If you&#;ve been looking for a new vacuum, but are confused by all the conflicting consumer ratings and on-line reviews, this buying guide was made for you. In the next few pages, we&#;re going to help you sort out the truth from the hype and show you how to choose the perfect high-quality vacuums that are right for your flooring, but still within your budget.
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But before we begin, lets clear up two of the biggest myths and mis-conceptions people have about vacuums.
Myth #1: The myth of the &#;best vacuum&#;
The truth is, there is no one, single &#;best vacuum&#;. It is true that there are big differences in quality and performance, but vacuum cleaners come with different configurations and features. Some are great on carpet, but scratch wood floors. Some are quiet, but heavy, other&#;s lightweight, but loud. This is why you can read ten different reviews on any given vacuum and find five people that love it and five that hate it. It&#;s also why that vacuum your Mom highly recommended may be the exact opposite of what you need for your home.
Myth #2: The myth of &#;amazing suction&#;
Don&#;t be fooled by useless marketing gimmicks like &#;horsepower&#; or &#;amps&#;. These numbers do not tell you anything about the suction and performance of a vacuum. The number to look for is CFM (cubic feet of airflow per minute). This tells you how many cubic feet of air the vacuum can suck in every minute. Good vacuums have around 100cfm. There are a few very cheap, poorly designed vacuums on the market today that have only 40-60cfm, but most modern vacuums have around 100cfm, and many top-quality vacuums have between 120-150cfm.
The truth is, the suction wars are over. Anything over 100cfm is more than enough suction for any job. In fact, increases in suction have nearly stopped in the last 10 years. At 150cfm, a properly designed vacuum will suck down onto the carpet surface so hard, you can barely push it. So as long as you know that the vacuum you are looking at has about 100cfm, focus more on other, more important factors like the quality of materials, filtration and proper design.
5 steps to choosing the right vacuum
Step one: Know your floors.
A condo in Arizona that is mostly ceramic tile needs a very different vacuum than a home in Ohio with wall-to-wall plush carpeting. So before you even begin your search, take stock of your home and identify all the different types of flooring you have, and take special note of your carpets and rugs.
Modern carpeting and rugs come in a much broader range of styles than the standard cut-pile, wall-to-wall most of us grew up with. Looped, knotted, twisted and woven carpets are common nowadays and they require a more delicate touch. Some carpet warranties now even specify the kind of vacuum that must be used or the warranty is voided, so be careful. Double check the material the carpet is made of and measure the pile. Anything made of wool, or any pile over 1-inch long should be treated with special care.
Here&#;s a breakdown of carpet styles and the type of vacuum best suited for them:
Carpet Type
Recommended Vacuum Type
Loop (knotted yarn)
Upright or Canister w/ extra soft bristle brush
Cut Pile (cut yarn)
Upright or Canister w/ heavy-duty motorized brush
Frisee (twisted yarn)
Upright or Canister w/ adjustable height
Woven (needlepoint)
Canister w/ suction only rug tool
Wool Loop
Canister w/ suction only rug tool
Wool Pile
Upright or Canister w/ extra soft-bristle brush
Silk
Canister w/ suction-only rug tool
Sisal
Canister w/ specialty tool
Shag (2 inches or more)
Canister w/ shag rake tool
Most homes have just one or two types of carpet, but if you have a variety of different types of carpeting and bare floors, be sure to choose a vacuum that has tools available for the most delicate rug you own. Usually a canister is the best choice for multiple carpet types, which leads us to the next step&#;
You will get efficient and thoughtful service from Felici Machinery.
Step two: Canister or Upright?
The general rule of thumb is: If you have more bare floor than carpet, you should choose a canister. If you have mostly wall-to-wall carpet, an upright is fine, but there is more to consider than just the flooring when choosing a canister or upright.
While uprights are still the most popular style of vacuum in the U.S., canisters are most commonly used throughout the rest of the world. Recently however, canisters have been making a comeback here in the states. People are discovering that the canister type of vacuum has several advantages over a traditional upright:
Weight: Because the main body and motor are behind you, the tool you push and pull weighs only two or three of pounds. Most uprights are between 15-20 pounds making the canister much easier on your back and shoulders.
Versatility: Canisters usually have a bigger range of brushes and accessories to choose from, making it easier to get the perfect combination for any type of flooring. In addition, the canister&#;s ability to instantly clean under most furniture means less moving around stuff to get the house truly clean, plus you don&#;t have to reconfigure the hose and tools as you do on an upright.
Easier Stair Cleaning: Trying to lift the whole upright or balance it on the stairs is a real challenge. Many modern canisters are designed to actually sit securely on the stair while you vacuum with the long hose. When you&#;ve finished with five or six stairs, you just place the canister on the fifth stair and finish the rest.
Uprights on the other hand have one major thing people prefer over a canister: they are one-piece instead of two. Once you are used to operating a canister, you&#;ll probably never go back, but for some people, the one-piece simplicity of an upright is the only thing they are comfortable with. If you have mostly carpet and just can&#;t bear using a canister, definitely stick with an upright, but make sure it has all the features and accessories that best fit your flooring.
Step Three: Bagged or bagless?
Bagless vacuums have a lot going for them, not the least of which is very low operating costs because you don&#;t have to buy bags. But on the flip side, they do require more maintenance; bins must be emptied, interior parts wiped down and filters washed and dried. All this is well worth it to some people, while others prefer the ease of just dropping a bag into the garbage bin.
If there are people in your home who have serious allergies or asthma, we recommend getting a sealed HEPA vacuum with a bag. A fully sealed bagged vacuum is much more hygienic and exposes the user to significantly less dust during maintenance.
The bagged &#;vs- bagless debate rages on, but one thing is certain, if you want a high-quality vacuum and you want a bagless vacuum, there is only one product that meets both those criteria: Dyson. Dyson simply makes the best quality bagless vacuum you can buy and is the only bagless vacuum we recommend.
Step Four: Choose a Budget
How much should you spend on a better quality vacuum? The short answer is- somewhere between $399 and $899.Within that range you can buy something that is made well and will last 10-20 years. If that seems like a lot of money, consider this:a vacuum is something you use at least once a week and sometimes every day. Because better quality vacuums last up to 10 times as long as a cheap vacuums, in the end, you&#;ll pay about $5 a month to own a quality tool that works better and is a pleasure to use. It&#;s a no brainer.
There are several high-quality vacuums for bare floors and area rugs in the $300 range, but vacuums for wall-to-wall carpet start a bit higher than that because of their more complicated and expensive revolving brush systems.
Here are the best vacuums within different budgets:
Under $399
There are very few quality vacuums at this pricepoint and almost all of them are for homes with only bare-floors and area rugs or very flat carpeting. If you have wall-to-wall carpet in your home, and want a quality vacuum, you&#;ll have to up your budget a bit ($399+).
Check out these examples of better quality budget vacuums for wood floors and area rugs:
$399-$699
This is the sweet spot for buying a quality vacuum cleaner at a reasonable price. At this level, you may not get all the extra features you want, but you will get the higher-quality plastics, durable motors and excellent performance of a well designed, well made vacuum. Here are just a few of the many models that fall within the range:
$700 & Up
At the very top of the vacuum market is where you will find all the best features. Even though basic performance and quality stay the same as the mid-range models, vacuum cleaners in this top range offer better fit and finish, quieter noise levels, increased filtration and niceties such as automatic suction control, lighted floor tools and soft, cushioned bumper guards.
While it is never absolutely necessary to purchase something in this range- it sure is nice if you can afford it. Extra features like these make vacuuming a bit less of a chore and are well worth it if the budget allows. Below are some of the brilliant vacuums that have these features and more:
Step 5: Choose a Brand
There are currently over 200 vacuum models for sale in the U.S., but there are really only a dozen major vacuum brands on the market today: Hoover, Eureka, Dirt Devil, Royal, Bissell, Panasonic, Oreck, Kenmore, Miele, SEBO, Dyson, and Electrolux. Some smaller brands do exist, but they are usually simply re-badged versions of other vacuums or are too poor in quality and product support to be considered a viable option.
Of those twelve major brands, only three of them are considered truly &#;premium quality&#;: Miele, SEBO and Dyson. These four brands offer customers a superior combination of the five main criteria
Each of the Three brands specialize in a different area:
Miele is a German manufacturer that makes top quality vacuums in the widest variety of models and price ranges. They offer the longest life expectancy (20 years) one of the longest motor warranties (7-years), and the highest filtration available in a residential vacuum cleaner
SEBO is another German manufacturer that creates very high quality vacuums. They make powerful vacuums with a rugged build quality and 5-year warranty. SEBO is regarded as one the most reliable and durable vacuums you can purchase.
Dyson is a name that hardly needs any explanation, except to say that they make the best bagless vacuum sold in the U.S. In quality, performance and design, Dyson stands alone as the original and best in a sea of pretenders.
Regardless of which brand is the best fit for you, follow the advice above and you&#;ll be able to confidently choose a high-quality vacuum that will be the right model for your flooring and your budget.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Heavy Duty Vacuum Cleaner. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.