use ShopVac for home cleaning

ShopVac vs HomeVac

ShopVac offers a lower price with the same power, the same or better level of air filtration by changing filters, never clogs, and is capable of cleaning cars.

How to choose ShopVac for the home? 

Motor power, Filter, Nozzle, and Price.

1. Motor Power

ShopVac advertises "peak horsepower", it's just marketing. Power comparison is in Watts or Amp.

By definition 1 horsepower = 745.7 watts, but 2-3 "peak horsepower" is equivalent to 5-7 amp, 6-700 watts; 8-10 amp, 1000 watts would "peak 5 horsepower"; 12 amp, 1200 watts would say 6 peak horsepower.

Portable HomeVac has 200-300 watts, and cordless (battery) vacuum varies from 100-400 watts. Some upright stick/canister 5-7amp, 600-800 watts, that's a similar range with 2-3 hp ShopVac. Most canisters have 8-12 amps, or 800-1200 watts, comparable to 4-5 hp ShopVac.

Low-mid range HomeVac always avoids telling motor specs.

ShopVac peak 6 hp is good for renovation jobs but overpowered for homes.

1. Suction Power, Hose and Nozzle

Suction = (approx) motor power / hose(nozzle) size

Also measured by airflow velocity (CFM), and sealed pressure, affected by filter resistance. But anyway, motor power is decisive.

Bigger nozzle requires higher power. A portable 300-watt vacuum can't support a wide nozzle, 600-watt will somewhat do, but best with 1000-watt. Many people use a small portable vacuum with a wide nozzle to clean floors and carpet, of course, "This sucks bad".

ShopVac usually comes big 1-7/8 ~ 2-1/2 inch diameter hose for large debris, but HomeVac only needs a 1-1/4 ~ 1-1/2 inch hose. Similarly, a small 2-3 hp ShopVac equips only 1-1/4 hose and only a crevice nozzle. They have enough power for a wider nozzle against light home dust.

In a similar power range, HomeVac appears to have better suction power due to a smaller hose and nozzle. On the other side, it's easy to clog.

Many high-end HomeVacs equip specialty (rotating, brushed, etc) nozzles for floor, and carpet, but ShopVac does not. Those nozzles are important to fine-clean large home areas.

1. Filter

The filter is essential.

Mid-high level HomeVac carries better, or HEPA filter. ShopVac mostly comes with standard filters. That's why people complain that dust comes off from the back. 

Standard Filter: removes 95% of particles 5 microns (PM5.0)

Fine Dust Filter: removes 99% of particles 1 micron (PM1.0)

HEPA Filter: removes 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns (PM0.3)

The smallest particle human eyes see is PM10 (hair PM 80-100).

By a popular term, the vacuum should at least filter out PM2.5 (2.5 microns). 

Is HEPA (PM0.3) really necessary?

• Whatever advertisement, pet dander, fine dust, cyclone(a different mechanism), etc. They are NOT a HEPA filter.
• Whatever advertisement, HEPA-like, HEPA-material, means NOT HEPA-rated. 
• HEPA has stronger air-flow resistance and requires better airtight, and higher motor power to be functional. 
• Only mid-high models have a true HEPA filter. Yet not always true HEPA performance for many reasons.
• Portable HomeVac mostly comes with standard filters. They won't have sufficient suction with strong filter resistance.
• Canister/upright floor cleaners with nearly 1000 watts of power equip better filters, but not all HEPA. 
• Most robot cleaner (the round self-moving one) has a basic filter of 99%-PM10, even not as efficient as a standard filter. Robots can't use a strong motor (power consumption) to support fine filters. It's ok for slow airflow speed, and it cleans better than human eyes anyway. 
• After all, many HomeVacs, including most portable vacuums, ground robots, and "best selling" vacuums (=low price), do nothing against small particles PM 0.3. 
• But most people are fine with them.

Compare To Furnace Filter:

Another way to think about filter efficiency.

• Efficiency is not cut-out level, standard filters 7-12 also do some PM1.0, like 20% efficiency.
• 3M furnace filter develops a special MRP rating itself, but the industry uses the MERV rating.
• High-efficiency filter (mid-level blue colour vacuum filter) is MERV 13-16, comparable to MRP 1500 (the most commonly used Filtrete furnace filter).
• MERV 7-12 is good enough for home use. The hospital requires 13-16.
• HEPA is above any MERV rating (max 16). MERV16≥95% PM0.3; HEPA≥99.97% PM0.3
• However, a study showed that, at the 95-percent confidence level, there was no statistical difference between HEPA and MERV16. I don't think a 95% confidence test is enough for 99.97% though if true HEPA.

My understanding:

• The HEPA filter is nice to have, but not a must. 
• Most people live without HEPA. 
• Even vacuum is HEPA, window screen not HEPA, furnace filter not HEPA. 
• In case of serious allergy issues, search & read more about filters. Also, think about using a special air purifier.
• Standard Filter is okay for a portable vacuum on a sofa, bed, and robot cleaner.
• Fine Dust Filter is recommended for floor cleaning. Vacuums will suck & blow up dust in a large quantity. Most vacuums around this level, they are good enough. 
• True HEPA Filter, not "HEPA-like" stuff, is rare. Many restrictions apply such as the air-tight ability. 

By using the same level of filter, ShopVac would achieve the same level of air filtration efficiency as HomeVac. Whichever uses a better filter should outperform the other.




Most HomeVac doesn't have the option to replace filters, and most people don't know ShopVacs change filters and dust bags easily. Separate filter costs $20-50. Not all models sell replacement filters in Canada, it's recommended to find a filter before choosing ShopVac.







Comfort

HomeVac easily beats ShopVac in every aspect. ShopVac is uglier, bulkier, heavier, and a lot noisier.

ShopVac requires you to drag huge size containers, or carry 10-15 lb heavyweight, no convenient fancy nozzle, looks like cheap stuff, and has no pleasure at all.




1. Durability 

ShopVac easily beats HomeVac for toughness. ShopVac never has an issue with clogging. The smallest ShopVac container is bigger than any HomeVac (0.5-2 Litre). ShopVac has easy change filters and dust bags.




Motor life may be the same under the same household environment. 







1. Price & Recommendation

ShopVac generally has a lower price for similar motor power or has a better motor with a similar price.




In the $30-50 (cad) range, 2-3.5 hp(500-600watts) ShopVac competes with portable vacuum (200-300watts). It's good for smaller condos or secondary vacuums to clean cars and pets. They rarely have replacement filter or needs to purchase separate wide nozzle. Purchasing separate filters ($20-50) and nozzles ($10-20) will take the actual price into the next category.

For $40, Lowe's Shop-Vac, Porter-Cable, and Homedepot's Ridgid are all good buys. Whichever is on sale.




About $100, 4-5 hp all-purpose ShopVac is good for medium-sized homes. 1000 watts power, wide nozzle, and available better replacement filter and dust bags. I recommend this range for most homes.




Above $150, ShopVac has a too-big container. The entire house won't fill up a 1/4 gallon HomeVac container, what will ShopVac's 18 gallons do? Higher price HomeVac and ShopVac compete in a different area, and ShopVac is no longer a good option for home cleaning.













The verdict

It's ideal to have both HomeVac and ShopVac. HomeVac for indoors, ShopVac to clean cars and unclog pipes.

I don't want that many vacuums.

DEWALT 4-Gallon 5-Peak -HP Shop Vacuum, DXV04T


DEWALT Cartridge Filter High-Efficiency, DXVC4002

Pros:

• One vacuum for everything: power + portable.
• Strong corded 9amp motor (5 peak hp), in line power with the most canister vacuum. Enough suction power for medium home area cleaning. 
• Portable, the hose is easily carried with the vacuum.
• Purchasable replacement fine dust filter DXVC4002, enough for home use.

Cons:

• 6kg carrying weight. The hose is short and the vacuum must be carried all the way. Not friendly to housewives.
• Canada does not sell its HEPA filter.
• Canada does not sell its dust bags.

Reason for choosing:

I found it on sale.