A wet/dry vacuum is a very wise tool to invest in if you’re
looking to build up a tool inventory for your home and garage. It makes the
daily cleaning chores associated with DIY and home improvement much easier and
as such, saves you time in the long run. Unfortunately, the more powerful
wet/dry vacs get in terms of suction power and holding capacity, the more
expensive they get. Luckily, the average homeowner doesn’t necessarily need
tons of power, which is good if you’re on a budget and don’t have a lot of
money.
So, what features should you consider when looking to
purchase a decent, budget-minded wet/dry vac?
Suction
Power/Capacity
Wet/dry vacuums come in a wide variety of different
combinations of suction power and capacity. Suction power is measured by the
amount of horsepower a vacuum has, and capacity is measured in how many gallons
the tool can hold.
Generally, those vacs on the lower end of the scale (vacuums
with somewhere between one and five horsepower and between one and five gallon
capacity) are considered light duty vacs. Vacuums that have between five and
six and a half horsepower, and capacities higher than five gallons (I’ve seen
vacs with 18 gallon capacities before) are more heavy duty and generally geared
towards professionals or those that work in busy shops that require lots of
cleaning.
Here’s the deal, if you just want a wet/dry vac for around
your home, you don’t need a six horsepower, 18-gallon vacuum. You’re going to
pay a lot of money and more than likely never use the extra room and suction
capacity you just paid for. Smaller, less expensive wet/dry vacs are perfect
for cleaning up stuff around your home, and sawdust and other similar things in
your garage.
So, realistically, you should look at wet/dry vacs with a
capacity of between one and five gallons that are rated between one and five
horsepower.
Long Hose and Power
Cord
Since your vac will be used all around your home and garage,
a long cord and hose are both a must. This ensures you can use your vac pretty
much anywhere around your workspace comfortably without the aid of extra
equipment (an extension cord). In my opinion, a hose that’s at least four feet
long and a cord that’s at least six feet long are good numbers to go by.
Accessory Kit
A good wet/dry vacuum comes with several different
attachments to use with it. This is good because with a wet/dry vac, you never
know what you’re going to be cleaning up, and a non-tipped hose isn’t always
the best thing to clean things up with. For instance, a gulper nozzle (the long
and flattened tip) is a lot better for cleaning up water.
Included Filters
Whatever wet/dry vac you buy should come with some sort of
dry filter and a reusable foam filter sleeve (this is for wet clean up). No one
likes buying extra equipment, especially if you’re on a tight budget.
Carrying Handle
A decent handle on top of the vacuum is a must. It makes it
a lot safer to carry your equipment around, and it’s just all around more
convenient.
The following are unnecessary, though welcome, features.
Wheels
Wheels are cool because they make it easier to move your
vacuum around. However, as long as you have a top handle, wheels are just a
luxury.
On Board Accessory
Storage
Some vacuums allow you to store the various nozzles and
attachments on the vacuum itself, which is really convenient because it means
you always have quick access to different hose tips. I don’t think this is a
necessity though.
On Board Cord Wrap
A lot of wet/dry vacs like to tout on board cord wrap as a
great extra feature. Again, it’s convenient. With an on board cord wrap you don’t
have to worry about keeping your cord untangled, and it’s safer. Like the on
board accessory storage though, it’s just a bonus.
Warranty
Most wet/dry vacs offer warranties, considering how long the
average vacuum lasts and what kind of investment it is. However, you shouldn’t
pay extra for it. If a company is awesome enough to provide a warranty for
free, then great.
If you see the word portable in the description of a wet/dry
vac, don’t let it scare you. It doesn’t mean it’s bad quality or anything. Most
of the light duty wet/dry vacs are considered portable thanks to their small
size.
Stanley, Vacmaster, and ArmorAll are the best brands if you
need a wet/dry vac while on a budget. Rubbermaid and Shop-Vac (with the
exception of really small and discounted vacs, as evidenced by this list)
should be avoided because they can get really pricey.
Buying a decent wet/dry vac for not a lot of money is
actually surprisingly easy if you keep the key facts in mind and stick to the
right brands.