Ridgid WD1450 Review

What the reviewers like:
Both expert and owner-written reviews praise the Ridgid WD1450 shop vac for excellent suction, quiet performance and low emissions. Its seven-foot, 2.5-inch diameter hose is unlikely to clog on most workshop debris and locks into the tank securely, making it easy to pull the shop vac around on its wheels. The 28-inch height means it can be stored under most tables or workbenches. Finally, the lifetime warranty is a big advantage.

What the reviewers don't like:
Experts note that the Ridgid WD1450 shop vac’s 14-gallon capacity applies only to dry pickup; wet pickup tops out at around 10.5 gallons. Also, though the 20-foot cord is average, some owners wish it were longer. As with other Ridgid shop vacs, we found some complaints about Ridgid customer service, noting that it can take a long time to get parts and accessories.

Ridgid WD1450 review highlights

The 14-gallon Ridgid WD1450 wet-dry vacuum is the top-rated consumer-brand shop vac in its size range, which experts say is large enough for most general use around the house and garage. It scores well for low emissions, excellent suction and quiet performance. This consumer-brand shop vac isn't especially convenient for collecting dust from power tools because it lacks the auto-start feature, but reviews recommend it for both wet and dry pickup around a workshop or home.

Consumer Reports tests the Ridgid WD1450 shop vac along with 22 other models, running them through objective tests before rating and ranking their performance. The even more recent comparison tests at Popular Mechanics also include the Ridgid WD1450. For a longer-term perspective, we found useful owner-written ratings and reviews of the Ridgid WD1450 shop vacuum at Home Depot.com.

Also see full report: Shop Vacs

*In order of credibility (see our Ratings Criteria).

1. Consumer Reports
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Wet/Dry Vacuums
Editors of Consumer Reports
Mar. 2007

Consumer Reports includes the Ridgid WD1450 shop vac in its review of 23 consumer-brand wet-dry vacuums, comparing it primarily with four other consumer models of similar size. Each shop vac is put through objective tests and assigned a total score, as well as separate ratings for wet and dry pickup, emissions and ease of use.

2. Popular Mechanics
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Shop Vac Showdown: We Test 6 New Wet/Dry Vacuums
Tom Klenck
Sept. 2007

This review compares the Ridgid WD1450 shop vac with five other models ranging from 4.5 to 16 gallons, testing their speed and capacity in vacuuming water and in picking up a variety of dry debris (cat litter, sawdust, wood shavings and scraps, garden mulch). Although the Ridgid WD1450 isn't the biggest or fastest shop vac tested here, it's the editors' favorite because it's so easy to use, with no drawbacks at all.

3. HomeDepot.com
Ridgid WD1450 Shop Vac Review
Contributors to HomeDepot.com

At the time of this report, the Ridgid WD1450 is the top-rated shop vac according to owner-written reviews, with most of the twenty owner-written reviews giving this model a perfect 5-star rating.

4. Epinions
Ridgid WD1450 Reviews
Contributors to Epinions

Though only two owners review the Ridgid WD1450 here, they both criticize Ridgid customer service, saying it's difficult to get parts and accessories within a reasonable time. Otherwise, they love this shop vac.

Also see full report: Shop Vacs