Shop-Vac Pump Wet-Dry Vac 960-14-00 Review

What the reviewers like:
Reviews say this shop vac has plenty of vacuuming power, and the pump can really save the day. The big switch is easy to reach, and it's easy to pull around; the hose screws on securely. A smaller hose suitable for collecting dust from hand-held power tools is available but at extra cost, and a Ridgid muffler can be added to quiet it down. The four-year warranty is longer than that of many consumer-level shop vacs.

What the reviewers don't like:
It takes time to switch from dry to wet pickup, and some owners say the pump can be hard to get started and doesn't keep up with the vacuum; in other words, this shop vac can vacuum liquid faster than it can pump it out. The model is also bulky and hard to store, and some owners say the tool caddy and cord-wrap don't work well. We also found several complaints about quality problems and malfunctions.

Shop-Vac Pump Wet-Dry Vac 960-14-00 review highlights

The 14-gallon Shop-Vac 960-14-00 is unusual because it not only vacuums liquid, but can pump it out through a garden hose. Owners give it mixed reviews overall, but do like this feature. As an alternative, other reviews praise an inexpensive pump attachment that can work on most tank-style shop vacs, the Craftsman 16952 (*est. $40). You could add this pump to a shop vac that comparison reviews recommend, such as the Ridgid WD1850 (*est. $150). Reviews say it's quieter, comes with a lifetime warranty and performs better than similar Shop-Vac models on both wet and dry vacuuming.

We found the best review of the Shop-Vac 960-14-00 at Popular Mechanics, where editors compare it with five other shop vacs based on rigorous tests. Owners review and rate this shop vac at Amazon.com, highlighting some problems. We also found reviews of similar Shop-Vac Pump models, of which Consumer Reports is the most thorough: Editors test and rank 23 shop vacs, including the similar but discontinued Shop-Vac 960-16-00 (*est. $160).

Also see full report: Shop Vacs

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

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

This review compares the Shop-Vac 960-14-00 with five other shop vacs 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). Tests here show the Shop-Vac 960-14-00 the second-fastest model at picking up both water and dry debris, and the big switch is easy to reach. The pump feature is judged quite effective, but switching from dry to wet pickup is inconvenient.

2. Amazon.com
Untitled
Contributors to Amazon.com

At the time of this report, only a handful of owners have reviewed the Shop-Vac Pump Wet-Dry Vac 960-14-00 here, but their comments give a full range of opinions. Owners give this model a lower average rating than most shop vacs get here, highlighting quite a few problems, though several say the pump feature is worth getting.

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

Consumer Reports tests the slightly larger but similar 16-gallon Shop-Vac Ultra pump 960-16-00, comparing it with four other large wet-dry shop vacuums plus 18 other models of various sizes. Editors run all 23 shop vacs through objective tests, ranking them all based on separate ratings for wet pickup, dry pickup, emissions and ease of use. The review finds that the capacity of most shop-vac tanks for liquids is much smaller than that for dry debris. This implies that the pump feature is valuable, though editors don't discuss it.

4. EZineArticles.com
Choosing a Shop Vac for Your Small Business
Lance Winslow
Mar. 2007

Retired entrepreneur Lance Winslow reports on his own tests of four consumer-level shop vacs, including a slightly larger, 6-hp (discontinued) Shop-Vac model with the pump feature, comparing each to a higher-end Alto/WAP shop vac based on objective tests. The Shop-Vac provides the best suction, but the author recommends using a Ridgid muffler attachment to quiet its operation. He also recommends the Ridgid gutter-cleaning attachment.

5. AssociatedContent.com
Shop-Vac Model 92P350 Review
Jeff Gedgaud

This single-product review covers an earlier similar model with a pump, the Shop-Vac 92P350, based on the author's personal use. The review praises its double-duty use as both vacuum cleaner and water pump, noting that it can also serve as a blower. It's especially convenient since you can attach a garden hose to the outlet. That means the tank size doesn't limit the amount of liquid it can clean up. The author also finds this model well constructed and stable.

6. Ridgid Power Tools Forum
Pump Vacuum
Contributors to RidgidForum.com

This discussion of shop vacs with the pump feature recommends the Sears pump attachment, especially for use on a Ridgid shop vac.

Also see full report: Shop Vacs

Shop-Vac Pump Wet-Dry Vac 960-14-00 Review