and restoration areas. It is not a wet vacuum and must not be used on liquids.
Built in the USA. This is the 220/240 V, 50/60 Hz complete assembly, Air-Care part FG0099; the 120 V machine is FG0090 and differs in several respects, so check the part number before ordering parts from an overseas listing. It is supplied with an Australian plug, fitted and tested before dispatch.
Why professionals choose it
- Four high-powered vacuum motors giving exceptional airflow and static pressure, reaching areas single-motor vacuums cannot.
- Versatile. Air ducts, dryer vents, chimneys and restoration areas.
- Four-stage HEPA filtration for thorough debris containment.
- Universal remote control so the brush can be operated away from the machine.
- Includes a dryer vent cleaning kit with Vent Vac.
Before you buy: it needs two independent circuits
The DuctMaster has two power cords, and Air-Care require each to be plugged into a separate, independent electrical circuit. On the 220/240 V machine each circuit must supply 7.5 to 10 amps. Cord 1 runs vacuum motors 1 and 2 plus the brush motor; cord 2 runs motors 3 and 4.
If both cords land on the same circuit and you run more than two motors, you will trip the building breaker. On a commercial site mid-job that is an expensive interruption.
The 220/240 V version has no test button and no green indicator light. Those are fitted to the 120 V machine only, along with the auxiliary AC socket. So on this machine there is no built-in way to confirm the two circuits are independent — you need to know the switchboard or test it yourself. Worth establishing before you quote a site.
Both cords must be connected for the brush to run, even if you are only using motors 3 or 4.
Airflow scales with the motors you run
| Motors running | Airflow | Power cord |
| 1 motor | 150 CFM | 1st cord |
| 2 motors | 250 CFM | 1st cord |
| 3 motors | 340 CFM | 2nd cord engaged |
| 4 motors | 420 CFM | 2nd cord engaged |
A full flow check valve system means it does not matter which motors you select — any one, or any two, or any three, behave the same. One or two motors are adequate for most work. Bring in the third and fourth when the job needs it, remembering that doing so requires the second circuit.
Specifications
| Type | Contact cleaning vacuum with powered brush |
| Size | 53.3 cm W × 91.4 cm D × 101.6 cm H |
| Weight | 42 kg |
| Static pressure | 18.68 kPa (75 inches W.C.) |
| Vacuum motors | Four, single stage tapered blade |
| Inlet hoses | 76 mm × 3.5 m with cuffs, and 38 mm × 10.5 m hose, brush and motor assembly |
| Filtration | Four stage, ending in certified HEPA |
| Case | Aluminium base, rotation moulded poly body with built-in handle and cord winder |
| Wheels | 30 cm rear, 10 cm front swivel casters |
| Brush speed | 2,000 rpm |
| Brush motor | 1,500 W (1.5 to 2.0 HP), brushless outrunner, 3-phase |
| Brush motor torque | 0.68 Nm |
| Brush motor size | 4.8 cm diameter × 7.8 cm long |
| Brush motor mount | Flexible steel cable to navigate turns |
| Brush bristles | Nylon, replaceable |
| Motor controller | 25 VDC, 100 A with servo control input and 5 VDC auxiliary output |
| Internal power supply | Regulated 12 VDC, 25 A |
| Power cord | 3 wire, 16 ga × 4.5 m with grounded socket for DuctMaster panel |
| Remote | Infrared handheld with pocket or belt clip, 9 V battery included, dual IR transmitters and receivers |
| Operating range | −4 to 50 °C |
| Complete assembly | FG0099 (220/240 V, 50/60 Hz) |
Dimensions confirmed by Air-Care, 21 August 2026.
Four stage filtration and part numbers
| 1st and 2nd stage | Dual stage disposable bag filter, 5 per pack | F0051 |
| 3rd stage | 330 × 381 × 25 mm Electra Silver, washable | SADM0024 |
| 4th stage | 356 × 457 × 80 mm (14 × 18 × 3.15 inch) certified HEPA | F0048 |
The bag collects heavy debris in its lower section and lighter debris above. Replace it before it is more than half full — a loaded bag is the first cause of lost suction. The Electra Silver pre-filter can be rinsed or sprayed with filter cleaner, but must be completely dry before refitting.
The HEPA cannot be cleaned without damaging it. Fit a replacement with the airflow arrow pointing down, and inspect the gasket underneath while the tank is off. Note that Air-Care’s bag is described as 15 gallon in the manual and 20 gallon in some listings; order by part number F0051.
Air-Care confirmed the HEPA size on 21 August 2026 and list part F0048 as 14 × 18 × 3.15 inch. The same element also fits the Zephyr and the Vent Vac III.
Brushes and hose assemblies
The machine ships with the 38 mm × 10.5 m brush and motor hose assembly fitted with a 300 mm pancake brush, plus a 76 mm × 3.5 m hose with cuffs. A 51 mm blue assembly with a larger brush is available for bigger duct.
Brush choice matters on older duct. Newer machines have a Hi/Lo brush switch on the panel. The firm 0.045 inch bristle brush on Hi rides higher in the duct and cleans harder, but on internally insulated or aged flexible duct it can damage the lining. Air-Care’s guidance is to inspect for brittleness or flaking insulation first, and to use the soft 0.021 inch brush for that work on single speed machines.
- 300 mm pancake Delrin brush
- 300 mm stiff pancake brush, 5 pack
- 450 mm stiff pancake brush, 5 pack
- 100 mm dryer duct brush
The pancake hub is what lets the brush negotiate sharp turns in smaller duct. Stop the brush before withdrawing it — never pull it out while running.
Dryer duct cleaning
A dryer vent cleaning kit with Vent Vac is included. The 76 mm vacuum hose connects to the exhaust duct while a drill powered cable and 100 mm brush works the inside. A Y adapter lets vacuum and cable enter from the same end where there is only one access point.
Air-Care’s benchmark is airflow at the outside vent: over 1,000 feet per minute (about 5 metres per second) is good; under that usually is not. Measure before and after with a flow meter and keep cleaning until you clear it. If you cannot reach 1,000 fpm the duct may be damaged and needs a contractor.
Two cautions from the manual worth repeating. Cleaning the exhaust duct improves performance and reduces lint build-up, but the inside of the dryer itself must also be cleaned — fan, heating area and interior components — to reduce fire risk. And if you cannot find where the duct exhausts outside, you cannot guarantee the work; refer the customer to their contractor rather than guess.
The nest claw for breaking up lint clogs and bird nests is aggressive and can damage flexible duct. Avoid sharp bends in the cable, which eventually break the core.
The remote
The handheld infrared remote starts, stops and reverses the brush motor, so you can work from a ladder without returning to the machine. Reversing rotation is how you get the brush deeper into a duct when it stops advancing.
It is line of sight only. The operator must be able to see the front of the DuctMaster where the receivers are. It will not work between rooms. Position the machine accordingly. Brush power (Hi/Lo) is set at the panel, not on the remote.
Frequently asked questions
How does this differ from a TurboMax negative air machine?
A TurboMax puts the whole duct under negative pressure and needs a separate agitation device. The DuctMaster carries its own powered brush on the hose and cleans by direct contact, with far higher static pressure but lower total airflow. Different jobs: the TurboMax for whole-system negative air work, the DuctMaster for contact cleaning, dryer ducts, chimneys and construction debris.
Can I run it from one power point?
Only on one or two vacuum motors, giving 150 or 250 CFM. Running three or four requires the second cord on an independent circuit.
Why has it lost suction?
In order of likelihood: the bag is more than half full, the Electra Silver pre-filter is clogged, the HEPA is loaded, a door gasket is leaking, or the hose is blocked. Run one motor at a time to identify a motor that has stopped.
Is Air-Care’s sell sheet specification correct?
It was, until August 2026. Air-Care’s DuctMaster III sell sheet carried the TurboMax II feature block — 1.5 HP, 3,398 CMH and three filter stages — which belongs to a different machine. We raised it and Air-Care issued a corrected sheet on 21 August 2026, which now shows the four vacuum motors and the four filtration stages. The specification on this page comes from the DuctMaster manual, Air-Care’s confirmations and our own records: Air-Care DuctMaster III sell sheet (PDF).
Warranty
Air-Care’s warranty is tiered rather than a flat term:
- Workmanship and material defects — 3 years
- Vacuum motors, circuit board, remote, power supply — 1 year
- Hose and motor assembly — 90 days
- Brushes, wheels and filters — no warranty
The warranty covers both parts and labour at an authorised workshop. Talk to us first — in most cases we can resolve it in Australia.
None of this excludes, restricts or modifies your rights under the Australian Consumer Law. Our goods come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the ACL. You are entitled to a replacement or refund for a major failure and compensation for any other reasonably foreseeable loss or damage.
From the workshop
The brush end deserves more attention than the cabinet. Air-Care specifically call for cleaning metal particles off the magnets around the brush motor. Don’t reef on the red hose either — the manual says the “crush proof” hose can separate at the grooves if it is pulled excessively hard.
If you are weighing this against a negative air machine, or unsure whether your usual sites can supply two independent circuits, call us before ordering. More equipment in Duct Cleaning.
