There are 5 main types of shop vacs. You do not need to have a shop to own one either!  Hopefully this reference guide will help you figure out what type you need.

A. Wall-Hung: These shop vacs are usually 3.5-5 gallon with 3 to 4.5 peak horsepower. These type of shop vacs are good for cleaning up messes in your garage or workshop. As they are on the wall, they are a “permanent” fixture in that location. Prices range from $70 to $90.

B. Industrial: Usually used in construction site cleanups, these shop vacs are usually 20 gallon capacity. You are looking at $225 and up on for small models, $400 or more for larger models (12 gallons+).

C. Portable: Probably the most popular model. These are great for small jobs around the home or workshop. They have a small capacity, only 1-4 gallons and only 1 - 2 peak horsepower. There are even cordless one out there too. Prices range from $30 to $100.

D. Tool-Triggered: As the name implies, this shop vac is attached to various power tools and collects dust and debris created by those tools. The size range for these are 5 - 12 gallons. Prices range from $100 to $300.

E. Large Capacity with Pump: These shop vacs are great for plumbing or aquarium messes, in the workshop or on the job site. Sizes range from 10 - 16 gallons. Of course this is great for water. As the tank size increases, so does the power 3.5 peak horsepower for 10-12 gallon tanks, 5.5 horsepower for 14 gallons, and 6.5 horsepower for 16 gallons. Prices range from $110 to $140.

No matter where you work or live, there is a shop vac to fit your needs.

Vacuum cleaner attachments can be an important factor in deciding which make or model of vacuum cleaner is right for your home. Whether you wish to use your cleaner to vacuum your upholstery as well as your floors, have a number of pets, or to ensure that you can vacuum the debris from all the nooks and crannies in your home, it is the vacuum cleaner attachments that you need to look out for.

Whether you choose a canister or an upright vacuum for your household, there are usually a selection of vacuum cleaner attachments that come as standard with the particular model you choose. The vacuum cleaner attachments you will need to ensure the best vacuum possible for your home depends on the capabilities of the cleaner itself, and the particular vacuum requirements of your environment.

Vacuum cleaner attachments, for example, include special brushes that are used for removing pet hair from your home surfaces, and while this attachment will be important if your furry friends are prone to shedding dander, your vacuum cleaner might already include pet hair removal technology in the main body of the machine. Your choice between vacuum cleaner attachments and a vacuum system made specifically with pet hair removal in mind will depend on the extent to which your pet is prone to shed.

The vacuum cleaner attachments that you will need will thus depend largely on your own unique home situation, but a few vacuum cleaner attachments are always a good choice, regardless of your household’s needs. A long and slender attachment is ideal for cleaning those hard to reach spots, such as between and under furniture. Vacuum cleaner attachments for blinds are especially useful if you have these in your home.

Many of the vacuum cleaner attachments you will need will not come as standard with your cleaner, it is possible to purchase universal vacuum cleaner attachments that will work with most cleaners. These attachments include a wide range of specialist cleaning tools that can expand the functionality of your vacuum. Before you purchase, though, always make sure that these universal vacuum cleaner attachments will work with the cleaner you have at home.

Cirrus Vacuum Cleaners are the makers of the Cirrus, ProGrade and Elektrapure vacuum line. Cirrus manufactures a wide variety of vacuums for almost any job you might need. They have both residential and commercial vacuum cleaners. Currently Cirrus vacuums can only be purchased via an independent dealer.

Right now they have under the Cirrus Name:

• CR69: Upright Vacuum With On Board Tools with Electrostatic Filtration
• CR79: Upright Vacuum With On Board Tools & Rug/Floor Selector with Electrostatic Filtration
• CR89: Upright Vacuum With On Board Tools, Rug/Floor Selector & Variable Speed Control with HEPA Filtration
• CR99: Performance Pet Edition Upright Vacuum With On Board Tools, Rug/Floor Selector & Variable Speed Control.

The Prograde commercial vacuums include:

• PRO-8000 Professional Grade Upright Vacuum
• PRO-8500 Professional Grade Upright Vacuum With Quick-Draw Style On Board Tools
• PRO-9000 Professional Grade Upright Vacuum With On Board Tools & HEPA Filtration

The Elektrapure Lightweight Upright Vaccum & Handvac include:

• EP-1010: Ultralite 8 Lb. Upright Vacuum
• EP-1111: Powerful Hand Vac with tools

Cirrus vacuum cleaners are made to last by using durable materials. Cirrus also is looking for folks to become distributors. Please go to the company website to get more information.

Is it ok to ask for a new vacuum cleaner for a wedding gift? I see no problem in it but you better ask Ms Manners. LOL.

One bride to be asked: (source)
Also, is it OK to put a moderately priced vacuum cleaner on there (eg. $500)? Of course we would not expect anyone to buy it but just in case a few people want to put their money together and get it? In my area, $500 for a vacuum clean is moderate, top of the range here would be $1000 but I think that is crazy. I was not sure what is acceptable and what is not so please help, I don’t want any family to think badly of us if we do it wrong. The vacuum cleaner would probably be the only really expensive thing on the list.

The answer she got? “..And a vacuum isn’t a bad gift to ask for..”

A vacuum is a great idea to ask for when getting married. You want to keep your new home clean! If someone does not want to purchase a new vacuum outright, maybe ask for a gift certificate to put towards a new vacuum.

What is the best vacuum to get as a wedding gift?

One article said: “Meet the Roomba robotic vacuum cleaner. Like the Robomow automatic lawnmower, this is a gift that will do your chores for you — specifically, your vacuuming.”

We will be discussing robotic vacuum cleaners in a future blog post.

Finally what to write in your wedding gift thank you cards?

If you do get a vacuum cleaner, simply thank them for what you got and how you will be using it in the future, i.e. “Thank you for the incredibly useful dust buster/vacuum cleaner. Now that all the dust has settled from our exciting wedding and honeymoon, I have the perfect gift to clean it up with. Thanks again.”

Seems like everything is noisy these days-cars, construction, schools, concerts etc. Every once in a while, you just want to have some quiet. Noise protection is very important. Noise is unwanted noise and is basically a pollutant and a hazard to our health and hearing.

Noise levels are measured in decibels (dB). The higher the decibel level, the louder the noise. Sounds louder than 80 decibels are considered potentially hazardous. The noise chart below gives an idea of average decibel levels for everyday sounds around you. (source)
Painful
150 dB = rock music peak
140 dB = firearms, air raid siren, jet engine
Extremely Loud
90 dB = lawnmower, shop tools, truck traffic, subway
Very Loud
80 dB = alarm clock, busy street
70 dB = busy traffic, vacuum cleaner
60 dB = conversation, dishwasher
Moderate
50 dB = moderate rainfall
Faint
30 dB = whisper, quiet library

In general, a vacuum cleaner will run around 70 dB. Now if you are concerned about your noise level, check out your vacuum cleaner before purchase. Below is a list of some of the most quiet vacuum cleaners. (source)

10. BOSCH Formula Classic 65 Db(A)
9. SEBO K2 Hunter 63 Db(A)
8. Karcher T201 - 59 Db(A)
7. Tennant 3400 - 58 DB(A)
6. Nilfisk UZ934 - 58 DB(A)
5. Fein 9-55-13 Turbo - 58 DB(A)
4. Top Vac (from Pacific Floor Care) - 55 Db(A)
3. Nilfisk Advance CaniStar - 53 Db(A)
2. Pro Team QuietPro - 47 Db(A)
1. Numatic NRV200 - 47Db(A).

The more you can do to removed unwanted noise, the better.

We have mentioned and will continue to discuss how to make your home healthier and allergy free (or the best it can be) through better vacuum cleaners and systems. We found an article, which we felt tied into this nicely and wanted to put it here for your convenience.

Make Your New Or Existing Home Even Greener

(NAPSI)-There’s no need to sacrifice style when making environmentally conscious home design choices.

Today’s manufacturers offer beautifully designed, energy-saving and environmentally friendly options to help create a green environment in your existing or newly built home.

Improving indoor air quality (IAQ) is a growing concern for homeowners. Industry leaders have developed and manufactured forward-thinking residential ventilation and built-in products that greatly improve the overall indoor environment, a key component to making a home greener.

According to a number of leading organizations including the Home Ventilating Institute (HVI), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), exhausting pollutants and moisture from the home is one of the best ways to ensure better IAQ.

Range hoods and ventilation fans that are ducted to the outside are the best options for spot ventilation of pollutants and moisture.

Brands such as Broan and NuTone offer complete lines of quiet kitchen and bath ventilation products, including many that are ENERGY STAR® qualified, making them a truly green product.

Noise pollution also is reduced as most of these range hoods and ventilation fans are rated at less than 1.5 Sones. For comparison, 1.0 Sone is equivalent to the sound made by a quiet refrigerator.

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, asthma and allergies strike one out of four Americans-roughly 60 million people. Poor IAQ, which can be caused by dust mites, mold spores, pollen, humidity, pet dander, smoke and radon, can contribute to asthma and allergy attacks.

NuTone central vacuum systems can alleviate poor IAQ by pulling dust, dirt and allergens from the living environment more effectively than portable vacuums, trapping them within the filtration system of the power unit and exhausting them outdoors.

A central vacuum system also can be used to more effectively “power dust” furniture and living space by removing the dust from the living areas rather than just moving it around.

The system is up to five times more powerful than a conventional vacuum cleaner and will not recirculate dust-laden air back into the room.

Today’s energy-efficient ventilation products offer easy ways to reduce pollution and improve indoor air quality.