Shop Vac | Can It Be Used to Remove Old Insulation?

Shop Vacs are the powerhouse of all vacuum cleaners. They’re extra durable, can handle wet or dry messes, and have powerful suction. This makes them the ideal choice for many construction cleanup jobs.

While you can use a Shop Vac for removing old insulation, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you should.

Are Shop Vacs Allowed to Be Used?

There are no building codes that prohibit using a Shop Vac to remove loose-fill insulation, which is not surprising as this would be a very specific regulation for the codes. However, there is also no generalized rule that would cover this.

In addition, the Shop Vac website doesn’t warn against using it for this purpose either.

Professionals advise against DIY insulation removal with anything other than a large, industrial-sized, specialized vacuum.

However, keep in mind that they might be biased against DIY removal since it is better for their business if people do not consider removing insulation on their own.

Professional Removal Probably Best

Just because insulation removal companies benefit from recommending their own services doesn’t mean they’re wrong. 

Professionals are trained to safely and effectively remove insulation. They know what they’re doing, can do it quickly, and make sure that you and your home are not harmed by the disturbed insulation. 

Unfortunately, professional removal of insulation can get expensive. You not only have to pay a per-square-foot charge but also an hourly rate for each professional working.

Cost is often a limiting factor in home improvement projects, and going the DIY route can lessen the financial toll of a project. You must decide what’s best for you and your home as you consider cost and safety.

Cost of Professional Removal

Insulation removal cost can be broken down into two parts: cost per hour and cost per square foot. 

You can expect to pay a contractor around $70 an hour. Some may charge more if they are particularly experienced. The region in which you live also affects how much a professional may pay for their work. Certain states, such as Texas and Oklahoma, typically have lower building labor costs.

The cost per square foot to get insulation removed falls between $1 to $2 in most areas. The average size of an attic in the U.S. is between 1,600 and 1,800 square feet, so you can see how pricey professional removal is for the average homeowner.

Considerations When Using Shop Vac

Capacity

You must consider the capacity of your Shop Vac before you move forward with using it to remove insulation.

A Shop Vac tank sizes include the following:

• Small tanks range between 2 and 6 gallons.
• Medium tanks range between 6 and 14 gallons.
• Large tanks range between 14 and 18 gallons.

A professional insulation removal vacuum, in comparison, connects to disposable bags with a capacity of up to 75 cubic feet. Some even have long enough hoses so that they can discharge directly into dumpsters.

If your Shop Vac does not have a large tank capacity, it is not recommended to use it for insulation removal. It will be quite a hassle to pause your work every other minute to empty the full tank.

Filter

The filter in your Shop Vac is a possible roadblock to using it for insulation removal.

As your vacuum works to suck up insulation, small dust particles and pieces of the insulation will get caught in the filter.

If the filter gets clogged up with debris, the vacuum becomes less effective as less air is able to pass through it. In as little as a minute’s time, you’ll have to take a break from vacuuming up the insulation in order to clean out the filter.

You can’t just use the Shop Vac without the filter, either. Running the vacuum without a filter damages it because there is no barrier between fine debris and the motor. If particles get into the motor, they can clog it.

The vacuum would also blow the dust you collected back into the environment through the exhaust system.

Overheating Motor

Shop Vacs can overheat quickly, especially when their filters become clogged. They aren’t able to provide the same amount of suction, but the motor keeps going at the same speed, which and leads to excess heat.

An overheated motor is very damaging to the Shop Vac. It can cause the motor to burn out and significantly decreases the vacuum’s lifespan. 

Some vacuums have a thermal shutoff, so they will automatically turn off when the motor reaches damaging levels. This is good for the well-being of your Shop Vac, but it can be an inconvenience if you have to continually wait for the motor to cool before starting up with the removal process again.

Reach

Your Shop Vac will need to be plugged into an outlet in order to turn on. Especially in spaces like your attic, it may be difficult to find outlets that allow your vacuum to reach all parts of the room.

You can use an extension cord to increase the reach of your Shop Vac, but it is inadvisable to plug extension cords into other extension cords.

When extension cords are plugged together in a series, they create a greater resistance. The cords heat up quickly and can cause fires or electrical shock if you touch them.

Extension cords are sold in various lengths—up to 500 feet! You may have to buy an extra-long extension cord so that your vacuum can safely reach the entire space.

Proper Disposal Method

When you get insulation professionally removed, the contractors will also take care of disposing the insulation in a proper location. If you decide to DIY insulation removal, you also must consider how you will dispose of the old insulation. 

You must first bag the insulation. Contractor bags are a good option to use because they are large and durable.

Most curbside waste management services will take cellulose or fiberglass insulation if it is bagged and placed in your waste bin. However, you will most likely have more than one garbage can full of insulation to dispose of.

Your best option is to rent a dumpster to put the bagged insulation in. It can then be safely transported to your local waste management facilities.

You may have to pay an extra fee to dispose of insulation in some locations. Be sure to check with your disposal site.

Proper PPE

Exposure to certain types of insulation can lead to adverse health effects.

Many of the commonly used insulation materials in homes can cause itching, which can last for several days or longer as a result of the insulation removal process.

Exposed fiberglass insulation can become airborne and cause respiratory issues. Vermiculite insulation may contain asbestos, which is a known carcinogen.

You must wear proper PPE if you plan to remove insulation on your own. None of your skin should be exposed during the removal process.

You should wear old, full coverage clothes that you can ideally dispose of. Microscopic insulation particles may become embedded in your clothing even after it is laundered.

Goggles and thick gloves should be worn to protect your eyes and hands. Finally a dust mask such as an N-95 should be worn to protect you from inhaling insulation particles.

Sources

https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/insulation/attic-insulation-cost/#:~:text=It%20does%20happen%20from%20time,to%20%242%20per%20square%20foot.

https://homeefficiencyguide.com/what-size-shop-vac-do-i-need/

https://www.omnihomeideas.com/appliances/can-you-use-a-shop-vac-without-filter/#:~:text=Without%20a%20filter%2C%20the%20vacuum,motor%2C%20which%20can%20cause%20damage. 

https://www.allumiax.com/blog/plugging-two-extension-cords-together-is-dangerous#:~:text=Once%20you%20have%20two%20identical,of%20fires%20and%20electrical%20shock.