The Ultimate Shop-Vac Buying Guide

A shop-vac can be an excellent tool for cleaning your home or workshop.

A shop-vac, also referred to as a wet/dry vac, serves a purpose similar to a standard vacuum cleaner.

However, a shop–vac allows you to pick up clunky objects, such as nails or small wood scraps. A shop-vac will also help you clean up wet messes and spills, such as an overflowing clogged toilet.

This multi-purpose vacuum is ideal for any home or shop. There are a number of different shop-vacs to choose from. Here are some things to consider when trying to decide which one to purchase.

Tank Capacity and Size

The most important attribute you’ll want to think about is the tank capacity and size. If the main purpose of your shop–vac is to clean up small messes, such as pet hair or everyday debris in your vehicle, a smaller capacity tank will be more than enough.

These lightweight, handheld shop-vacs are perfect for keeping in the car or an apartment. Small shop-vacs typically have a two- to six-gallon tank capacity.

If you plan on using your shop-vac for cleaning up around the house or workshop, you’ll want one with an eight- to 14-gallon tank capacity. A shop-vac this size is great to have in the home if your basement is prone to flooding. The wet/dry vacuum’s powerful suction is perfect for cleaning up liquid messes.

You can use larger models for heavy duty jobs, such as cleaning large commercial warehouses. You can also use them in large workshops for easy cleanup. Bigger shop-vacs come with a 14- to 18-gallon tank.

Just beware of how heavy the tank will be when it is full. Make sure you don’t purchase one that might be too difficult to lift and dump when it gets full.

Tank Material

Most shop–vacs are made from durable plastic. This is the most popular and common material of choice. Plastic is a lighter-weight material. This makes it easy to carry from room to room in your home.

Metal tanks are also available. Metal is ideal for heavy duty work areas, such as body shops and construction job sites.

Power

On average, shop–vacs are more powerful than standard vacuum cleaners. Simply put, the more horsepower a shop–vac has, the stronger its suction will be.

Once again, think about the types of jobs you will be using your shop-vac for. If you want to ensure you have adequate suction power for any job, choose the strongest horsepower available for the size shop–vac you have decided to purchase.

Storage

Where will you be storing your shop–vac? If you have ample room in your garage or tool shed, you shouldn’t have to worry about this.

However, if you will be storing your shop-vac in a small closet or tucking it away in the corner of your laundry room, consider how much space you’ll actually have to work with.

Some wall-mounted shop-vacs come with wall brackets, which are a great space-saving solution for centralized cleaning purposes.

Power Sources

Shop–vacs have different types of power sources. Some have power cords, which is perfect for in-home cleaning or time-consuming jobs.

Others are battery-powered, which is ideal for small jobs and hard-to-reach places. Keep in mind that a large job will quickly drain the shop-vac’s battery.

Accessories and Features

Shop-vac models come with a variety of different features and accessories. Some things you might find handy include a built-in liquid pump, a blower feature, and different hose sizes.

You can buy everything else you might need for your shop-vac at Blain’s Farm & Fleet. This includes cleaner bags, cartridge filters, and special attachments, like brushes to clean your car and extension wands.

The most important things to consider are the jobs you need your shop–vac to perform. You should select a model that comes with the accessories and features you need.

For more tips and buying guides, visit our Home Maintenance Blog.