How To Use A Ridgid Wet/Dry Vac

The Ridgid Wet/Dry Vac is a useful universal vacuum to have in your home shop. The vacuum can clean up most dry and wet spills. When doing work on a toilet, the wet vacuum helps to remove the water from the toilet tank. The Ridgid Wet/Dry Vac uses a filter to keep dust to a minimum when dry vacuuming. The filter requires removal when vacuuming liquids. The vacuum also comes with several attachments to use for various vacuuming needs.

Step 1

Lift the tabs on the side of the vacuum that secure the lid to the barrel with your fingers. Place the lid upside down on a flat surface. Place the float over the hole in the center of the lid. The float resembles a small white cup. Place the filter cage over the float, lining up the tabs on the cage with the slots in the bottom of the lid. Push the filter cage firmly to lock the cage into place. Place the filter over the filter cage, and secure the filter to the cage with the filter nut.

Step 2

Place the lid back over the top of the wet/dry vacuum barrel, and press down until the securing tabs lock into place. Insert the soft end of the vacuum hose into the port in front of the lid. Press the hose into the port and twist the end clockwise to secure the hose to the vacuum.

Step 3

Place the vacuum attachment over the hard end of the hose. The Ridgid Wet/Dry Vac has several wands and attachments to use for dry vacuuming. The hose simply inserts into the port on the attachment.

Step 4

Plug the vacuum power cord into the wall outlet. Turn the power switch on the side of the lid to "On." Pick up the hose and begin vacuuming, working the attachment in forward and backward movements across the floor. Continue vacuuming until the debris is completely off the floor.

Step 5

Turn the power switch to "Off," and unplug the power cord from the wall outlet. Lift the side tabs securing the lid to the barrel. Remove the lid, and empty the contents of the barrel into a garbage can.

Step 1

Lift the tabs on the side of the lid to remove the lid from the barrel of the wet/dry vacuum. Place the lid upside down, and unscrew the nut securing the filter to the filter cage. The nut turns counterclockwise with your fingers. Pull the filter off the filter cage and thread the securing nut back over the stem in the center of the filter cage.

Step 2

Place the lid over the barrel. Push down on the lid until the side tabs lock the lid to the barrel.

Step 3

Insert the soft end of the hose into the vacuum just like dry vacuuming. Insert the other end of the hose into one of the wet vacuuming attachments. Ridgid uses different wands and floor attachments for wet vacuuming. Choose the attachment you want to use and insert the hose into the attachment port.

Step 4

Plug the power cord into the wall outlet, and turn the power switch to the "On" position. Vacuum up your liquid. If you are vacuuming a large volume of liquid, the float inside the filter cage will raise with the water level in the barrel. When the water level reaches a predetermined point, the float will restrict air flow. Turn off the vacuum and drain the water from the barrel before continuing.

Step 5

Take the wet/dry vacuum to an area where you can drain the liquid. Locate the drain plug on the lower side of the barrel. Turn the drain plug counterclockwise to unscrew the plug from the barrel. Lift the opposite side of the barrel slightly to drain the liquid. Screw the drain plug back into the side of the barrel until the plug is tight. Continue your wet vacuuming until all the liquid is off the floor.