Shop-Vac Vacuum Cleaners

Determining If a Shop-Vac Will Satisfy Your Cleaning Needs

This is a Shop-Vac Vacuum Cleaners Buying Guide.  For Shop-Vac Vacuum Reviews please choose the appropriate link on the right sidebar of this page.  If you are looking to add a vacuum cleaner to your arsenal that can help keep the unfinished areas of your home clean as well as tackle the occasional unexpected mess, then you may want to consider a Shop-Vac.  While the manufacturer offers a wide variety of canister sizes and suction strengths, determining if a Shop-Vac will meet your cleaning needs can seem like somewhat of a daunting task. After reading this article you will have learned all you need to know about the Shop-Vac line of vacuums so you can make an informed decision as to which model works best for you.

Now known as the world leader when it comes to wet dry vacuum cleaners, Shop-Vac has been around for over 40 years. Their exact date of inception is unknown, but they continually strive to deliver consumers high quality, dependable cleaning machines that can handle nearly any cleaning task that you throw at them.  With time and research, the Shop-Vac Corporation continues to improve upon an already successful product, delivering quality cleaning performance regardless of the task at hand.

The most common type of vacuum cleaner Shop-Vac offers is its canister vacuum. While they may not be considered as agile as their finished floor cleaning counterparts, they offer the size and power needed to get the job done. Ranging anywhere from a 1 gallon to 55 gallon tank size, the Shop-Vac canister vacuum can handle any cleaning task you can throw at it. Whether it be cleaning up sawdust and other debris in your workshop, or cleaning up the mini-flood caused by a tub overflow, Shop-Vac offers just the right size and strength canister vacuum that will be perfect for your cleaning needs.

Most machines can operate as both a wet and dry vacuum, but obviously not at the same time, unless cleaning a congealed blob out of your vacuum is your thing. Other models function as either only a wet or dry vacuum, so make sure to pay attention to the vacuum’s specs before you buy. Most machines come equipped with an extendable wand and wet dry nozzle, while other come with more accessories such as the crevice tool or brush making each model as unique as the accessories it comes with.

Shop-Vac also offers a complete line of industrial vacuum cleaners in their standard canister style form. These machines can handle the same tasks as their residential counterparts, but they are usually made of heavier duty material so they can handle more use and abuse than the average Shop Vac. These machines also provide a larger debris capacity requiring the user to empty the bin less often so tasks get done sooner.  There is also an industrial strength sweeper vacuum that is more suited to cleaning up large spaces.

They also offer users a third type of vacuum cleaner, one which most may not associate with the Shop-Vac name. They offer a lightweight upright vacuum that provides the functionality of a standard upright vacuum but with the power of a Shop-Vac. This machine is suited only for dry pickup but has allowed Shop-Vac to bridge the gap between heavy duty and fine cleaning.

When it comes to choosing the best Shop-Vac for your cleaning needs, choosing just the right model can feel like an impossible task. A quick browse of the Shop-Vac site may leave you feeling like you have been inundated with too much information. With so many models, sizes and suction strengths, it can seem like an impossible task to choose the right one. You could do a web search and read the countless vacuum cleaner reviews that exist for Shop-Vac but odds are that would leave you feeling even more confused then when you started. Here are, what can be considered some of the most popular Shop-Vac models and at least one is sure to meet your cleaning needs.

Those who are looking for the functionality of a central vacuum that can handle a heavier cleaning load like sawdust and other garage messes, then you will want to check out the Shop-Vac 952-02-62 Hang Up Pro 5-Gallon 4.5 HP Wet/Dry Wall Mounted Vacuum. This machine provides users with a 5 gallon bin, 18 foot hose and a variety of tools that include extension wands, crevice tool, gulper tool and a 12-inch floor nozzle. This machine comes complete with a 4-1/2 horsepower motor with airflow of 165 cubic feet per minute that provides the user wit the functionality to tackle any cleaning task you can throw at it.

If you are looking for the performance of a central vacuum but don’t seem to have the storage space for the full size model, then you may want to check out the Shop Vac HangUp Mini Wet/ Dry Vacuum. This machine provides the best of both worlds because it can either function as a wall mounted unit, but is portable enough to carry to the spot that needs cleaning. These machines offer a smaller debris capacity and less horsepower but they still provide enough power to handle any cleaning task. These machines also come equipped with a variety of accessories such as a hose, car tool and crevice tool, making it quite useful for some of the smaller cleaning tasks.

Those who prefer the functionality of a canister vacuum will like the Shop-Vac QPL40 10-Gallon 4-Horsepower Wet/Dry Vacuum. This machine offers users strong suction power with a generous debris bin. The machine comes equipped with a 10 gallon bin and a 4 horsepower motor that can handle any cleaning task that is thrown at it. It also comes complete with 6 foot hose, extension wands, crevice tool, gulper tool and a 14 inch floor nozzle making it easy to take care of a variety of cleaning tasks in one shot.

The most common features when it comes to classifying a Shop-Vac is its horsepower and tank size. Since each vacuum cleaner model line offers users the same accessories, where each model varies is in the size of the canister and the horsepower it provides. Take for example the BullDog line of Shop-Vacs. There are three different models, all with the same cleaning accessories, the only difference is one offers a 4 gallon tank with 2 horsepower, and another offers an 8 gallon tank with 4.5 horsepower. This feature allows users to fine tune their favorite model to specifically meet their cleaning needs.

The biggest advantage of a Shop-Vac is its portability. Due to its heavy duty build, this machine can be taken to places you would never even consider taking your expensive indoor vacuum. They can be used to clean the dirt and sand out of your car, or any other mess that would normally clog up most fine cleaning machines.

When it comes to purchasing a Shop-Vac there are some key features that you will need to take into consideration. Most important is to determine how big of a canister you will need. If you are short on space and only need a machine for quick cleanups then you may want to consider a 1.5 – 2 gallon machine. On the other hand, if portability is not an issue and you need something that can tackle the large messes that you create in your workshop or basement each weekend then you may be interest in either a 10 – 14 gallon or 16 – 20 gallon canister. Make sure you take your cleaning needs into consideration, because last thing you want to do is purchase a machine that is too small for the task at hand.

Next you will want to determine what types of messes you will be cleaning up.  Will you be spending most of your time cleaning up dry debris, or do you anticipate the occasional need to perform wet cleanups?  While most machines can handle both tasks, some are tailored towards wet or dry only so make sure you get the machine that can handle the cleaning conditions you will need it for.

In conclusion, a Shop-Vac can handle nearly any cleaning task you can throw at them. Whether it be cleaning up sawdust, leaves or a water spill these machines are up to the challenge. So if you are looking for a machine that can take care of the dirty tasks you would not even consider attacking with your pricy carpet vacuum, then the Shop-Vac may be the way to go.  We hope that you found this Shop-Vac Vacuum Cleaners Buying Guide useful so that the burden of vacuum comparisons will be easier.  Thank you for visiting VacuumReviewer.com – Best Vacuum Cleaners Buying Guide.  Feel free to browse the other informative Shop-Vac Vacuum Reviews, vacuum cleaner reviews, and vacuum cleaner ratings on our site.