Using A Shop Vac At Home

A shop vac or wet-dry vac also referred to as a ‘bucket vacuum’ is a heavy-duty type of vacuum that tradespeople use in their construction or woodworking shops. They comprise a high-powered motor and suction capabilities to pick up chunks of materials, debris, and dirt that are typical in a work zone, consisting of a large canister capable of holding significant loads and a durable hose for the various materials dropped at a site.

There are a variety of models of shop vacs with a multitude of brands, see shop vacs on toolreviewsguy.com for some of the best available. These are not, however, the kind of unit that you would use to clean a house. It is intended only for a work area where there’s a need to clean up sawdust, nails, metal pieces, screws, dirt, water, and pieces of wood. 

Various Uses For A Shop Vac

Many people have owned a shop or wet-dry vac at some point for use in a garage or for DIY household project cleanups around the home as well as for construction or woodworking shops. The machine is very versatile having the capability to lift debris and dirt of a multitude of sizes and liquids. That is particularly handy for those who get water in the basement. 

The unit can be bulky and heavy to maneuver making it something that you wouldn’t use as a regular household vacuum. But it is on wheels and makes quick work of very messy conditions. The uses are plentiful and include:

• It’s nearing time for grilling season but before the grill is ready for use, it needs cleaning of the debris and ash from its previous use. That should be done before you add any charcoal or proceed to light it up. Having the mess cleared out will allow the fire to breathe and assists in regulating the temperature. The recommendation is to install a dust bag if there isn’t already one with the machine, so the disposal is neater, faster and simpler. 

The use of the system is also beneficial in cleaning out a fireplace or any area where there is a lot of ash produced. Cleaning a fireplace is extremely messy. Instead of scooping out the ashes and sweeping up the debris into the trash which results in soot throughout the house, use the unit with the dust bag.

• If the pipes burst or the basement floods, the wet-dry vac is ideal for cleaning the massive amounts of water you have to deal with. The claim is that the more significant machines have a collection drain comprising a drain that makes emptying a simpler process. The suggestion is that accessory pumps offer the ability to attach a hose so the water can be pumped to the outside. Follow https://homeguides.sfgate.com/vacuums-removing-water-51755.html for more information about how to remove water using vacuums.

• When you have a huge mess in the kitchen consisting of liquefied food products where paper towels will not be enough, the vacuum is generally a better option. Usually, in a spill of this sort there is a broken dish alongside such as a glass or a plate leaving behind potential sharp debris making the potential for an injury by wiping it up.

• The unit has the capability of unclogging a pipe when you have a clog in a drain. Drain snakes are not always efficient and chemicals have the potential to cause damage not to mention their harsh components. Using the vac will push the drain free. If there is a back up of water, you’ll first need to back suck it from the sink. The hose should be in the exhaust port with the end in the drain after removing the strainer.

• Many homeowners use their wet-dry unit for cleaning up after projects or in the garage area. But some find them useful for other useful purposes where they typically have to exert a lot of physical efforts like blowing up pool toys or other inflatable products. Rather than spend a lot of time, and many breaks, in expelling air, a lot of people will either give up or leave the products in the closet as opposed to deal with the work it takes to blow them up. The machine will make fast work of inflating the items in just a minute or two. Click to read on using the pump.

• Anyone who has an aquarium understands that using a bucket or a pitcher to remove the water is time-consuming and a messy process where sucking the water out with the wet component can make cleaning so much simpler, faster, and less nasty. Make sure to carefully remove the decorations and accessories so there’s no damage and ensure that the fish are safely placed in an outside container while cleaning their space. 

• Snow and salt get tracked everywhere during the winter months and end up all over the floors inside the house. It’s not a good idea to try to sweep or wipe salt especially on a hardwood floor where there’s potential for scratching. The shop system will clean it up without hurting the flooring. It’s also useful for cleaning off the porch, steps, and sidewalk outside the house to keep it clear of the snow, so it doesn’t turn into dangerous, icy patches. It’s possible to add salt to keep the area safe.

While the use of this tool is mostly seen in the construction field for use in picking up piles of debris and cleaning dirty areas, it has been shown to be versatile enough for a multitude of uses around the home as well.

Many homeowners will have one for occasional use when there is a household project or if the garage needs cleaning. But understanding that these can be beneficial in a variety of different situations that are particularly messy within the home such as fireplaces, basement floods, aquariums, allows homeowners to think of them with a new perspective. These were thought to be strictly for workshops, but that is not necessarily the case anymore.