3 Essential Features To Look For In A Water Vacuum

Introduction to the Water Vacuum

Generally speaking, a water vacuum acts as an alternative to the traditional vacuum cleaner that many of us grew up with.  While the older units used bags for containing dust particles, water vacuums choose instead to trap these undesirable contaminants under water, sealed in a plastic container that can later be emptied when the job is done.

So why would someone want to use a water vacuum cleaner over a traditional unit?  The most common reason is the reduction of allergens.  Speaking as an allergy sufferer, myself, I can confidently say that a regular vacuum cleaner will tend to kick up a lot of dirt and other allergen particles into the air, creating a temporary but irritating period where I can barely breathe in my own home.  Water vacuum cleaners get around this problem by incorporating any number of water filtration devices in order to trap these contaminants, preventing them from being reintroduced into the air.  The practical result is that one of these water-based units will only release clean air into the home.

3 Must-Have Features

So now that we are all on the same page about what a water vacuum is and why someone would want to use one, let’s turn our attention to some essential features that you should be looking for to ensure you get the best bang for your buck.

1. A large water tank. While most of the consumer reviews online were pretty positive about the benefits of using one of these units, there were numerous complaints about water tanks that weren’t big enough for practical usage.  You can easily imagine a situation where someone is trying to vacuum, needing to empty a small tank of water every 20 minutes or so.  This is clearly not a practical solution, especially for someone who is cleaning a large home or office.  Therefore, be sure to find a vacuum with a large tank that can be used for a long period of time without needing to be constantly emptied.  When in doubt, turn to a consumer review website to find out whether other people are getting on well with the product that you are thinking of purchasing.
2. HEPA filtration. Most water vacuums worth their salt will include a HEPA filter as a fairly standard option.  HEPA is a corporation that specializes in air filters and other related products.  They’ve gotten really good at what they do, so much so that people recognize them as a household name in air purification and will generally steer clear of products that don’t incorporate HEPA technology.  This filter will ensure that nearly all of the crud that gets sucked out of your carpet or hardwood floor will stay inside of the vacuum.  HEPA filters are generally rated to be extremely effective, removing up to 99.9% of allergens and other contaminants that enter the filter.
3. A Long, Flexible Cleaning Hose. Anyone that has spent an appreciable amount of time with a vacuum cleaner, water-based or not, understands the importance of maneuverability.  This concern goes doubly for water vacuums, though, because these units tend to be quite a bit heavier than their standard counterparts.  This is due to the fact that the vacuum is filled with water.  Therefore, if you are going to sacrifice the ease of movement of a traditional vacuum, you’ll want to make sure that you make up for that by getting something that will accommodate a long hose that will flex enough to go around tricky corners while being long enough to reach across larger surfaces.  Also, a longer hose means less bending over, an important consideration for anyone with back pain.

There are other important features, to be sure, including how noisy the vacuum is, what surfaces the vacuum can be used on, etc.  Using the above 3 considerations as a guide post, however, you should be able to narrow down the choices to the options most relevant to your cleaning needs.

Some Caveats For the Savvy Consumer

Before I leave off, there are a few more things I want to mention; some “buyer beware” situations that will go a little further in helping you make a choice:

• If you can, try to find a product with a tank that you can clean easily.  Although many of these devices do a phenomenal of job getting stains and allergens out of your carpet, when it comes to cleaning the tank, things can take a turn for the worst.  Sharp edges, grooves that trap dirt, and other obstacles can potentially make what should be an easy cleaning job into a total nightmare.  If you can’t find any reviews of the particular product which address this important issue, I highly recommend taking the time to go to a store like Menards or Home Depot so that you can see the unit up close and personal.
• Also, be sure to find out whether the suction power on the device is going to be sufficient for your specific cleaning needs.  Some water vacuums have unfortunately garnered some pretty negative feedback on suction power, some users even claiming that their standard upright vacuums do the job better for far less money.  There’s not much point in having a fancy vacuum that removes allergens if the suction power isn’t up to par.
• In relation to the above caveats, be sure that the vacuum you buy comes with a good warranty that includes flexible terms for replacement in the case of breakdown or poor operation.  Usually, such a warranty would be offered by the retailer who is selling you the product.  Generally, there is a federally mandated 15 day return policy in effect for most consumer goods, although some stores will actually extend this period anywhere from 30 days up to 3 months.  It all depends on the particular retailer you choose, so be sure to compare prices and special offers between the various stores both on- and offline.
• Last, make sure that the device won’t be too heavy for you to move around.  This factor is going to vary quite a bit between potential users, so this is another reason to try the unit out at a brick and mortar store if you’re not completely sure of what you’ll be getting.

Looking to do some cleaning outdoors as well?  Check out this guide to purchasing a steam pressure washer.

Want more water dispenser information? Head to the front page!