Wessex 18L Wet & Dry Vacuum review

Vacuum cleaners can value lots and for those who simply need an inexpensive one in your storage, van and even your property, one which prices lower than forty  quid definitely seems to be tempting.

The Wessex 18L Moist & Dry vac is the entry-level mannequin  with 20L and 30L variations (with metallic  drums) providing extra capability.

Because the title says, it may possibly vacuum up liquid as properly. And as a bonus, it may possibly do triple obligation as a blower as properly.

However do you have to purchase one as a substitute of a way more costly cylinder vacuum reminiscent of a Henry? Learn on and discover out.

Options & design

There’s little question that you simply get what you pay for. Every part is made out of plastic together with the extension tubes that push collectively and hook up with the ground brush.

Not one of the equipment really feel good high quality, and there’s no angle adjustment on the ground brush: it’s mounted. It does swivel, however the inflexible angle could be a ache for those who haven’t received a lot of room.

It has bristles on the entrance and a rubber blade on the rear, which is principally for moist use. It’s designed for onerous flooring as these don’t retract (because the bristles on a Henry do) for simpler vacuuming of carpets or rugs.

You get a crevice instrument for stepping into corners and a hose adaptor which can be utilized to connect with the outlet of some energy instruments, permitting you to straight vacuum up sawdust or some other sort of mud from slicing or sanding.

The 4 castors must be screwed to the drum: the screws are nearly the one factor that isn’t fabricated from plastic.

Jim Martin / Foundry

There are thee paper mud baggage included (additionally not plastic) however calling them “excessive power” filter baggage is a step too far. They really feel as in the event that they’ll rip open whilst you’re becoming them, and you have to push onerous on the cardboard across the opening to make sure they’re correctly hooked up. If not, the mud will find yourself within the backside, beneath the bag.

At 1.5m, the hose is nearly lengthy sufficient and the 5m energy cable, whereas half the size of a Henry, can be in all probability sufficient. It’s only a disgrace there’s no storage for it whenever you’re not utilizing the vacuum. There’s a hook, however that’s it. With a Henry, after all, the cable winds up neatly inside the highest part.

Jim Martin / Foundry

The person guide explains nearly clearly sufficient use the three modes, however doesn’t correctly clarify that you have to match the HEPA locking nut beneath the motor when dry vacuuming.

If you have to suck up a spillage or flood, the bag and locking nut have to be eliminated, and you must match the froth filter across the motor.

You may them vacuum away as regular, however you possibly can’t submerse the comb utterly because it wants air as properly.

In an effort to use it to blow, the guide says the bag must be eliminated and also you connect the hose to the outlet on the highest half, somewhat than the inlet on the drum.

None of this takes lengthy, however it’s a faff to take away the bag and refit it, partly as a result of you must clear and dry the drum first but in addition as a result of there’s each likelihood you’ll injury the bag whereas eradicating or refitting it.

Efficiency

The excellent news is that the Wessex is healthier than you’d anticipate for the cash. With 18kPa of suction, it’s extra highly effective than a bagless Dyson and rather less than a Henry, however in contrast to each of these it doesn’t provide a ‘turbo’ mode whenever you want that bit extra suction.

Nonetheless, in use, I discovered the Wessex was completely able to hoovering up sawdust, basic workshop dust and coped comparatively properly with bigger items, and the odd leaf.

Equally, it carried out properly for vacuuming a automotive, eradicating dried mud and small stones from carpet and crumbs from seats.

The one attachment it doesn’t have which might have been helpful is a small brush attachment for vacuuming extra delicate issues. However the Wessex isn’t actually designed for that, and there was clearly no room within the funds for one.

Because it occurred, some torrential rain proved an excessive amount of for the seal on the underside of my storage door so I had the proper alternative to check out moist vacuuming.

This labored very properly, swiftly transferring water from the storage flooring into the cylinder. You may then tip out the water, however you’ll must rinse out or in any other case clear and dry it earlier than refitting a paper mud bag.

Jim Martin / Foundry

The blowing operate, as talked about, is meant for use with out the bag fitted, however does work with it in place. It received’t exchange a devoted leaf blower, however you may presumably discover a use for it now and again.

Value & availability

You should buy a Wessex 18L Moist & Dry vacuum from Toolstation, both in department or on-line. Because it’s over £25, supply is free until you need it subsequent day, through which case it’s an additional fiver.

On the time of overview, Toolstation had knocked 10% off, carry it down to only £34.98 – a discount.

Toolstation additionally sells packs of three mud baggage however, absurdly, these are dearer than Henry HepaFlo baggage that are significantly better high quality. You’d be higher off shopping for bigger pack of common baggage from Amazon or ebay.

Rachel Ogden / Foundry

A Henry, in contrast, is significantly dearer at £149 direct from its maker. You may learn our in-depth overview of the HVR160 to study extra. It’s price noting that though this mannequin is dry-only, there’s an HWD 370 which might additionally vacuum liquid and is the same price from Argos.

Verdict

Even at full worth the Wessex is sweet worth for those who’re after a cheap store vac for retaining a storage or shed clear, or to wash up after DIY initiatives in your house.

It’s not the only option in order for you a each day vacuum in your house: bagless, cordless stick vacuums are virtually all preferable there, even when they value extra. For some suggestions, see our roundup of the very best vacuums.

And for those who’re deliberating over this or a Henry for normal house use (versus a storage) then the additional cash is sort of definitely price spending for the higher construct high quality, further attachments, further suction and cable storage. The one disadvantage is {that a} Henry received’t have the ability to kind out any liquid spills.