Wap 28538 Wet/Dry Vacuum

How to Identify and Fix Common Vacuum Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced Vacuum Technicians :

In many cases, the smoke you see is actually mechanical pump oil vapor. Many people tend to think that whenever there is smoke emitting from the pump, it means there is something wrong with the machine. But, oil vapor or oil mist is a natural by-product of creating vacuum in an oil sealed mechanical pump.
A dry vacuum system does not use water to generate suction. A wet vacuum needs significant water flow to generate suction.
Overheating usually occurs because the dust bag has not been emptied, filter has not been cleaned or there is a blockage in the floor tool, wand or bent hand piece. If your vacuum shuts down unexpectedly, make sure you turn the vacuum off and unplug it from the wall socket.
The Shop-Vac® wet dry function handles all the jobs it`s famous for – effortlessly picking up liquids, fine drywall dust, sawdust, or any other wet dry concoction. Other great uses, especially for this time of year, include: Clean up cold ashes, wood chips, and dirt from the fireplace. Clean furnace and AC duct work.
Unlike regular vacuums, shop vacs are durable and capable of handling dust, debris, and heavy objects that need to be picked up. They have powerful suction and they do not throw dust and other irritants into the air the way that regular vacuums or sweeping might.
Burning smell can indicate motor damage

If you suspect that the motor is damaged, you should not continue to use the vacuum cleaner! The cause of motor damage is usually wear and tear or damage caused by prolonged improper use (e.g. overheating). In most cases, it is not worth repairing.

If you`re smelling rubber, the belt has either burned out and snapped or the belt has become so stretched out that the roller is not moving and the vacuum belt is getting super heated from the motors RPM.
If you`re using your wet-dry vac to clean a dry surface, check that the filter has been correctly placed. You`ll need it—the filter prevents dust from blowing out of the top while you`re cleaning. For wet surfaces, however, you`ll need to remove the filter entirely.
For Large Quantities of Standing Water

Turn on the vacuum and place the nozzle on top of the water. Wet/dry vacuums can vacuum up large quantities of standing water very quickly.

Blocked Filters or Overfilled Bag

If the filters are blocked, or the bag/canister is overfilled, the motor may overheat. This can cause a burning smell or even smoke. Always empty your vacuum before it reaches maximum capacity. This ensures it`s running effectively and reduces the chance of a burning smell.

If you want a powerful shop vac, dirty filters can clog up and reduce the performance, so use clean filters. We have found that when digging holes in dirt, the filters don`t get as clogged up as much as when picking up fine sawdust. The dirt is much heavier and settles into the bottom of the drum fairly fast.
1.1 Duty Cycle

As a rule, most of the smaller canister or shop-type vacs use high-speed vacuum producers. These tend to run at a very high rpm, which can reduce the vacuum`s lifespan to as little as 800 hours — or about 18 months, assuming you use your vacuum for about three hours each day.

Shop vacs come with a more powerful motor than home vacuums because they need to suck up big and heavy objects. They have powerful lifting and suction capabilities. They can remove both liquid and dust particles with ease. Home vacs are less powerful as they only suck small particles.
A wet and dry vacuum cleaner is a versatile cleaning appliance that not only removes dry dust but is also ideal for removing wet spills. The vacuum cleaner doesn`t use bags but two devices to separate wet spills and dry dust.
Shop-Vac, which manufactures wet/dry residential, commercial and industrial vacuum cleaners, is part of GreatStar Tools USA Inc. that is a subsidiary of Hangzhous GreatStar Industrial Co. headquartered in Hangzhous, China.
A burning smell coming from a cooling system can be just the smell of the new filter pads and should dissipate after a second cycle. However electrical, plastic or a strong rubber burning smell while cooler is ON is an obvious sign of serious electrical issue related to the fan motor, main control board or a capacitor.
Filters do not block all the bad chemicals in smoke, and filtered smoke feels milder on the throat, making it easier to take bigger and deeper puffs. Filters only help block the largest tar particles, letting through smaller bits of tar that can travel deeper into your lungs.
Carbon air filters can be effective at filtering VOCs from the air. These are gaseous substances that most other mechanical filters like HEPA filters, cannot touch. Some of the gases in cigarette smoke or those given off by drying paint or cleaning products can be removed from the air by a carbon filter.
A strong odor from the shellac that coats the copper coil windings is an indicator that the motor is about to or has burnt out. If the motor is still running, even if it turns on and off by itself as it is heating and cooling, you can still run the motor until it gives up for good.
Clear out hoses, attachments, and brushes of any hair, dirt, and debris. This will allow for restored airflow and should get things going again. Make sure there are no cracks or broken belts impeding the system from running optimally.
Fires can`t start in space itself because there is no oxygen – or indeed anything else – in a vacuum. Yet inside the confines of spacecraft, and freed from gravity, flames behave in strange and beautiful ways. They burn at cooler temperatures, in unfamiliar shapes and are powered by unusual chemistry.
When you are picking up fine dust you need a HEPA or high efficiency cartridge filter, a cartridge filter with a HEPA collection bag or a cartridge filter with a high efficiency disposable filter bag. These filters are not available for all vacs.
In a wet/dry filter, the bio-balls are suspended above the water in the filter so they are constantly exposed to air. This means the bacteria will have the maximum amount of oxygen available to them and will allow them to thrive and work more efficiently.
Without the bag the fine dust will go through the filter and blow back into your room. Vac with a HEPA cartridge filter: You do not need a collection bag. Vac with a foam sleeve: Some of our smaller vacs come with a foam sleeve and a collection bag. For these vacs, you must use the collection bag with the foam sleeve.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

I do not have my users manual and have never vacuumed wet with this vacuum. How do I change it from a dry to wet vacuum.
Can’t find my manual and I need to use the shop vac for water in basement, do I have to change the filter or what
lost my user manual never used it to pick up water. need to know how to puit it in wet mode i want to clean the dirty water out of my pool.
ANSWER : .Vacuuming Liquids
.1. When picking up small amounts of liquid
.the filter may be left in place.
.2. When picking up large amounts of liquid
.we recommend that the filter be
.removed. If the filter is not removed, it
.will become saturated and misting
.may appear in the exhaust.
.3. After using the vac to pick up liquids,
.the filter must be dried to reduce the
.risk of possible mildew and damage to
.the filter.
.4. When the liquid in the drum reaches a
.predetermined level, the float mechanism
.will rise automatically to cut off
.airflow. When this happens, turn off
.the vac, unplug the power cord, and
.empty the drum. You will know that the
.float has risen because vac airflow
.ceases and the motor noise will
.become higher in pitch, due to
.increased motor speed.
.IMPORTANT: To reduce the risk of damage
.to the vac do not run motor with float
.in raised position

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I do not have my users manual and have never vacuumed wet with this vacuum. How do I change it from a dry to wet vacuum.
Can’t find my manual and I need to use the shop vac for water in basement, do I have to change the filter or what
ANSWER : No – simply remove the filter. That is the only step necessary!!
.
.Hope your cleanup goes well!!
.
.Thanks for using FixYa – a FixYa rating is appreciated!!

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Bad Motor I have purchased two of the Kenmore direct drive beltless systems with Progressive systems. The first died after a year, the vacuum motor start making a grinding noies. I pulled the side HEPA filter and could see a fine coating of graphite like dust. Took it to a vacuum repair shop. They said the brushes were going and thus the motor was shot. I liked the vacuum and bought a second, 1 year later the motor is making a slight noise that and removing the HEPA filter I find a slight metall
ANSWER : That dust is from the carbon brushes on the motor. You may need to check them, and also clean out the motor compartment. A slight noise could be a motor bearing starting to go. Does the smell like rubber or electrical. If rubber, then the belt has stretched and needs to replaced. If electrical, then something is causing the motor to run hot, like a clogged filter, or it could be a motor going bad.

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Kenmore canister vacuum model 116-25512506. It has a 2 stage switch on the handle, the vacuum motor will not work, the carpet beater attachment does work, the vacuum motor will not cut on at all with either stage, 1st stage is vac only, 2nd is vac a carpet attachment. Carpet attachment will work, vac does not.
ANSWER : Try to find the reset button. It should be somwhere near the bottom area. It looks like a red dot that you can push inward. If you can press and hold the reset button, it will restart your suction and solve your problem.

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I purchased a brand new Eureka Pet vacuum, sorry don’t know exact name but it the one that has the self cleaning duster on it. Last night I used the vacuum on my carpet, it was working fine until I accidently sucked up the corner of a scarf that was hanging off a couch. I shut the vacuum off, pulled out the scarf and and resumed vacuuming. Much to my dismay the suction on the vacuum had ceased. Can you tell me if there is a reset button on the vacuum? The vacuum does not appear to be damage
ANSWER : If the motor is running, there should be suction. Possible problems depend on whether it’s a canister or upright and are:
.A clog in the hose, UR or canister. Detach hose. Drop small coin in one end and lift hose causing it to roll out the other. If it does, no clog in hose. Drop same coin into hose opening on power head. If it rolls out, no clog in PN.
.Broken fan blades, UR. Needs to be taken to shop for repair/replacement.
.
.A reset button is for use if the motor isn’t running, so won’t have anything to do with the suction.

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I borrowed a Shop Vac Ultra plus wet dry vacuum to use as a dry vacuum. It needs emptying. How do I open it, and clean the filter? Thanks
ANSWER : WHEN IT FULL U WILL KNOW WHEN IT CAN **** UP ANY THING CLEAN ALEAST EVERY TWO WEEK

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I purchased a Eureka C4910 last year and have a question that I am hoping you can answer.

There are two motor actions with this vacuum, 1) the vacuum suction, and 2) the beater bar. The action of the beater bar is that motor is supposed to automatically shut off when the handle is in the complete vertical position assuming the vacuum is stationary, but then turn on when the handle is tilted toward the floor, assuming the vacuum is moving back and forth.

The beater bar motor turn-on mechan

ANSWER : Good day!

Normally when the motor is easily moved back and forth means that it have a proper lubrication,proper alignment and no clogs.

When the motor and the belt is OK the problem could be on electrical wiring and switch.

If found electrical switch burned out you need to replaced it because when the switch is burn the contact of that switch is open even you turn it ON.that’s why the motor is not function because the voltage is not pass through the circuit because of open switch.You need to replaced it.
And check some fuses if any and other burned electrical wire.Replaced it also.

Thank you and don’t forget to rate my answer.

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Hoover u5781-900, motor shuts off (intermittent)when you shake vac or make jerky movements.If you move vac to up right position the vac starts right up.When you giggle vac, motor starts and stops no mater if you just started up or vac for ran for 45 min. Thanks Lucy C.
ANSWER : Lucy
.you have a bad connection somewhere in the unit
.this is a fire hazard and you should not use this until its been fixed
.could be a pinched wire or broken connections

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