Choosing and Using Wet/Dry Vacs

Wall-Hung
Uses: Quick, permanent access in a garage or workshop without set-up time or storage issues.
Capacity: 3.5 to 5 gallons
Features: 3 to 4.5 peak hp. All the hoses on hanging vacs are 18 feet, so if your workspace is bigger, you'll need an extension (though this reduces suction).
Expect to Pay: $70 to $90.
Shown: Shop-Vac Hangup Pro, $70.

Industrial
Uses: Demolition and construction site cleanup.
Capacity: Up to 20 gallons.
Features: Tough but weighty stainless steel tank on a rolling cart; 80-plus inches of water lift.
Expect to Pay: $225 and up for smaller models, at least $400 for 12 gallons or more; $25 to $45 a day to rent.
Shown: Craftsman Professional 12-gallon industrial wet/dry vac, $500.

Portable
Uses: Cleaning up small jobs, such as patching drywall, sanding wood, or clearing out a dryer duct.
Capacity: 1 to 4 gallons.
Features: Small, easy-to-tote tank with handle. Some are cordless, with batteries from 12 to 18 volts. Cordless handhelds without a hose are not very powerful; those with a hose are 1 to 2 peak hp.
Expect to Pay: $30 to $100, plus another $80 for a battery for some cordless models.
Shown: DeWalt cordless or corded wet/dry 2-gallon vac, $100.

Tool-Triggered
Uses: Collecting dust and debris made by power tools; small-project and car cleanup.
Capacity: 5 to 12 gallons.
Features: Power-tool outlet with delay switch; fine-dust filtration even without HEPA filter; air flow over 110 cfm and noise level less than 60 decibels, both important with power tools. Best type of all-around vac, though somewhat pricey.
Expect to Pay: $100 to $300.
Shown: Porter-Cable 10-gallon wet/dry vac, $230.

Large Capacity with Pump
Uses: Workshop and job-site cleanup, plumbing or aquarium disasters.
Capacity: 10 to 16 gallons.
Features: Vacuum that converts to a pump (drains via a garden hose). Power increases with tank size: 3.5 peak hp for 10- to 12-gallon tanks; 5.5 hp for 14 gallons; 6.5 hp for 16 gallons.
Expect to Pay: $110 to $140.
Shown: Craftsman 16-gallon wet/dry vac, $120.