Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: rabbidrabbit on March 25, 2006, 12:07:16 PM
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OK,
My old fantom is pretty much dead. My question is what is good and what is not ? I have been told Riccar is a good vacuum. Any suggestions? Who knows their stuff about vacuums? My standard is a vacuum that works well and lasts. I don't want to pay 500 bucks for something that will break twice in the next 5 years so I end paying twice as much for it. I have a mix of hardwood and carpet floors about evenly split over 2800 sq total. I prefer canisters over upright and bagless over bagged but can be convinced otherwise.
Thanks in advance.
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I recently put laminate wood flooring in most of my house. Then, I got a Roomba.
Damn, I love that thing. It's bagless with a small bin, but you typically use it every day or every other day so it doesn't really pick up all that much anyway.
You can find refurbs for $150 or so.
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According to Consumer Reports Kenmore make the best vacuums...And bagless uprights spew to much dust.
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I'm probably going to get a Roomba too but will still need a regular vacuum to get what it misses. I do like the Roomba and love my Robomower..> Last year, the most I ever did to mow my big ol lawn was go kick the Robomower when it got stuck every few weeks. Beyond that, a well manicured lawn and no hour per week mowing for me.
I called a few vacuum shops and they all trashed Kenmores for breaking a lot.. Its tough to know whats fact and whats fiction.
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Originally posted by rabbidrabbit
I'm probably going to get a Roomba too but will still need a regular vacuum to get what it misses.
Here's the thing. Because no one is pushing the thing, we use it every day. It doesn't really miss anything.
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Ya but I have a 2 year old and 2800 sq ft of space.. Won't the sucker get lost, get screwed up by clutter etc.. From what I read its pretty good but you still need backup. Did you get the regular one or the scheduler?
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I have the Roomba Discovery.
I bought it refurb from Amazon and I have to admit I started out having trouble with it. The battery was bad. It would run for twenty minutes and then just stop. I spoke to a service rep and he listened to the tone and believed that the battery was in a state of "deep discharge". There's an eight day process to get it out of this state, but after the eight days there was no change. So, I called iRobot again and some knucklehead decided that it wasn't the battery because battery problems are rare. He sent me a new Roomba, a new charger, and a docking port. Turns out, none of these things were the problem. It was still the battery. iRobot finally sent me another one.
...but now, I have two perfectly functioning chargers and docking ports so the unit never gets lost.
My next door neighbor has one with a single charger and she says it gets lost less than 10%.
I keep the clutter off the floor. I had to remove one small rug because the Roomba got tangled up in the fringe.
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Go the the hardware store and get a good shop vac. A 20hp gas powered on oughta do it! :p
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Originally posted by rabbidrabbit
Ya but I have a 2 year old and 2800 sq ft of space.. Won't the sucker get lost, get screwed up by clutter etc.. From what I read its pretty good but you still need backup. Did you get the regular one or the scheduler?
My house is 5000sqft, and the thing never gets lost... when it gets stuck on something it beeps and beeps and beeps, so it isn't that hard to find.
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I used to repair vacs a few years back, then I got a job selling vacs at sears.
The kenmore canisters do clean and filter quite well. The bag models anyway, the bagless ones are aweful (as are most bagless.) But they do break alot. They are mostly plastic which just dosent hold up. Especially the wands and where the power head attaches. The electrical connections wear out often also. When I worked at sears we got ALOT of returns on these that were only a few weeks old. IMO I'd avoid them.
There are some good canisters out there that will last decades (if you take care of them) but they won't be cheap. Unfortunatly, you will be hard pressed to find a good canister for under $300 that will last.
Right now I've got a filter queen thats about 20 years old. It'll probibly last me forever if I don't run it over with a truck.
As for riccar, they are decent (most models) and are also sold as simplicity and berina.
My advice to you is to check some vacuum shops that will let you try out the machines. Buy one that feels solid to you. I would also avoid the bagless vacs, with few exceptions they neither perform nor filter as well as bag vacuums. The vacuum companys push these because they get rich off you buying expensive filters.
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I bought a new vac 3 years ago based on a Consumer Reports recommendation...the CR review seemed spot on and my expectations were met.
CR just did a vac review for March:
#1 cannister was Kenmore model Progressive 25914; rating was 76 points, was only cannister to score 'excellent' on carpet cleaning.
Highest ranked bagless cannister was #15 out of 20; Hoover WindTunnel Bagless S3765
#1 upright was Kenmore Progressive with Direct Drive 35922; rating was 79
Highest ranked bagless upright was #2; Kenmore Progressive with Direct Drive 36932; rating 76.
According to CR data Kenmore vacs are mid-pack for reliability out of 11 brands with data. Cannister vacs show dramatically worse reliability. Kirby was #1 in reliability and Eurika #2 uprights only. Highest ranked Kirby was #7 (Ultimate G Diamond; rating 68 and very expensive); highest Eurika was #4 (Boss Smart Vac Ultra 4870; rating 73 and very inexpensive).
One thing I really like about the new uprights is the particle sensor...basically tells you when the spot you are vaccuming is clean.
I found a medium shop vac with a hepa filter really works great on my wood floors...fast and can suck a dust bunny under the couch from across the room. :aok
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Bought a Dyson Animal and ended up returning it. It was "Ok". Actually saved some money on the second purchase with a Kenmore Progressive. Needless to say it does a great job and the old "ack" is satisfied.
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My Ex.
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Originally posted by Morpheus
My Ex.
Costs too much and is not reliable. :lol
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Get a central vacuum system. We have a SMART central vacuum. Outlets cost about $70 a piece installed, and you'll generally need 4 in a 2500 sq. foot house. The vacuum itself runs about $800. It will last a lifetime and the suction is incredible.
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Consumer reports Bah!
I'd sonner trust Geraldo Rivera claiming Osama Bin Laden saying he's taken to eating pork,Sleeping with dogs and would never attack the US again before I'd trust a Consumer Reports report.
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I bought a Hoover with a heap filter at Sam’s for under $100 a year ago. It does a great job; I don’t know what else a vacuum could do for you. Bissell also makes decent stuff. Kirby’s and such are good, but think of how much interest the extra $1,600 will earn in the time that it takes to wear out 2 Bissells or Hoovers.
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http://www.oreck.com/
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At the store i work at we sell Dyson's, very high endbut also very simple to use. Why did you return yours EN4CER? I used it in the store for at least an hour during regular vacuuming in the store and i had no problems with it. You should only get the Animal (DC14 is the newer version to replace the DC07,same vac, few design changes) if you want all the extra attachments, if you have a lot of low spaces, you might want to DC14 "Low Reach" (Red) or if you just want a vacuum with no attachments you can get the DC14 All Floors (Yellow). The DC14 is basically a rehash of the DC07, but it has some design changes and is supposed to have a little bit stronger suction. The DC15 is Dyson's bread and butter, or the most expensoive, whichever you want to use. The DC15 Ball has a ball which allows it to turn corners. How many times have you been vacuuming and said "If only I could turn that corner"? Not very often if at all right? That and the fact it is about $600 make in undesirable for most people.
The Roomba's are nice, you can buy multiple batteries as well as set up virtual walls if you don't want it going down stairs or what not. They also have the Scooba now which is for hard floors, tile, hardwood, etc. The Roomba discovery is the newest version I believe, don't ask me the difference between the 3 different Roomba's though because, I have no idea. Probably suction, battery life, or capacity.
Stairs would be a main factor for getting a regular vacuum BTW.
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Windor Sensor.
Designed for hotel cleaning. Lightweight. Excellent filtration. Built for daily heavy use professionally as opposed to weekly houshold use. Called "Sensor" because it senses the height of the carpet pile and automatically adjusts to the correct height. Works on hard floors. Side wand with tools. All the good stuff. Yes, I sell them.
No one uses Oreck or Phantom or Dyson or Kenmore for serious cleaning.
They sell through Janitorial Supply distributors. Ask for your local distributor at 800-444-7654. Check the website at http://www.windsorind.com.
You want the 12" Sensor XP. You can get it for around $440 street price.
HONK!
Gooss
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I know you guys will be surprised to hear I went with a robot vacuum cleaner :)
I have almost all hardwood floors. The Roomba does a pretty good job. My other vacuums I had from the apartment days have those spinners before the vacuum head...so on hardwood, they fling the dirt away so it doesnt get vacuumed. I tried on of those powerbrooms, the Dirt Devil one. That thing is so loud and blows a tremendous amount of air out the side that any animal hair or dust on the floor is blown into the air.
Watching a Roomba work is like watching water boil. You'll be frustrated watching its erratic pattern that seems to miss things. But if you walk away and let it do its thing for 20-25 mins, you'll be impressed with all the stuff it picks up. I take it apart monthly, clean the brushes and filters thoroughly and it continues to do a good job.
Cant vouch for its rug functions....all I have is a large oval one in the midst of the hardwood floor.
Noise level is very decent...about like a hairdryer on a medium setting. It doesnt roar like a jet engine spooling up.
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Thread about autonomous robots hanging around in your house & no :noid?
Y'all'r getting a bit naiive IMO ((http://clubhouse54.com/phpbb2/images/smiles/paranoid.gif):noid)
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Don't know much about other brands but I got a Kenmore canister vaccuum around 1980 and after all these years it still sucks!
My parrot chewed through the hose and I was able to replace a couple months ago. Based on service and reliability I'd have to go with Kenmore.
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still using the same Kirby for the last 17 years ...
the shepard/akita mix has given it a go for the last 13 .. still has a powerful vac
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Originally posted by LePaul
I know you guys will be surprised to hear I went with a robot vacuum cleaner :)
I have almost all hardwood floors. The Roomba does a pretty good job. My other vacuums I had from the apartment days have those spinners before the vacuum head...so on hardwood, they fling the dirt away so it doesnt get vacuumed. I tried on of those powerbrooms, the Dirt Devil one. That thing is so loud and blows a tremendous amount of air out the side that any animal hair or dust on the floor is blown into the air.
Watching a Roomba work is like watching water boil. You'll be frustrated watching its erratic pattern that seems to miss things. But if you walk away and let it do its thing for 20-25 mins, you'll be impressed with all the stuff it picks up. I take it apart monthly, clean the brushes and filters thoroughly and it continues to do a good job.
Cant vouch for its rug functions....all I have is a large oval one in the midst of the hardwood floor.
Noise level is very decent...about like a hairdryer on a medium setting. It doesnt roar like a jet engine spooling up.
TMI
never wanted to know anyone who actually bought one of those ...
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check out the forums on
http://www.whatsthebest-vacuum.com/index.shtml (http://www.whatsthebest-vacuum.com/index.shtml)
Lots of good info there....beware of the people who collect the vacuums...LOL.....seriously.. .I consulted this site a bunch when I purchased mine....great info there!
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Originally posted by Eagler
TMI
never wanted to know anyone who actually bought one of those ...
Well make sure you flame the others who have one, I think Sandman mentioned he had one too.
If you're going to be a tard, be an equal oppritunity one :)
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Originally posted by LePaul
..., I think Sandman mentioned he had one too....
rest my case
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Originally posted by Eagler
rest my case
We're convinced.
You're a tard. :p
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my Parents Kirby has run since the day it was delivered before the 88 elections, by Jesse Jackson, or his lookalike.
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If you are worried about clogs, the Dyson only has 4 tubes that you need to check, all of which snap in and snap out. If you DO lose suction with a Dyson it's 99% of the time because you didn't put on a piece right and the o-ring is off. Not hard to put it back in if you take 20 seconds,
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Originally posted by Pooh21
my Parents Kirby has run since the day it was delivered before the 88 elections, by Jesse Jackson, or his lookalike.
FWIW, I've had a Kirby since 1984. It still works, but I'd rather use the Roomba.
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ahh, they all suck. (somebody had to say it)
but if you're a bachelor, and you've got all tile floors, Maverick had the right idea.
I use a big shop vac, and it will pull up stuff that would get stuck in a regular vac, and you don't have to empty it anywhere near as often. I've got all tile, its cleaner and cooler. I really feel like I'm getting over, because my shop vac is far cheaper than a regular vac, and it works far better.
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They all SUCK ! :D
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Got a Kenmore 4.5HP canister back in 86. Still works great today. One of the things I like about Kenmore is it seems you can buy parts for them, forever.
And now you can go online and have the parts shipped right to your house, for the do-it-yourselfer.
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(http://wirelessdigest.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/paris_hilton.jpg)
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I think the nose would scare me from the test drive Mr Ripley....ya know what they say about women with big noses though....thats right they're a down right @!$)(:aok
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I think most of us would hit Paris just for the dollar if nothing else. :D
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Be prepared to be sticker shocked, damn things are the price of a freakin car now. Yikes.
Dirt isnt so bad, is it?
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Originally posted by Squire
Be prepared to be sticker shocked, damn things are the price of a freakin car now. Yikes.
Dirt isnt so bad, is it?
Vacuums or Paris Hiltons?
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Originally posted by MrRiplEy[H]
(http://wirelessdigest.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/paris_hilton.jpg)
actually if you watch the videos she doesn't seem that good at it :lol seen better in $5 independent videos off the net :aok
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While she isn't the best in it she's probably the most famous for it anyway. :rolleyes:
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Originally posted by MrRiplEy[H]
(http://wirelessdigest.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/paris_hilton.jpg)
Dam beat me to it!!!!! I'm getting slow anymore.
:aok
Mac