Home & Garden

A Shop Vac is a versatile piece of equipment, and so there are a lot more parts to choose from than there are with a traditional vacuum cleaner. For instance, an inflator nozzle will allow you to inflate items with the Shop Vac–mattresses, toys and the like. Most other vacuums do not even have the capacity to be set to anything other than vacuum.

Because there are so many Shop Vac models, there are also a lot of Shop Vac accessories. Unlike other vacuums, Shop Vac parts are built with durability in mind. Most other vacuums have nozzle attachments made out of plastic–brushes, flat-edged nozzles, and so on. Heavy-duty Shop Vac parts are made out of metal so they can be used in the heaviest industrial setting.

Because Shop Vacs have are used for wet/dry use, there are parts for this purpose as well. A foam sleeve will protect the vacuum for wet cleanup. This is important when dealing with any kind of moisture, not just excessively wet cleanups. Keep in mind that it will be necessary to use separate filters for wet/dry use.

Residential Shop Vacs
Shop Vacs arent only used in industrial or commercial settings. There are smaller capacity Shop Vacs available that can be used for home use. They are as durable as other Shop Vacs, but offer a five gallon load compared with 22 gallons. These vacuums are good for the home workshop or inside the house for normal vacuuming.

The Shop Vac name is synonymous with wet/dry vacs. If you are in the market for a wet/dry vac, this is where you should start. Mostly, Shop Vacs are used for heavy industrial or commercial janitorial work. They are built to last, but even heavy durable parts can break down.

It is important to buy the correct filter for your application. One of the most common complaints with any vacuum is that dust gets blown out of the vacuum while the vacuum is being used. This can happen for a couple of reasons. The most common is that the filter is broken down and needs to be replaced. The second is that the wrong filter is being used.

Shop Vac Accessories
If you replace a wet vac with a dry filter, it is not going to work properly. You must buy the exact filter for the correct application and model. If you replace the correct filter and there are still problems, there may be a problem with internal motor parts. These can also be replaced but may need professional service.

The same thing goes for attachments. Hoses that are as wide as a golf ball, baseball, or that are industrial strength will not fit every model of Shop Vac vacuum. Certain accessories will not work at all with certain models. Shop Vac offers accessories for every possible clean-up job, but you must be sure youre buying the accessories that were created just for your model.

Vacuum bags are still an efficient way to get rid of carpet dust. A bagless canister is one other option, but this can sometimes get messy when trying to get rid of the dust. If you knock the canister against the side of a trash can, an ugly cloud of dust can erupt from the canister.

Even if you do this outside, it can get pretty messy. A bag, on the other hand, is self-contained (which is why vacuum bags dont seem to be going away anytime soon). There are other dust containment methods such as filters containing water, but these can require much more money than many people are willing to spend.

However, vacuum bags can prove difficult because there are so many different varieties. Garbage bags come in a few sizes and can fit every trash can. If only vacuum bags worked in the same way! It can be difficult to find the right vacuum bag for your particular model. I remember my wife hunting around for the right bag all over the city.

Buying Vacuum Bags Online
This was entirely unnecessary, though we didnt know it at the time. Its much easier to get vacuum bags online where you can hunt around for the best price. You can then buy the bags in bulk or just bookmark the website and return when you are about to run out of new vacuum bags. As some models are retired and are no longer produced, its a good idea to stock up.

Vacuum cleaner bags may all look alike, but they are not. Trying to use a vacuum bag for a different brand can be a lesson in frustration. The bag may be too big for the compartment. The biggest problem is the system for connecting the bag to the vacuum hose. This changes according to each manufacturers vacuum cleaner design.

Many vacuum bags have a hole on the back to connect to the vacuum hose. Even if your vacuum connects along the same system, the replacement bags hole might be bigger, smaller, or lower than it should be for your particular vacuum. Sometimes you can force a bag into place, but even then the vacuum may not work properly.

Basically, you have to get a vacuum bag designed explicitly for your vacuum cleaner. You could risk damaging your vacuum cleaner if you try otherwise. There are literally hundreds of different types of vacuum bags. There are dozens of major vacuum manufacturers and each manufacturer has different models which need different vacuum bags.

Bagless Cleaners
If this sounds like too much for you, then get a bagless cleaner, such as the Bissell Powerforce bagless vacuum. However, if you have an older vacuum in fine working order, it doesnt entirely make sense to go out and buy a totally new cleaner. Bagless vacuum cleaners are a fairly new development and high-end models dont yet use this system.

Shopping for vacuum parts can sometimes be a labor-intensive process. You shop around for a vacuum like youd shop around for a car. There are so many choices and so many different attachments that may or may not be necessary. Unlike some appliances, you may have the same vacuum for many, many years in the future so you better make a good decision.

Vacuums come with all the parts you need–vacuum bag, air filter, and the like. At a certain point, you are going to need to replace certain parts. This is true for every vacuum, no matter how sturdy and durable. You may take a trip to your local hardware outlet only to discover they have spare vacuum parts for every vacuum except the one you own.

This is a common problem. Even large outlets do not carry every spare vacuum part. Even if they have a vacuum part for a particular brand, it is not uncommon for a store not to have parts for your particular model. It can be quite frustrating, especially since you spent so much time picking out the right vacuum cleaner in the first place.

Ordering Parts Online Can Save Time
At this point, you can order parts through the outlet, but this can take some time. This is especially problematic if your vacuum is no longer being manufactured. Its a good idea to order parts for the vacuum well in advance of when you think you are going to need them. This way you wont have to wait while the vacuum is out of commission. It may be a better idea to order what youll need ahead of time online–if youve got the room in your home to store the parts, you wont experience any downtime next time a fan gives out or you need a new bag.