| Author |
Message |
    
Kibbegirl
Citizen
Username: Kibbegirl
Post Number: 568
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 2:06 pm: | 
|
I got this Rigid wet/dry vac and really dig it. The only problem is when I vacuum, dust blows all over the place from the "blowing" hole of the machine. I've re-checked all enclosed attachments, and it didn't come with a cover for this hole, nor do I see one in the instruction manual. When using the vacuuming part, is the "blower" portion supposed to be covered up or left to blow particles around? Is this the way they work? |
Smarty Jones
Citizen
Username: Birdstone
Post Number: 654
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 2:07 pm: |
|
Yes, that is what is supposed to happen, and if you want to convert your vacuum into a blower, you attach your hose to that side.
It should not, however, be blowing dust. Likely your filter is loose and you need to tighten the bolt at the bottom of the filter. Clean, dustless air should be blowing out of the exit hole. If your filter gets clogged or overfull, dust will start to filter into this airhole. |
bill671
Citizen
Username: Bill671
Post Number: 366
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 2:14 pm: |
|
The filter is inside the canister, about the size of a coffee can with a lot of paper flaps on it. It filters the dust out of the air that is being sucked thru the vacuum and vented through the outside hole.
By nature, shop vacs such as this do move a lot more air than regular household vacs, and it's helpful to frequently change these filters, but they will still continue to blow a lot of dust by comparison.
Replacement filters can be bought at Home Depot (Rigid seems to be to them what Craftsman is to Sears). I think they even have HEPA filters for some models, and while they may be more effective, that also goes hand in hand with being more expensive, and need to be changed more frequently.
It may be easiest to just avoid disturbing the dust in the first place. Think of your TV screen - you have no idea how dirty it is until somebody rubs against it and creates one of those annoying "clean spots"!!!! |
Jgberkeley
Citizen
Username: Jgberkeley
Post Number: 4568
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 7:04 pm: |
|
Those units come with two filter styles.
One is for water and will not flter dust. The other is the bill671 spoke of and has many folds of paper. This is the dust filter and will not work with water.
Perhaps you have the wrong filter installed, or it is not on correctly. You should have good seals on the top and the bottom of the paper filter to keep the dust from blowing back out.
Want a pro to check it out for you, call 973 953-0781.
Later,
George |
Kibbegirl
Citizen
Username: Kibbegirl
Post Number: 569
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 7:33 pm: |
|
I checked and I do have the folded filter installed and it seems to be installed properly. I have cat hair and other debris in the filter that needs to be cleaned off. Would this diminish the back dust coming out the "blower" side? |
Case
Citizen
Username: Case
Post Number: 1596
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 8:03 pm: |
|
I'm sure a professional wet vac inspection would be very worthwhile... but it sounds like you might have a normal paper filter in the darn thing.
I had the same issue with my small Rigid vac; when I went with the HEPA filter everything improved dramatically.
The larger units can handle both a Hepa filter in addition to a 'dust bag'; that combination is absolutely fantastic. |
TomR
Citizen
Username: Tomr
Post Number: 1101
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 10:22 pm: |
|
The cat hair and other debris caught in the filter would not cause dust to emit through the blower hole. Unless, you have a tear in the filter.
I use a canister filter and a vac-bag, and use the magic machine to clean the ashes from the fireplace. Never had a problem with dust blow through.
TomR |
themp
Supporter
Username: Themp
Post Number: 2918
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, May 18, 2006 - 4:16 pm: |
|
They are loud as hell, aren't they? I hate mine. |
Jgberkeley
Citizen
Username: Jgberkeley
Post Number: 4571
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, May 18, 2006 - 4:51 pm: |
|
If your loud unit is a Rigid you can buy a part to stick into the exhaust hole which acts as a muffler.
Mine cuts the noise in half, but it is still loud.
Later,
George |
doulamomma
Citizen
Username: Doulamomma
Post Number: 1427
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, May 18, 2006 - 7:46 pm: |
|
Kibbe,
Glad I'm not the only one - it was so great when we needed it to suck upp water (why we bought it) but once dust got involved it's almost worse than doing nothing...will look into the Hepa filter... |
Kibbegirl
Citizen
Username: Kibbegirl
Post Number: 571
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 7:36 am: |
|
TomR, how do you use a regular vacuum bag on the Rigid? How do you get it to stay put? Maybe I misread your answer, but if not, that system sounds AWESOME! |
TomR
Citizen
Username: Tomr
Post Number: 1106
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 10:07 am: |
|
Kibblegirl,
The bag is designed for a shop vac and after you tear the first one you try to install, you'll understand how it stays in place and how to install them in the future. Both my vac and the bags are Shop Vac brand. I got the bags at HD.
Good luck.
TomR |
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page