Shop Vacs & Dust

  • How To Vacuum Water With A Shop Vac

    BySteven B. Delisle

    —ĊMetaTitle:ĠHowĠtoĠVacuumĠWaterĠwithĠaĠShopĠVac:ĠStep-by-StepĠ(WithoutĠDamage)ĊMetaDescription:ĠLearnĠtheĠcorrectĠwayĠtoĠvacuumĠwaterĠwithĠaĠShopĠVacĠorĠwet/dryĠvac,ĠincludingĠfilterĠrules,ĠfloatĠsafety,ĠandĠpost-useĠmaintenanceĠtoĠpreventĠmotorĠdamage.ĊWordCount:Ġ~2150ĊReadingTime:Ġ~9ĠminĊPrimaryĠKeywordĠDensity:Ġ~0.9%ĊEntityĠCoverage:Ġ15ĠentitiesĠconfirmedĠpresentĠ(Shop-Vac,ĠRIDGID,ĠfoamĠsleeveĠ#905850,ĠSealedĠPressureĠ(SP),ĠfloatĠmechanism,ĠfilterĠcage,Ġetc.)ĊTargetĠFeaturedĠSnippetĠSection:Ġ##ĠTheĠ7-StepĠProcessĠforĠVacuumingĠWaterĊContentĠGapsĠAddressed:ĠClarifiesĠconflictingĠfilterĠadviceĠfromĠOEMs;ĠdetailsĠconsequencesĠofĠignoringĠtheĠfloat;ĠprovidesĠspecificĠdisinfectionĠprocedure.ĊImageĠPlacementĠSuggestions:ĠafterĠintro,ĠafterĠH2ĠsectionĠ”TheĠ7-StepĠProcessĠforĠVacuumingĠWater”ĊImageĠAltĠTextĠSuggestions:ĠClose-upĠofĠaĠwet/dryĠvacĠwithĠhoseĠattached,ĠreadyĠforĠwaterĠpickupĠ|ĠDiagramĠshowingĠcorrectĠfilterĠsetupĠforĠwetĠpickupĊYMYLFlag:ĠYesĊ—ĊToĠvacuumĠwaterĠwithĠaĠShopĠVac,ĠremoveĠallĠdry-useĠfiltersĠandĠbags,ĠensureĠtheĠfloatĠmechanismĠisĠclear,ĠandĠinstallĠaĠfoamĠsleeveĠfilterĠifĠyouĠhaveĠone.ĠTheĠmotorĠmustĠbeĠturnedĠoffĠtheĠmomentĠtheĠfloatĠrisesĠandĠcutsĠsuctionĠtoĠpreventĠextensiveĠdamage.ĠAlwaysĠemptyĠandĠdryĠtheĠtankĠimmediatelyĠafterĠuse.ĊĊThat’sĠtheĠshort,Ġnon-negotiableĠanswer.ĠTheĠprocessĠisn’tĠcomplex,ĠbutĠtheĠstakesĠareĠhigh.ĠIgnoreĠtheĠfloat,ĠandĠyou’reĠbuyingĠaĠnewĠmotor.ĠLeaveĠwaterĠinĠtheĠtank,ĠandĠyou’reĠgrowingĠmildew.ĊĊWhatĠfollowsĠareĠtheĠspecificsĠthatĠmanualsĠoftenĠburyĠinĠfootnotes:ĠtheĠrealĠdifferenceĠbetweenĠaĠ”small”ĠandĠ”large”ĠamountĠofĠliquid,ĠwhatĠthreeĠmajorĠbrandsĠactuallyĠsayĠaboutĠfilters,ĠandĠtheĠoneĠcleaningĠstepĠthatĠstopsĠyourĠgarageĠfromĠsmellingĠlikeĠaĠswamp.ĊĊ##ĠKeyĠTakeawaysĊ-ĠĠĠRemoveĠallĠdry-useĠfiltersĠandĠbagsĠbeforeĠvacuumingĠwater.ĠForĠlargeĠvolumes,ĠaĠfoamĠsleeveĠfilterĠ(likeĠShop-Vac’sĠ#905850)ĠisĠtheĠOEM-recommendedĠchoice,ĠbutĠsomeĠmanualsĠsayĠtoĠrunĠwithĠnoĠfilterĠatĠall.Ċ-ĠĠĠTurnĠtheĠvacĠoffĠimmediatelyĠwhenĠsuctionĠstops.ĠTheĠrisingĠfloatĠcutsĠairflow;ĠcontinuingĠtoĠrunĠtheĠmotorĠwithĠnoĠairĠcoolingĠdestroysĠit.Ċ-ĠĠĠNeverĠstoreĠtheĠvacĠwithĠliquidĠinĠtheĠtank.ĠEmptyĠitĠafterĠeveryĠuse.ĠToĠavoidĠspontaneousĠcombustionĠfromĠsawdustĠorĠmoldĠfromĠwater,ĠcleanĠandĠdryĠtheĠtankĠandĠfilterĠbeforeĠstorage.Ċ-ĠĠĠUseĠonlyĠoutdoor-ratedĠextensionĠcordsĠifĠneeded.ĠForĠaĠ45-57ĠfootĠcord,ĠuseĠ14-gaugeĠwireĠminimum;ĠforĠoverĠ57Ġfeet,ĠuseĠ12-gaugeĠtoĠpreventĠpowerĠlossĠandĠoverheating.Ċ-ĠĠĠNeverĠvacuumĠflammableĠliquids,ĠtoxicĠmaterials,ĠorĠfineĠdustsĠlikeĠdrywallĠorĠashĠwithoutĠtheĠcorrectĠfiltration.ĠThisĠisĠaĠutilityĠvac,ĠnotĠaĠhazardous-materialĠunit.ĊĊ##ĠTheĠFilterĠConfusion:ĠToĠUseĠOneĠorĠNot?ĊĊ>ĠTheĠShop-VacĠbrandĠFAQĠstates,Ġ”TheĠbestĠfilterĠtoĠuseĠforĠwetĠpickupĠisĠaĠfoamĠsleeve.”ĠForĠtheirĠpumpĠvacĠmodels,ĠtheyĠspecifyĠtheĠfoamĠfilterĠsleeveĠ#905850.ĊĊOpenĠthreeĠdifferentĠowner’sĠmanuals,ĠandĠyou’llĠgetĠthreeĠdifferentĠanswers.ĠThisĠisn’tĠaĠcaseĠofĠbadĠadvice;Ġit’sĠaĠcaseĠofĠdifferentĠengineeringĠforĠdifferentĠjobs.ĊĊHere’sĠwhereĠtheĠsourcesĠdisagree:ĊĊ|ĠSourceĠ(Brand/Manual)Ġ|ĠRecommendationĠforĠWetĠPickupĠ|Ċ|Ġ:—Ġ|Ġ:—Ġ|Ċ|ĠShop-VacĠFAQĠ|ĠUseĠaĠfoamĠsleeveĠfilterĠ(#905850).Ġ|Ċ|ĠShop-VacĠ(Lowe’sĠManual)Ġ|ĠForĠlargeĠquantities,ĠuseĠaĠfoamĠsleeveĠinsteadĠofĠtheĠcartridgeĠfilter.ĠRemoveĠallĠdry-useĠfiltersĠandĠbags.Ġ|Ċ|ĠShop-VacĠ(HomeĠDepotĠManualĠSP65-68-6)Ġ|Ġ”RemovalĠofĠtheĠfilterĠisĠhighlyĠrecommendedĠforĠwetĠpickups.”Ġ|Ċ|ĠRIDGIDĠOwner’sĠManualĠ|ĠForĠsmallĠamounts,ĠtheĠfilterĠmayĠstay.ĠForĠlargeĠamounts,ĠremoveĠtheĠfilter.Ġ|ĊĊTheĠcommonĠthread?ĠGetĠtheĠdryĠpaperĠorĠclothĠfilterĠoutĠofĠtheĠpath.ĠAĠsaturatedĠpaperĠfilterĠcan’tĠbreathe.ĠItĠcausesĠmistingĠatĠtheĠexhaust,ĠkillsĠsuction,ĠandĠisĠaĠpainĠtoĠdry.ĊĊSo,ĠwhatĠshouldĠyouĠdo?Ċ1.ĠĠForĠanyĠwaterĠpickup:ĠRemoveĠtheĠstandardĠcartridgeĠfilterĠandĠanyĠfilterĠbag.Ċ2.ĠĠIfĠyouĠhaveĠaĠfoamĠsleeve:ĠInstallĠit.ĠIt’sĠdesignedĠtoĠgetĠwet,Ġwon’tĠclogĠlikeĠpaper,ĠandĠprovidesĠaĠlast-ditchĠbarrierĠagainstĠdebrisĠhittingĠtheĠmotor.Ċ3.ĠĠIfĠyouĠdon’tĠhaveĠaĠfoamĠsleeve:ĠYouĠcanĠrunĠwithoutĠaĠfilterĠforĠwaterĠpickup.ĠTheĠfloatĠandĠfilterĠcageĠinsideĠtheĠvacĠareĠdesignedĠtoĠpreventĠliquidĠfromĠbeingĠsuckedĠintoĠtheĠmotor.ĠThisĠisĠtheĠ”removeĠtheĠfilter”Ġcamp’sĠlogic.ĊĊ>ĠCommonĠmistake:ĠLeavingĠtheĠdryĠfilterĠinĠbecauseĠ”itĠstillĠworks.”ĠAĠwetĠpaperĠfilterĠcollapsesĠairflow.ĠTheĠmotorĠstrains,ĠtheĠtankĠdoesn’tĠfillĠefficiently,ĠandĠyouĠriskĠwaterĠmistingĠbackĠoutĠtheĠexhaust.ĊĊ##ĠBeforeĠYouĠStart:ĠTheĠNon-NegotiableĠSafetyĠRulesĊĊThisĠisn’tĠscareĠtalk.ĠIt’sĠtheĠpredictableĠoutcomeĠofĠignoringĠbasicĠelectricalĠandĠmechanicalĠsafetyĠwithĠaĠtoolĠthatĠmovesĠairĠandĠwater.ĊĊ>ĠBeforeĠyouĠstart:Ġ1)ĠAlwaysĠwearĠsafetyĠgoggles.ĠTheĠoperationĠcanĠblowĠdebrisĠintoĠyourĠeyes.Ġ2)ĠNeverĠvacuumĠflammableĠliquidsĠlikeĠgasolineâĢĶsparksĠinsideĠtheĠmotorĠcanĠcauseĠanĠexplosion.Ġ3)ĠAlwaysĠdisconnectĠtheĠplugĠfromĠtheĠwallĠoutletĠbeforeĠremovingĠtheĠtankĠcover.ĊĊThoseĠareĠfromĠtheĠmanuals,Ġverbatim.ĠThey’reĠinĠallĠcapsĠforĠaĠreason.ĊĊOtherĠbansĠareĠjustĠasĠcritical:ĠnoĠtoxicĠmaterials,ĠnoĠasbestos,ĠnoĠleadĠpaintĠdebris.ĠAĠshopĠvacĠisĠnotĠaĠHEPA-filteredĠhazardousĠmaterialĠunit.ĠVacuumingĠdrywallĠdustĠorĠfineĠashĠwithoutĠtheĠproperĠfineĠdustĠfilterĠandĠbagĠwillĠblowĠtheĠmostĠdangerousĠparticlesĠbackĠintoĠtheĠairĠyouĠbreathe.ĊĊOnĠelectricity:ĠIfĠyouĠneedĠanĠextensionĠcord,ĠitĠmustĠbeĠoutdoor-rated.ĠTheĠRIDGIDĠmanualĠgetsĠspecific:ĠuseĠaĠ14-gaugeĠcordĠforĠrunsĠofĠ45-57Ġfeet,ĠandĠaĠ12-gaugeĠcordĠforĠanythingĠlonger.ĠAĠskinnyĠindoorĠcordĠwillĠoverheat,ĠdropĠvoltage,ĠandĠstrainĠtheĠmotor.ĊĊ##ĠTheĠ7-StepĠProcessĠforĠVacuumingĠWaterĊĊThisĠisĠtheĠcoreĠsequence.ĠSkipĠaĠstep,ĠandĠyou’llĠlikelyĠcircleĠbackĠtoĠfixĠaĠproblemĠyouĠcreated.ĊĊStepĠ1:ĠClearĠtheĠDryĠDebris.ĊEmptyĠtheĠtankĠcompletely.ĠRemoveĠanyĠexistingĠdryĠfilter,ĠfilterĠbag,ĠandĠdebris.ĠAĠsingleĠwoodĠchipĠcanĠjamĠtheĠfloatĠvalveĠlater.ĠThisĠalsoĠpreventsĠtheĠspontaneousĠcombustionĠriskĠcalledĠoutĠinĠtheĠmanualsâĢĶsawdustĠandĠaĠhotĠmotorĠdon’tĠmix.ĊĊStepĠ2:ĠSetĠUpĠtheĠCorrectĠWetĠPickupĠFilter.ĊInstallĠyourĠfoamĠsleeveĠifĠyouĠhaveĠone.ĠIfĠnot,ĠensureĠtheĠfilterĠcageĠandĠfloatĠassemblyĠinsideĠtheĠpowerĠheadĠareĠcleanĠandĠintact.ĠNeverĠoperateĠtheĠvacĠwithoutĠthisĠcageĠandĠfloatâĢĶtheyĠareĠtheĠprimaryĠbarrierĠprotectingĠtheĠmotorĠfromĠliquid.ĊĊStepĠ3:ĠAssembleĠtheĠVacĠandĠHose.ĊPlaceĠtheĠpowerĠheadĠonĠtheĠdrum,ĠensuringĠtheĠlatchesĠfullyĠengage.ĠAĠlooseĠsealĠwillĠleakĠandĠkillĠsuction.ĠInsertĠtheĠhoseĠintoĠtheĠvacuumĠport.ĠForĠlarge,ĠopenĠareas,ĠuseĠaĠwetĠnozzleĠorĠfloorĠsqueegeeĠifĠyourĠmodelĠcameĠwithĠone;ĠitĠskimsĠtheĠsurfaceĠmoreĠefficiently.ĊĊStepĠ4:ĠStartĠVacuuming.ĊPlugĠintoĠaĠGFCIĠoutletĠifĠoutdoorsĠorĠinĠaĠbasement.ĠTurnĠtheĠvacĠon.ĠYou’llĠhearĠtheĠmotorĠsettleĠintoĠaĠlow,ĠsteadyĠdrone.ĠSubmergeĠtheĠhoseĠendĠorĠnozzle.ĠIfĠyou’reĠstartingĠaĠsiphonĠforĠaĠpump-outĠmodel,ĠtheĠShop-VacĠFAQĠsuggestsĠskimmingĠtheĠwaterĠfirstĠtoĠletĠsomeĠairĠintoĠtheĠhose.ĊĊStepĠ5:ĠListenĠforĠtheĠFloatâĢĶThenĠSTOP.ĊThisĠisĠtheĠstepĠthatĠsavesĠyourĠmotor.ĠWhenĠtheĠtankĠisĠnearlyĠfull,ĠtheĠfloatĠballĠrisesĠandĠblocksĠtheĠairĠinlet.ĠSuctionĠwillĠstopĠabruptly,ĠandĠtheĠmotorĠpitchĠwillĠbecomeĠaĠhigher-pitchedĠwhine.ĠThat’sĠtheĠsoundĠofĠtheĠmotorĠspinningĠwithĠnoĠairĠcoolingĠit.ĊĊĠĠĠWhatĠtoĠdo:ĠTurnĠtheĠswitchĠoff.ĠImmediately.ĠDon’tĠwait.ĠDon’tĠjiggleĠtheĠhose.ĠTheĠShop-VacĠmanualĠstatesĠthatĠfailureĠtoĠdoĠthisĠ”willĠresultĠinĠextensiveĠdamageĠtoĠtheĠmotor.”ĊĊStepĠ6:ĠEmptyĠtheĠTank.ĊUnplugĠtheĠvac.ĠCarryĠitĠcarefullyâĢĶwaterĠisĠheavy.ĠDumpĠtheĠwater.ĠIfĠyou’reĠdealingĠwithĠaĠfloodĠandĠtheĠtankĠfillsĠfast,ĠhaveĠaĠplanĠforĠwhereĠtoĠemptyĠitĠ(aĠdrain,ĠoutsideĠawayĠfromĠtheĠfoundation).ĊĊStepĠ7:ĠPost-UseĠCleanupĠandĠDrying.ĊThisĠisĠwhatĠseparatesĠaĠtoolĠthatĠlastsĠfromĠoneĠthatĠrustsĠandĠstinks.ĊĠĠĠRinseĠtheĠtankĠwithĠcleanĠwaterĠifĠitĠhadĠdirtyĠwaterĠinĠit.ĊĠĠĠDryĠtheĠfilter.ĠIfĠyouĠusedĠaĠfoamĠsleeve,ĠrinseĠitĠandĠsqueezeĠitĠout.ĠLetĠitĠair-dryĠcompletelyĠbeforeĠstorage.ĊĠĠĠDryĠtheĠtank.ĠWipeĠitĠoutĠorĠletĠitĠsitĠopen.ĠTheĠmanualĠfromĠShop-VacĠisĠabsolute:Ġ”NeverĠallowĠliquidsĠtoĠsitĠinĠtheĠtankĠforĠanyĠextendedĠperiodĠofĠtime.”ĊĠĠĠDisinfectĠifĠneeded.ĠForĠstagnantĠwater,ĠtheĠRIDGIDĠmanualĠhasĠaĠpreciseĠmix:Ġ1ĠgallonĠofĠwaterĠwithĠ1ĠteaspoonĠofĠchlorineĠbleachĠinĠtheĠdrum.ĠSwishĠitĠaroundĠforĠ10Ġminutes,ĠrinseĠthoroughlyĠuntilĠtheĠsmellĠisĠgone,ĠandĠletĠitĠdryĠcompletely.ĊĊ##ĠTroubleshooting:ĠWhenĠItĠDoesn’tĠGoĠAsĠPlannedĊĊProblem:ĠTheĠvacĠtippedĠoverĠandĠlostĠsuction.ĊTheĠfloatĠgotĠknockedĠoutĠofĠplace.ĠTurnĠtheĠvacĠoff,ĠunplugĠit,ĠandĠplaceĠitĠupright.ĠTheĠfloatĠshouldĠsettleĠbackĠdown.ĠRestart.ĊĊProblem:ĠWaterĠisĠmistingĠorĠdrippingĠfromĠtheĠexhaustĠorĠlid.ĊTheĠfilterĠisĠsaturated.ĠTurnĠtheĠvacĠoff.ĠRemoveĠtheĠfilterĠ(ifĠinstalled)ĠandĠletĠitĠdry,ĠorĠreplaceĠitĠwithĠaĠdryĠone.ĠThisĠisĠaĠsignĠyou’reĠmovingĠwaterĠfasterĠthanĠtheĠfoamĠcanĠdrain,ĠorĠyou’reĠrunningĠwithoutĠaĠfilterĠandĠtheĠsplashĠguardĠisĠoverwhelmed.ĊĊProblem:ĠTheĠmotorĠrunsĠbutĠthere’sĠnoĠsuction.ĊCheckĠforĠaĠclog.ĠIsĠtheĠhoseĠclear?ĠIsĠtheĠfloatĠstuckĠinĠtheĠupĠpositionĠfromĠaĠpreviousĠoverfill?ĠIsĠtheĠtankĠlidĠsealedĠproperly?ĠAĠmissingĠorĠtornĠgasketĠwillĠkillĠsuction.ĊĊProblem:ĠPickingĠupĠwaterĠwithĠdebrisĠ(likeĠglassĠorĠsand).ĊConsiderĠaddingĠaĠtear-resistantĠwet/dryĠcollectionĠbagĠinsideĠtheĠtankĠifĠyourĠmodelĠsupportsĠit.ĠItĠcontainsĠtheĠmessĠandĠmakesĠcleanupĠeasier.ĠTheĠfoamĠsleeveĠaloneĠwon’tĠstopĠfineĠgritĠfromĠeventuallyĠreachingĠtheĠmotorĠfan.ĊĊ##ĠShopĠVacĠvs.ĠPump:ĠWhat’sĠYourĠActualĠJob?ĊĊAĠshopĠvacĠisĠaĠfantasticĠtoolĠforĠvacuumingĠwaterĠfromĠfloors,Ġcarpets,ĠandĠshallowĠspills.ĠItsĠstrengthĠisĠsuctionĠacrossĠaĠsurface.ĊĊButĠifĠyou’reĠemptyingĠaĠfloodedĠbasementĠwithĠseveralĠinchesĠofĠwater,Ġyou’reĠaskingĠitĠtoĠbeĠaĠpump.ĠYouĠcanĠdoĠitâĢĶmanyĠwet/dryĠvacsĠhaveĠaĠpump-outĠfeatureâĢĶbutĠknowĠtheĠlimits.ĊĊForĠaĠdedicatedĠpump-out:ĊYouĠneedĠtheĠspecificĠfoamĠsleeveĠfilterĠ(#905850ĠforĠShop-Vac)ĠandĠmustĠensureĠtheĠpickupĠtubeĠisĠcorrectlyĠinsertedĠintoĠtheĠcage.ĠTheĠmotorĠisn’tĠdesignedĠforĠcontinuousĠdutyĠpumping;Ġyou’llĠneedĠtoĠstopĠandĠletĠitĠcool.ĠForĠmovingĠhundredsĠofĠgallons,ĠaĠsubmersibleĠutilityĠpumpĠisĠtheĠrightĠtoolĠforĠtheĠjob.ĠIt’sĠslowerĠtoĠsetĠupĠbutĠwon’tĠburnĠout.ĊĊ##ĠFrequentlyĠAskedĠQuestionsĊĊ###ĠCanĠyouĠleaveĠtheĠfilterĠinĠtoĠvacuumĠwater?ĊĊMaybe,ĠbutĠitĠdependsĠonĠtheĠamountĠandĠyourĠmanual.ĠRIDGIDĠsaysĠforĠsmallĠamounts,ĠtheĠfilterĠmayĠstay.ĠForĠlargeĠamounts,ĠremoveĠit.ĠShop-Vac’sĠownĠmanualsĠconflict,ĠwithĠoneĠsayingĠremovalĠisĠ”highlyĠrecommended”ĠandĠanotherĠrecommendingĠaĠfoamĠsleeve.ĠTheĠsafe,ĠconsensusĠpath:ĠremoveĠtheĠdryĠcartridgeĠfilter.ĠUseĠaĠfoamĠsleeveĠorĠnoĠfilter.ĊĊ###ĠWhatĠhappensĠifĠyouĠdon’tĠturnĠoffĠtheĠshopĠvacĠwhenĠtheĠfloatĠrises?ĊĊTheĠmotorĠgetsĠdamaged,ĠpotentiallyĠbeyondĠrepair.ĠTheĠfloatĠcutsĠoffĠairĠflow.ĠTheĠmotorĠcontinuesĠtoĠspinĠwithĠnoĠairĠmovingĠthroughĠitĠtoĠcarryĠawayĠheat.ĠItĠoverheatsĠrapidly.ĠTheĠShop-VacĠmanualĠcallsĠthisĠ”extensiveĠdamage.”ĊĊ###ĠHowĠdoĠyouĠdryĠaĠshopĠvacĠafterĠvacuumingĠwater?ĊĊEmptyĠtheĠtank.ĠRemoveĠanyĠfilterĠ(foamĠorĠotherwise)ĠandĠrinseĠitĠifĠdirty.ĠShakeĠoutĠexcessĠwaterĠandĠletĠitĠair-dryĠcompletely.ĠWipeĠoutĠtheĠinsideĠofĠtheĠtankĠandĠleaveĠtheĠlidĠoffĠforĠaĠfewĠhoursĠtoĠairĠout.ĠNeverĠsealĠaĠwetĠtankĠforĠstorage.ĊĊ###ĠCanĠaĠshopĠvacĠvacuumĠwaterĠfromĠaĠcarpet?ĊĊYes,ĠandĠit’sĠoneĠofĠitsĠbestĠuses.ĠUseĠaĠbareĠhoseĠorĠaĠwideĠfloorĠnozzle.ĠGoĠslowlyĠtoĠallowĠtheĠsuctionĠtoĠpullĠwaterĠfromĠtheĠcarpetĠfibers.ĠYou’llĠneedĠtoĠemptyĠtheĠtankĠfrequently.ĠForĠlargeĠareas,ĠconsiderĠrentingĠaĠdedicatedĠcarpetĠextractor.ĊĊ###ĠIsĠitĠsafeĠtoĠuseĠanĠextensionĠcord?ĊĊYes,ĠifĠit’sĠtheĠrightĠcord.ĠUseĠonlyĠoutdoor-ratedĠextensionĠcords.ĠForĠlengthsĠofĠ45-57Ġfeet,ĠuseĠaĠ14-gaugeĠcordĠ(AWG).ĠForĠoverĠ57Ġfeet,ĠuseĠaĠ12-gaugeĠcord*.ĠAĠcordĠthat’sĠtooĠthinĠwillĠoverheatĠandĠdamageĠtheĠvac’sĠmotor.ĊĊ##ĠBeforeĠYouĠGoĊĊTheĠoneĠruleĠmostĠquickĠguidesĠskip:ĠifĠyourĠshopĠvacĠhasĠbeenĠsittingĠunusedĠwithĠwaterĠinĠtheĠtankĠforĠmoreĠthanĠaĠday,ĠassumeĠtheĠinsideĠisĠcontaminated.ĠDumpĠit,ĠthenĠdisinfectĠwithĠtheĠbleachĠsolution.ĠAĠfewĠminutesĠofĠcleaningĠisĠcheaperĠthanĠreplacingĠaĠmotorĠeatenĠbyĠcorrosionĠorĠdealingĠwithĠaĠpermanentĠmildewĠstench.ĊĊThisĠallĠassumesĠaĠvacĠthat’sĠstillĠviable.ĠIfĠtheĠmotorĠsoundsĠraggedĠorĠyouĠseeĠrustĠholesĠinĠtheĠtank,ĠnoĠamountĠofĠcorrectĠtechniqueĠwillĠhelp.ĠStartĠwithĠaĠmachineĠthat’sĠbuiltĠforĠtheĠjob,ĠfollowĠtheĠstepsĠthatĠkeepĠitĠalive,ĠandĠyou’llĠhaveĠaĠtoolĠthatĠhandlesĠtheĠmessyĠcrisesĠforĠyears. How to Tell if Your Shop Vac Can Pick Up Water The first step in learning how to vacuum water with a shop vac is to check your vacuum’s manual or product label for ‘wet/dry’ capability. A true wet/dry vacuum will have a special float mechanism inside the tank that automatically rises to shut…