Killed my wet vac last week. I had to hoover the last of a seriously hot thermal store. The customer had jammed a screw in the high temp cut out (what a clever boy - not) so it was actually boiling.
I was tempted as I drained it to then fill it up a little to cool down the last bit, but thought, "na, it'll be ok"
The vacuum was actually belting out steam as I sucked the last bit out the hose (I won't bother explaining why I couldn't drain it all under gravity).
Anyway my Wickes wet vac did the job, even if the hose was starting to go a bit soft!
I went to use it today and it tripped the MCB in the house. So I think I've killed it.
I have a brandnew one in the shed, different make. So I guess I'll be digging that out in the morning.
Most reliable tool...I can't say. I tend to lose them or have them all nicked every few years, so nothing lasts that long!