RIDGID RT1600 16-Gallon NXT Wet/Dry Vac with Detachable Blower

A 16-gallon vac whose blower lifts off

The RT1600 is RIDGID's 16-gallon NXT wet/dry vac, catalog number 62723, with a detachable blower. RIDGID rates the motor at 6.5 peak horsepower, 12 amps, 120 volts and 1,440 watts, and lists a two-piece polypropylene drum, 360 degree casters and a large drain at the lowest point of the drum.

The manual describes releasing the blower with the latch under its handle and lifting it off to use as a dedicated blower for yard, patio and garage cleanup. A separate blower wand attaches directly to the power assembly, and the manual also lists wet, utility and car nozzles.

RIDGID also lists Scroll Noise Reduction, an accessory storage caddy, a quick-release cord wrap for the 20 foot power cord, a blowing feature, a smooth-interior locking hose and the Qwik Lock filter system.

Kit contents and two hose descriptions

RIDGID's includes list is the vacuum, owner's manual, two extension wands, a premium locking pro hose, a locking blowing wand, utility nozzle, wet nozzle, car nozzle and a standard filter. The manual's carton list adds four caster feet with storage, four casters and an accessory caddy, and says the filter comes preassembled.

RIDGID's page calls the hose 2-1/2 inches by 8 feet, while the manual describes a 48 mm, 1-7/8 inch by 8 foot locking hose that fits 2-1/2 inch accessories. RIDGID's specification table lists the accessory size as 2-1/2 inches, and its accessory table lists 2-1/2 inch locking wands and nozzles.

The listing's details table gives 2.4 meters of hose, which matches 8 feet. It also lists an AC adapter power source, 100 watts and a maximum suction of 0.05 inches, none of which appear in RIDGID's documents.

Water pickup and the float

The manual says small amounts of liquid, under 2 inches or 5 cm collected in the drum, do not require removing the filter. For larger amounts, it says to remove the filter but leave the filter cage and float in place, since a saturated filter can send mist out of the blowing port.

When the drum is full, the float rises, and the manual says the pitch and speed of the motor rise with it. The manual also says to let the filter dry after wet pickup, and to use a dry filter for dry pickup.

The manual's safety summary includes a caution about fine dust and asks for outdoor-rated extension cords of at least 16 AWG. It describes the vac as double insulated, and it carries warnings for the detached blower that this page does not reproduce.

Emptying, moving and the blower intake

The manual describes two ways to empty: remove the drain cap, or remove the powerhead and tip the drum using its handles. It warns not to carry the vac by the detachable blower handle when the drum is full.

To move the vac, the manual points to the drum catches, and says the detachable blower handle can be used to steer it. We have not reproduced the emptying or moving steps; they are in the owner's manual.

The manual's maintenance section covers a foam pad that sits under the blower's intake shield, held by three screws. It warns never to run the blower without the intake shield fitted; the cleaning steps are in that section and are not repeated here.

Figures that differ between sources

RIDGID's specification table gives 139 CFM of airflow and a shipping weight of 24.7 pounds. The listing gives an item weight of 27 pounds and no airflow figure. RIDGID does not publish an assembled weight on the page.

RIDGID's page describes the RT1600 as a professional vac for pro, contractor and industrial use, while the manual's introduction says the detachable wet/dry vac is intended for household use. Neither document reconciles those two descriptions.

The manual gives the model number as RT16000 with an electrical rating of 120 volts, 12.0 amps and 60 hertz, while RIDGID's product page and the listing use RT1600. The catalog number 62723 on the listing matches RIDGID's ordering table.

Warranty wording

RIDGID's product page lists a full lifetime warranty. The manual's repair parts page says the product has a 90 day satisfaction guarantee policy as well as a limited lifetime warranty, and points to RIDGID.com/VacWarranty or 1-800-4-RIDGID for details.

The listing's warranty field describes a RIDGID lifetime warranty against material and workmanship defects that ends when the product becomes unusable for reasons other than such defects. The full and limited wording differ between RIDGID's own page and the manual.