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It’s not just dry messes that shop vacuums can handle. When unexpected wet messes happen, like a water main break, leak, or flood, a wet/dry shop vac is an indispensable tool that can quickly suck up the liquid into a canister for easy disposal. And, the variety of attachments that come with most shop vacs make them ready for flat surfaces, carpet, or even hard-to-reach crevices. The trick is knowing how to use a shop vac for water removal the right way. Here’s what you need to know.

Tools & Materials

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Wet dry shop vac with floor attachment and crevice attachment

Extension cord

Garden hose

Cleaning solution

Before You Begin

Water and electricity don’t mix. Although modern shop vacs are typically double-insulated, it’s never a bad idea to plug yours into a GFCI outlet for extra assurance and if you use an extension cord, make sure it’s wet-rated.

Also, when using a shop vac for water, keep in mind that you will need to lift the shop vac’s canister to dump out the water when you are finished cleaning up a mess. It’s usually easier to dump out the water before it’s full.

How to Use a Shop Vac to Clean Up Water

Video: Glenda Taylor for BobVila.com

A shop vacuum can handle a ton of jobs like sawdust collection, carpet cleaning, and gutter cleaning. Here’s how to use a wet vac and how to suck up water with a shop vac.

Step 1: Remove the bag and filter from the vacuum.

If your model has a bag, remove it before using your shop vac for water. If you don’t, it will fill up with liquid and rip, making a nasty mess in the canister. These bags are typically very easy to remove and reinstall, so don’t throw yours out if it isn’t full.

Then remove the air filter. (If your shop vac has a wet filter, insert the model’s foam filter that’s designed for liquids.) If the air filter is installed when sucking up water, it will clog quickly and reduce airflow. The motor will then work harder than normally necessary, which could shorten the lifespan of your shop vac.

Step 2: Attach the best shop vac attachment for the situation.

Photo: Vacmaster

It’s easier to remove water from a surface if the end of the vacuum is compatible with the surface. For flat floors, look for the wide, T-shaped attachment. This attachment does the best job of removing water from hard floors of all types. Some of these floor attachments even have rubber squeegees that you can insert to increase their effectiveness.

Consider using the crevice tool for vehicle floors, tight spaces, depressions, or other spaces where the floor attachment won’t fit. You can also shop for a handheld wet vac meant specifically for small spaces.

Step 3: Set the shop vac on a level surface and plug it into a GFCI outlet.

Place the shop vac near the spill, and then run the cord to the closest GFCI outlet to extra protect yourself from any possible shock during use. If the cord doesn’t reach a GFCI outlet, then run an extension cord that’s wet-rated. You’ll see a W on the cord’s jacket if it’s wet-rated.

Step 4: Turn on the shop vac and start vacuuming the water.

Pushing the vacuum attachment back and forth across the floor rapidly will spread puddles and make them harder to clean up. Here’s how to start vacuuming water.

Turn on the shop vac.

Place the nozzle in the water.

Hold the nozzle in the water until it sucks up most of the water in the area.

Then, move to a new area and repeat.

For carpets and areas that require the crevice tool, adopt the same approach but on a smaller scale. Work in small areas, and give the vacuum a few seconds at each location before moving it to a new space.

Step 5: Empty the canister.

Photo: Glenda Taylor for BobVila.com

Your shop vac has a built-in safety device that stops the vacuum when it’s full. There is a ball or puck in the filter attachment that floats, and when the water reaches an unsafe height, this device blocks the suction. To keep vacuuming, you’ll have to empty the canister.

First, remove the lid and motor assembly.

Look at the canister full of water. If there are any large chunks of items or debris, remove them before draining.

Next, carry the canister to a utility sink or somewhere you can safely drain the water.

If you have a large shop vac that has a plug or cap at the bottom of the shop vac, open it to begin draining.

Replace the cap once the canister is empty and head back to suck up more water.

If your shop vac does not have a plug at the bottom, lift the canister and pour out the water.

Step 6: Clean the shop vac when you’re done.

After you finish cleaning up the water, you will still need to clean and dry the shop vac to prevent mold and mildew.

Remove the vac hose and rinse it with a garden hose.

Then, use the garden hose to clean the dirt and grime out of the shop vac.

Then clean the inside of the canister and the vacuum assembly with an all-purpose cleaner.

Rinse everything once more before allowing it all to dry. For best results, turn the canister upside down while it dries.

After everything is clean and dry, reattach the lid, filter, and vacuum bag.

When to Use a Wet Vac

Using a shop vac for something wet usually means it’s a surprise and an urgent situation. From plumbing emergencies to severe storms and accidental spills, a wet-rated vacuum is a handy tool that can help contain wet messes and speed-up the return to normal. Here are some situations when a wet vac is a smart tool that can help.

Pipe burst or leaky pipe

Toilet clog overflow

Sewer drain or sink backup

Dishwasher or washing machine overflow

Minor basement flood

Broken aquarium

Sump pump failure

Soggy carpet from cleaning or spills

Water pooled in a crawl space

Rainwater in post holes for a deck or fence

How to Choose the Right Shop Vac

Photo: Ryobi

There are a variety of shop vacs that are designed to handle different types of messes. Since everyone’s situation is different, consider your needs so you can choose the best shop vac for you. Here are some popular types of shop vacs.

Large-capacity shop vacuums like the Ridgid 12-gallon are great for big jobs and for those who frequently clean up after projects like professional remodelers and DIYers who are renovating entire homes.

Battery-powered shop vacuums make it easy to transport and set up wherever a vacuum is needed. Since they run on batteries, they can run out of power during a big job unless you have an extra battery ready to go.

Compact shop vacuums are designed to help clean up small messes in small spaces. If you don’t have frequent spills or messes, and if you don’t have a lot of storage space for another tool, a compact shop vac like the Ryobi 18V One+ shop vac might be a good fit.

FAQ

Q. Should I rent or buy a shop vac? If you have a surprise basement cleanup to tackle, it may make sense to rent a shop vac, since big box stores also rent shop vacs by the hour or day for less than the cost of a new one. However, it might make sense to purchase one if you expect that you’ll use it at least several times a year.

Q. How long can you run a shop vac? Experts suggest running a shop vac for 2 hours or less before giving the motor a break to cool down, which can help extend the life of the tool. It’s also important to keep in mind that tools have an expected lifetime. For example, Ridgid says their vacuums expect a life of about 500 to 700 hours.

Q. Can you use a wet vac on other liquids than water? Yes, a wet vac can suck up liquids beyond just water as long as the liquid is not toxic or hazardous.

Q. When should I call in a pro? A shop vac is a great first response tool, and it’s useful for smaller messes. However, for substantial flooding or when water’s been present for long enough to cause structural damage or mold and mildew issues, you might need to call in the experts.

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