Safety is a combination of using common
sense, staying alert and knowing how your
Wet/Dry Vacuum Cleaner (“Vac”) works.
Safety Signal Words
DANGER: Indicates a hazardous
situation which, if not avoided, will result
in death or serious injury.
WARNING: Indicates a hazardous
situation which, if not avoided, could
result in death or serious injury.
CAUTION: Indicates a hazardous
situation which, if not avoided, could
result in minor or moderate injury.
When using your Vac, always follow basic
safety precautions including the following:
WARNING
– To reduce the risk of fire, electric
shock, or injury:
• Read and understand this manual and
all labels on the Wet/Dry Vac before
operating.
• Use only as described in this manual.
• Do not leave Vac running while
unattended – you may fail to notice
important signs indicating abnormal
operation such as loss of suction, debris/
liquid exiting the exhaust or abnormal
motor noises. Immediately stop using
Vac if you notice any of these signs.
• Do not leave Vac when plugged in when
not in use and before servicing.
• Sparks inside the motor can ignite
ammable fumes or dust. To reduce the
risk of re or explosion, do not use near
• Do not vacuum anything that is burning
or smoking, such as cigarettes,
matches, or hot ashes.
• Do not vacuum plasterboard or plaster
dust, cold replace ash, or other ne
dusts with standard lter. These may
pass through the lter and be exhausted
back into the air. Use a ne dust lter
instead.
• To reduce the risk of inhaling toxic
fumes, do not vacuum or use near toxic
or hazardous materials.
• To reduce the risk of electric shock, do
not expose to rain or allow liquid to enter
motor compartment. Store indoors.
• This vacuum cleaner is not intended for
use by persons (including children) with
reduced physical, sensory or mental
capabilities, or lack of experience and
knowledge, unless they have been given
supervision or instruction concerning
use of the vacuum by a person
responsible for their safety.
• Do not allow Vac to be used as a toy.
Close attention is necessary when used
by or near children.
• Do not use with a torn lter or without
the lter installed except when
2
vacuuming liquids as described in this
manual. Dry debris ingested by the
impeller may damage the motor or be
exhausted into the air.
• Turn off the Vac before unplugging.
• To reduce the risk of injury from
accidental start-up, unplug power cord
before changing or cleaning lter.
• Do not unplug by pulling on the cord. To
unplug, grasp the plug, not the cord.
• Do not use with a damaged cord, plug
or other parts. If your Vac is not working
as it should, has missing parts, has
been dropped, damaged, left outdoors
or dropped into water, call customer
service. Do not pull or carry by the cord,
use the cord as a handle, close a door
on cord, or pull the cord around sharp
edges or corners.
• Do not run Vac over cord. Keep cord
away from heated surfaces.
• Do not handle plug, switch or the Vac
with wet hands.
• Use only extension cords that are rated
for outdoor use. Extension cords in poor
condition or too small in wire size can
pose re and shock hazards. To reduce
the risk of these hazards, be sure the
cord is in good condition and that liquid
does not contact the connection. Do not
use an extension cord with conductors
smaller than 1.3 mm2. To reduce power
loss, do not use an extension cord with
conductors smaller than 2.1 mm2 if the
length is more than 30 m (100 ft.).
• This Wet/Dry Vac is double-insulated,
eliminating the need for a separate
earthing system. Use only identical
replacement parts. Read the instructions
for Servicing Double-Insulated Wet/Dry
Vacs before servicing.
• Do not put any object into ventilation
openings. Do not vacuum with any
ventilation openings blocked; keep free
of dust, lint, hair or anything that may
reduce air ow.
• Keep hair, loose clothing, ngers and all
parts of body away from openings and
moving parts.
• To reduce the risk of falls, use extra care
when cleaning on stairs.
• To reduce the risk of back injury or falls,
do not lift a Vac that is heavy with liquid
or debris. Partially empty the Vac by
scooping debris or draining liquid to
make it comfortable to lift.
• To reduce the risk of personal injury
or damage to Vac, use only Ridgidrecommended accessories.
• When using as a blower:
- Direct air discharge only at work area.
- Do not direct air at bystanders.
- Keep children away when blowing.
- Do not use blower for any job except
blowing dirt and debris.
- Do not use as a sprayer.
• To reduce the risk of eye injury, wear
safety goggles. The operation of any
utility Vac or blower can result in foreign
objects being blown into the eyes, which
can result in severe eye damage.
CAUTION:
• To reduce the risk of hearing damage,
wear ear protectors when using for an
extended time or in a noisy area.
• For dusty operations, wear a dust mask.
• Static shocks are common when the
relative humidity of the air is low.
Vacuuming ne debris with your Vac
can deposit static charge on the hose
or Vac. To reduce the frequency of
static shocks in your home or when
using this Vac, add moisture to the air
with a humidier.
Observe the following warnings that appear
on the motor housing of your Vac:
DOUBLE INSULATED EARTHING
NOT REQUIRED. WHEN
SERVICING USE ONLY IDENTICAL
REPLACEMENT PARTS.
WARNING: For your own safety,
read and understand the owner’s
manual. Do not run unattended. Do
not pick up hot ashes, coals, toxic,
inflammable or other hazardous
materials. Do not use around
explosive liquids or vapour.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of
electric shock – do not expose to rain
– store indoors.
SAVE THIS MANUAL
3
Introduction
This Wet/Dry Vac is intended for household use and for normal housekeeping
purposes in hotels, ofces, schools,
hospitals and similar premises. It may be
used for vacuuming wet or dry media and
may be used as a blower.
Read this owner’s manual to familiarise
yourself with the product features and
to understand the specic usage of your
new Vac.
Unpacking and Checking Carton Contents
Remove contents of carton. Check each
item against the Carton Contents List. If
any parts are missing or damaged please
contact us at www.RIDGID.com.au.
Carton Contents List
Key Description Qty
A Wet/Dry Vac .................................. 1
B Locking Hose Assembly ................. 1
C Caster ............................................4
D Caster Foot w/Storage ..................4
E* Qwik Lock™ Filter .......................... 1
F Extension Wands .......................... 2
G Utility Nozzle .................................1
H Wet Nozzle ..................................... 1
I Car Nozzle .................................... 1
2. Insert the caster feet into the bottom of
drum, as shown (4 places).
3. Push on the caster foot until the foot is
ush with the bottom of the dust drum.
4. Insert the caster stem into the socket of
the caster foot, as shown (4 places).
5. Push on the caster until the ball on
the caster stem is inserted all the way
into the socket. You will hear the ball
snap into the socket and the caster
will swivel easily when positioning is
correct.
6. Turn the drum upright.
Caster
Foot
Dust
Drum
Hole
Caster
Caster Stem
Caster Ball
Pin
5
Wet/Dry Vac Assembly
1. Line up front of powerhead assembly
with Vacuum port located on the front of
the drum, as shown.
NOTE: Powerhead assembly must be
aligned with drum for proper attachment.
2. Place powerhead assembly on top of
the drum.
3. Be sure powerhead assembly
completely covers the top of the drum
so leakage does not occur.
4. Push down on top of handles to cause
exible locking tabs to hook on to the
5. Make sure that the locking tabs are
snapped into place as shown, to
prevent the lid from coming off.
6. To remove the powerhead assembly,
reverse above directions.
Insert Hose
Insert the larger end of the hose into the
vacuum port.
Place the utility nozzle securely on the
opposite end of the hose and the vac is
ready for use.
Flexible Locking
Tab Pulled Out
Flexible
Locking Tab
Power
Assembly
Vacuum Port
Push
Down to
Latch
Drum
Flexible Locking Tab
(located under latch)
Pull
Out to
Unlatch
Drum
Power
Assembly
Release
Button
66
Operation
WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire, explosion or damage to Vac:
• Do not leave Vac running while unattended – you may fail to notice important
signs indicating abnormal operation such as loss of suction, debris/liquid
exiting the exhaust or abnormal motor noises. Immediately stop using Vac if
you notice these signs.
• Do not leave Vac plugged in when not in use.
• Do not continue running when float has cut off suction.
• Sparks inside the motor can ignite airborne inflammables. Do not operate
Vac near inflammable liquids or in areas with inflammable gases, fumes
or explosive/airborne dust. Inflammable liquids, gases and fumes include:
lighter fluid, solvent-type cleaners, oil-based paints, petrol, alcohol and
aerosol sprays. Explosive dusts include: coal, magnesium, aluminium, grain
and gun powder.
• Do not vacuum up explosive dusts, inflammable liquids or hot ashes.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of electric shock or injury:
• Do not expose to rain or allow liquid to enter motor compartment. Store
indoors.
• Do not handle plug, switch, or Vac with wet hands.
• Unplug Vac before servicing. If your Vac is not working as it should, has
missing parts, has been dropped, damaged, left outdoors or dropped into
water, return it to an authorised service centre or call customer service.
• When using an extension cord, use only outdoor-rated cords that are in good
condition. Do not allow the connection to come into contact with liquid.
After you plug the power cord into the
socket, turn the unit on by pushing the
switch from position “O” to position “l”.
The symbols used on the switch actuator
are international “On & Off” symbols:
= OFF= ON
Familiarise yourself with the accessories
included with the Vac. Each accessory
may be used in various ways for
vacuuming and blowing debris. Here is a
list of the accessories and their uses:
Utility Nozzle – General purpose nozzle
for most vacuuming applications.
Extension Wands – These wands can be
connected together and provide additional
length.
Locking Hose – Provides transfer of
vacuum or blowing capability to work
site. Provides the means of attaching
extension wands and nozzles.
Wet Nozzle – Used for wet pick-up on
smooth surfaces to pick up liquid and dry
the surface in one stroke.
Car Nozzle – Dry pick-up nozzle for car
interiors and most upholstery cleaning.
Dusting Brush – Used for detailed
cleaning in small spaces.
7
7
Operation (continued)
Vacuuming Dry Materials
1. The lter must always be in the correct
position at all times to avoid leaks and
possible damage to Vac.
2. When using your Vac to pick up ne
dust, it will be necessary for you to
empty the drum and clean the lter
at more frequent intervals to maintain
peak Vac performance.
NOTE: It is necessary that a dry lter is
used to pick up dry material. If you use
your Vac to pick up dust when the lter is
wet, the lter will clog quickly and be very
difcult to clean.
3. If your lter is wet but you need to use
the Vac to pick up dry material, you
must rst allow the lter to dry.
Vacuuming Liquids
1. When picking up small amounts of
liquid (less than 3-6 cm of liquid in the
bottom of the drum) the lter may be
left in place.
2. When picking up larger amounts of
liquid (more than 6 cm of liquid in the
bottom of the drum) we recommend
that the lter be removed. If the lter is
not removed, it will become saturated
and misting may appear in the exhaust.
3. When the liquid in the drum reaches
a predetermined level, the oat
mechanism will rise automatically to cut
off air-ow. You will know that the oat
has risen because suction stops and
the motor noise will become higher in
pitch, due to increased motor speed.
When this happens, turn off the Vac,
unplug the power cord, and empty the
drum.
4. After using the Vac to pick up liquids,
the lter must be dried to avoid possible
mildew and damage to the lter.
IMPORTANT: To reduce the risk of
damage to the Vac, do not run Vac with
oat in raised position.
Emptying the Drum
WARNING: To reduce the risk
of injury from accidental starting,
unplug the power cord before
emptying the drum.
1. Remove the lid. Pull the exible latches
outwards on each side of the lid to
release from the drum.
2. While holding the latches out, lift the top
assembly up and away from the drum.
3. Lay top assembly upside down on a
clean area while emptying the drum or
changing the lter.
4. Dump the drum contents into the proper
waste disposal container.
Moving the Wet/Dry Vac
Should it become necessary to pick the
Vac up to move it, DO NOT pick the Vac
up by the lid handles unless the dust
drum is empty. To avoid dropping the Vac,
due to latches releasing or possible part
breakage, pick the Vac up by the dust
drum.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of
back injury or falls, do not lift a Vac
heavy with liquid or debris. Scoop
or drain enough contents out to
make the Vac light enough to lift
comfortably.
8
8
Operation (continued)
Swivel
End of
Blowing Feature
Your Wet/Dry Vac features “Full Blowing”.
It can blow sawdust and other debris.
Follow the steps below to use your Vac
as a blower.
WARNING: Always wear safety
goggles before using as a blower.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of
injury to bystanders, keep them clear
of blowing debris.
CAUTION: Wear a dust mask if
blowing creates dust which might be
inhaled.
CAUTION: To reduce the risk of
hearing damage, wear ear protectors
when using the Vac/Blower for
extended time or in a noisy area.
1. Locate blowing port of your Wet/Dry
Vac.
2. Insert locking end of hose into the
blowing port of the Vac.
3. (Optional) Attach extension wand to
swivel end of hose.
4. Turn Vac on and you are ready to use
your Vac as a blower.
Locking
Hose
Extension Wand
(Optional)
Blowing
Port
Hose
99
To Store Your Accessories
1. Slide extension wands and accessories on to posts of the caster feet for
storage.
2. To remove wands and accessories,
lightly rotate and pull upwards.
Hose Storage
Insert the hose into the inlet then wrap the
hose around the power head and back
into the hose as shown.
Utility
Nozzle
Extension
Wand (2)
Caster
Feet
Storage
Hose
Cord Storage
Simply, wrap the power cord around the
power head and snap the connector on
the plug to a wrap of the cord.
10
10
Power
Cord
Maintenance
Integrated Filter
Filter
WARNING: To reduce the risk
of injury from accidental starting,
unplug the power cord before
changing or cleaning the filter.
NOTE: The lter is made of high quality
paper designed to stop small particles of
dust. The lter can be used for dry pick-up
or small amounts of liquid. Handle the
lter carefully when removing or installing
it. Creases in the lter pleats may occur
from installation but will not affect the
performance of the lter.
Removal and Installation
of the Qwik Lock™ Filter
Filter Removal:
1. Hold the lter tabs of the Qwik Lock™
lter in each hand.
2. With one thumb on the Qwik Lock™
stud, which protrudes through the
integrated lter plate, lift up the lter
tabs while pushing down on the stud.
3. This action will cause the lter to
release from the lter cage. Slide the
lter off cage.
IMPORTANT: To avoid damage to the
blower wheel and motor, always reinstall
the lter before using the Vac for dry
material pickup.
2. Align the small centre hole in the top
of the lter over the Qwik Lock™ stud
on the lter cage. Press rmly on top of
the lter near the stud to allow the lter
to snap over the ball on the end of the
stud. The lter is now attached.
NOTE: Failure to properly seat the bottom
gasket could result in debris by-passing
the lter.
WARNING: Do not operate without
a filter cage and float, as they prevent
liquid from entering the impeller and
damaging the motor.
Plate with Center
Hole
Filter
Tabs (2)
Filter
Cage
PUSH
DOWN
PULL
UP
Rubber
Gasket at
Bottom of
Filter
(cutaway
view)
Qwik
Lock™
Stud
Filter Installation:
1. Carefully slide the Qwik Lock™ lter
over the lter cage and press down on
the outside edge of the lter until the
rubber gasket on the bottom of the lter
seats securely around the base of the
lter cage and against the lid.
11
11
Lid
Maintenance (continued)
Filter Cleaning
Your lter should be cleaned often to
maintain peak Vac performance.
Be sure to dry the lter before storing or
picking up dry debris.
Cleaning A Dry Filter
1. Some removal of dry debris can be
accomplished without removing the
lter from the Vac. Slap your hand on
top of the lid while the Vac is turned off.
2. For best cleaning results due to
accumulated dust, clean the lter in an
open area. Cleaning SHOULD be done
outdoors and not in the living quarters.
3. After lter removal from Vac, remove
the dry debris by gently tapping the
lter against the inside wall of the dust
drum. The debris will loosen and fall.
4. For thorough cleaning of a dry lter
containing ne dust (no debris), run
water through it as described under
“Cleaning A Wet Filter”.
Cleaning A Wet Filter
After lter has been removed, run water
through the lter from a hose or tap. Take
care that water pressure from the hose is
not strong enough to damage the lter.
Cleaning and Disinfecting the
Wet/Dry Vac
To keep your Wet/Dry Vac looking its best,
clean the outside with a cloth dampened
with warm water and mild detergent.
To clean the drum:
1. Dump debris out.
2. Wash drum thoroughly with warm water
and mild detergent.
3. Wipe out with dry cloth.
Before prolonged storage or as needed
(i.e.; waste water pick-up) the drum
should be disinfected.
To disinfect the drum:
1. Pour 4 l of water and 5 ml chlorine
bleach into the drum.
2. Let solution stand for 20 minutes,
carefully agitating it every few minutes,
making sure to wet all inside surfaces
of the drum.
3. Empty drum after 20 minutes. Rinse
with water until bleach smell has gone.
Allow drum to dry completely before
sealing the motor on the drum.
IMPORTANT: After cleaning, check the
lter for tears or small holes. Do not use a
lter with holes or tears in it. Even a small
hole can cause a lot of dust to come out
of your Vac. Replace it immediately.
Allow the lter to dry before reinstalling
and storing the Vac.
12
12
Maintenance (continued)
Cord Maintenance
When vacuuming is complete, unplug
the cord and wrap it around the motor
cover. If the power cord is damaged, it
must be replaced by the manufacturer or
the service agent or by similarly qualied
personnel to reduce the risk of accident.
Power
Cord
Storage
Before storing your Vac, the dust drum
should be emptied and cleaned. The
cord should be wrapped around the unit.
Accessories should be kept in the same
area as the Vac so they can be readily
available. The Vac should be stored
indoors.
Casters
If your casters are noisy, you may put
a drop of oil on the roller shaft to make
them quieter.
WARNING: To assure product
SAFETY and RELIABILITY, any
other maintenance, repairs and
adjustments should be performed by
Authorised Service Centres, always
using RIDGID replacement parts.
13
13
Repair Parts
RIDGID 22.5 Litre Wet/Dry Vac
Model Numbers WD0655AU0 / WD0655KR0 / WD0655ND0
Electrical Rating:
220 - 230 V, 4 A, 50/60 Hz.
RIDGID parts are available on-line at www.RIDGID.com
Always order by Part Number - Not by Key Number
WARNING
SERVICING OF DOUBLE-INSULATED WET/DRY VAC
In a double-insulated Wet/Dry Vac, two systems of insulation are provided instead of
earthing. No earthing is provided on a double-insulated appliance, nor should a means
for earthing be added. Servicing a double-insulated Wet/Dry Vac requires extreme care
and knowledge of the system, and should be done only by qualified service personnel.
Replacement parts for a double-insulated Wet/Dry Vac must be identical to the parts
they replace. Your double-insulated Wet/Dry Vac is marked with the words “DOUBLE
INSULATED” and the symbol (square within a square) may also be marked on the
appliance.
To reduce the risk of injury from electrical shock, unplug the power cord before servicing
the electrical parts of the Wet/Dry Vac.