Why are a lot of indoor/outdoor vacs ear-piercingly loud?

[tseg]

Over the years I've had a few indoor/outdoor wet/dry vacs and they tend to be insanely loud. What is the need for that? They don't seem to vacuum a whole lot better than than regular indoor vacs I have. Are there quiet versions?

I ended up buying a Vacu-Maid GV50Pro that mounted to the wall in my garage for vacuuming out my cars. It is fantastic and quiet for what I need, but cannot vacuum water and does not have a wide-diameter hose like those wet/dry vacs. I'm happy with the trade-off.

 

[redgeminipa]

The motors are directly on top with zero insulation.

I'm not sure what all you plan to use one for, but you could consider picking up a used Rainbow, as they can pick up liquids (non-flammable, of course). You can also get a 4 quart water basin for larger capacity wet pickups.

 

[ralph123]

See linked article for quiet shop vacs. You pay more for quiet.

https://soundproofnation.com/quiet-shop-vac/

 

[lesinutah]

Ive

Noticed there all pretty loud. I recently tried a $220. Double HEPA filter sound dampened DeWalt professional vacuum.
It was the most impressive shop vacuum I've seen. The reasons are the double HEPA filters has a built in respirator. It circulated air every ten seconds. It has good suction all the time. It weighed between 30-45lbs. It was as heavy as it was impressive.
Numatic Henry or numatic George may be the vacuum you are seeking.
Les

 

[thevacomaticiec]

I agree Numatic George or James wet and dry wash are whisper quiet strong vacuum also could work try looking up IBAISIAC channel on youtube for demnos.

 

[gregvacs28]

Apparently, no no, OBVIOUSLY, in the 50s and 60s there was this attitude that appliances that made A LOT of noise was one way of (clearing thoat) building value to the consumer.
It showed the consumer that the product worked.

This is laughable and pathetic to individuals with a functioning brain but apparently there are a fair share of people who lack adequate brain matter sadly.

Some of those old designs and old ways of designing things are UNFORTUNATELY still about.

 

[madman]

Well I was just working on a Fein shop vac that I'd found in the trash (there's a thread for it). The newer version is on that list of quiet shop vacs. I have to say it is clearly engineered to be quiet - LOTS of sound dampening foam. Now that I have it fixed, it is pretty quiet... maybe about like a moderate sound level residential upright vac. Maybe find a used one of those if you want something. It's like $400 new, and the only real difference is a bunch of cheap foam. Granted, it's engineered from the bottom up to be sound insulated though.

 

[huskyvacs]

Top mount motor, no insulation, plastic housing. Also motor is a large wattage, bigger fan, etc. the list goes on.

A Shop Vac has vastly more power than any indoor vac - if yours are that loud and have less suction than an upright, you likely need to re-grease the motor and give it a refurb.

 

[gregvacs28]

They aren't vastly more powerful than a typical house vacuum.
The difference is in the construction and what they're intended to be use for, specifically they are intended or expected that one will pick up liquids with them.

As a result the motor windings need to be at the highest point so if it were to get wet, it would easily shed water and pose the least electrocution risk.

One could take out the motor of a typical utility vacuum and reuse it in any number of other canister vacuums.

 

[fan-of-fans]

I found my Shop Vac seems to do a better job on the car carpets and crevices than others I use. Not sure if it has more airflow or what, but it just seems to get all of the sand and such out of the carpets with just a nozzle better.

Both of my vacuums of this type (Shop Vac 5 gallon and Kenmore Cleanmore are probably the two loudest vacuums in my collection).

 

[n0oxy]

wet dry vacs and garage vac pro

I have 8 wet dry vacs, don't use them that much, the quietest one is a Craftsman 5 gallon. Some of them are so loud they are unbareable. I don't think their power is much different than other vacuum types, especially canister vacuums.
Regarding the Vacumaid garage vac pro, this is an awesome vacuum. I have one, it sits in my kitchen, the motor that it uses is also used in central vacuum units designed for around 6000 square feet houses, so connecting a hose to that is quite powerful. If you want better airflow than the hose that is included, try using a central vacuum hose with it, you can even use an electric central vacuum hose and clean carpets if you wish. There are also interceptors that you can get to allow you to vacuum liquids, I'll include a link if I can find one.
Mike

https://www.centecsystems.com/central-vacuum-utility-vacuum-wet-dry-interceptor-accessories/

 

[tseg]

@n0oxy: "...There are also interceptors that you can get to allow you to vacuum liquids, I'll include a link if I can find one.
Mike

CLICK HERE TO GO TO n0oxy's LINK""

^^^^ That's the ticket! This could resolve my opportunity. Thanks n0oxy!

 

[huskyvacs]

@gregvacs28

I have an older release of the 14 gallon dolly model.

http://www.shopvac.com/product/shop...uum-with-svx2-motor-technology-catnum:5986038

If you can fit that motor in a canister vac that would be a feat.

Shop Vac says it has 150 CFM max airflow.

Now just for something quick comparison - a Shark NV501 has 40.6 CFM, a Miele U1 at 67.3, even a Dyson Ball Animal 2 only has 73.5. A Shop Vac is not just for picking up liquids. I have a HEPA filter and a paper bag in mine just like a normal vacuum.

Also pretty much all Shop Vacs made today are made with plastic, so there is very little shock hazard. I've used mine barefoot while ankle deep in water many times to clean up floodwater. Even the metal chassis ones have rubber boots over the on/off buttons and other electrical parts.

The only thing a Shop Vac is not good for is cleaning the house due to its bulky and cumbersome nature, but it would be a fun experiment to put one of those battery powered power nozzles on it. lol

 

[gregvacs28]

The last shop vac I took apart had a 2 h.p. rated motor in it.  The motor looked very similar to a motor found in a kenmore magicord canister or in many different brands of vacuums.  The motors in most vacuums are all pretty much the same.  Usually made by Lamb/Ametek- Thank-you. They do a great job with that.  And why would one want to build their own motors.


 


Hoover used to be an exception and had the patents and manufacturing on the motors in their products.  I have no idea anymore what the inside of a 'made in the last 20 years' Hoover vacuum looks like.  


 


Yes, most shop vacs are all plastic.  Again this is again to protect from electrocution if the electric parts get wet.


 


Shop vacs are not recommended for interior use because they have terrible filtration and are noisy.  Again, their intended use is for bulky jobs. They also are the most practical because it isn't figured they will be used on a weekly basis.  


 


I've also had to replace more than one defective switch on a shop vac.  Again, they put in cheap parts because they figure you'll only use it three times a year.


It's good to have for the times when you really need it like in an emergency. 

 

[thevacomaticiec]

I sure love my 16 gallon big bertha shopvac .
Sure its lound but its mostly air and motor sound from the 2 1/2 inch blower port so its not bad it did came whita difuser on the back like tristar have so that helped.
I use mine for wet pick up dry car basement christmas pine needle cleaning or any big mess .I do put a cartridge filter anda filter bag in mine so dust control is ok .Yes tehre lound as can be but there meant to be a outdoor garage vac as said above .But whit adifuser my big shopvac is good (bigger motor so a lower pitch smaller one are indeed screamers .)

 

[gregvacs28]

I wonder if one could dare put in a drop or two of fine sewing machine oil in the bearing?