A Tier and Special tier vacuum brands

[lesinutah]

Disappointment

The sentria started the whole hole thing. It could be so small people could see where they were vacuuming.
In 1993 Kirby hit it's Alex. It seems a hole, led lights conncave caster like wheels.
They put a lid on the shampoo tray. There's a impecuble amount of innovation in 27 years.
Les

 

[durango159]

Does anyone remember the thread on this site a few years back just before the Avalir release??

Everyone knew that a model change was coming. The Sentria had a very long run. People anticipated a change and were stoked. Then the Sentria II came out and we saw only color changes. Many were mad. Some couldn't believe that the Sentria II came out not long before the 100 year Anniversary but then the figured well small change now to ramp us up for a huge change.

Then people knew that the 100 year Anniversary was coming up and there was a long thread of all the imaginations of many with various claims... electrified hose for running a mini power head like a Lux upright or power head under the beds, on board tools, lesser weight, clean air design, brush less motor....yada yada yada.

The Avalir hit the market and it was like 70% of those who posted were heartbroken while the 30% were thrilled. Yes, it was different but not different enough to many.

 

[n0oxy]

Kirby

For those who enjoy their Kirby cleaners, nothing wrong with that. If that's what you enjoy and it works for you, than by all means, use them. I would say Kirby is behind the times on several things though. Does this mean that they don't work, no, but there are several things that can make a vacuum easier to use and more reliable and Kirby is lacking those. First, the rubber belt. Most other brands have moved to other types of belts that will not break easily and will last much longer, sometimes for the life of the cleaner. Second, the dirty air fan design. Very few cleaners use this design anymore because of the risk of breaking the fan, and the lack of water lift when using a hose. Finally, to stop the brush roll requires you to completely stop the machine and turn the belt lifter, thus removing the belt from the motor shaft. I would love to see a competition between a Kirby and a Sebo Felix. I would say the Felix is the best upright that is available and can be purchased brand new for much less than a new Kirby.
Mike

 

[tolivac]

A few years ago tried a Sebo Felix and didn't like it-returned the machine.As an upright it worked OK-just didn't have the power or agitation my Kirbys have.And to use the Felix like a "canister" was AWKWARD!I DO like my SEBO X4,X7-the ONLY clean air uprights that come close to Kirbys and metal Royals.I don't use uprights like canisters-too awkward for that.Even any of my central vacuums is easier.There is an MD central vacuum in the trade in pile at the vac place.Mike replaced the motor and will see if the customer wants this machine back.If not may get sold to me.Unlike other MD vacuums this one is a "hybrid" model with a clear lower ban that can hold dirt or a bag.Has a utility inlet.

 

[scvacuumguy]

I think this guy is just trying to upset most folks. The list includes no longer made vacuums, and quite frankly, he doesn’t really know what he’s talking about...if you really want to know vacuums, go to a vacuum store that shows signs of success, has employees who have been doing this for years, and deals with the repair, sales, and maintenance of many vacuums on a daily basis. Kirby has not changed their front motor bearing since the 90’s and I’ve never seen one with a bad bearing after 5 years...we repair around 30 Kirby machines per month between two stores.

 

[vacuumdevil]

@scvacuumguy I'm pretty accredited ,well known in the industry.
Judging from your last post about Royal I think it's you who's confused.

Who are you I've never seen you before?

 

[beagledad]

It wouldn't matter if a Kirby could survive a nuclear blast or suck up prehistoric remains from beneath your home's foundation. It just isn't appealing at all to the average consumer. If it was it wouldn't need a high pressure sales pitch. With my Miele Marin I can go from carpets to a dusting brush in under ten seconds. It doesn't matter how good the vacuum is if it's too cumbersome to handle.

 

[luxlife]

@beagledad,

You forgot to mention that your Miele will also reach under most pieces of furniture, which is another huge plus.

 

[vacuumdevil]

@beagledad

 

[kirby519]

My good fortune in all of this is. I have already selected the next vacuum cleaner I will own about 15 years ago. Any time I feel The Kirby isn't up to the task or the current offering is something I chose not to like.

I used a Beam Central vacuum in a home my company was cleaning for a customer after they moved out. I used that as the only opportunity I had to have a hands demonstration of a built in vacuum system. A system I knew existed since my early teens but never got an opportunity to "test drive". It was the first time a vacuum of any type could get the same Wow factor or respect that I give a Kirby.

In under 5 minutes I applied the same thinking I did one Saturday morning in January of 1972 about a new Kirby Classic I found waiting for me in the closet that replaced the Kirby that I was used to and that was now 12 yrs old.

"I'm going to like this one even better".

The day will come that I will have the ability to install a central vacuum that will replace my Kirby as my daily driver, deep cleaner and there for best friend in the world. And it will happen when the time is right.

And to sweeten the deal there is at least one if not a couple of units that can replace my commercial 2 motor box extractor as well.

Life will then be complete.

Therefor no real need for me to consider anything else for my own personal needs. My Kirby(s) will hold out long enough me to take cleaning to whole new level.

Don't ever believe that the only vacuum I have ever used is a Kirby.

For the past 30 I have and do use vacuums for the commercial market that are the exact same platform and design of the domestic versions. If they don't perform well on level loop or commercial sculptured carpet or track off matting in an office building. I for sure am not going to use it on my living room carpet.

 

[n0oxy]

central vacuums

Central vacuums are awesome, I have several units and use them all without pipes, it's awesome power, you cannot go wrong with a central vacuum.
Mike

 

[vacuumdevil]

@n0oxy Yes Central vacuums are definitely the top tier of vacuum cleaners!

 

[kirby519]

Hence my serious desire to take cleaning to the next level.

Being a central vacuum can also produce the air flow and inches of water lift of a commercial twin motor box extractor and or even better with the right power unit and be used to effectively clean hard surface floors with the proper tools gets my full respect.

I want one !!!!

All I need is a property where I can drive a nail in the wall anywhere I want to and not be concerned with what anybody else thinks about it.

 

[tolivac]

Besides central vacs-another high power vacuum is the NSS M1 "PIG" vacuum-a portable commercial canister that is direct air-the "snout" is a trap to catch heavy items-light stuff goes thru the HUGE 8" fan into the bag on the top of the "canister" unit.Machine has a 12-13A motor.Its as powerful as many central units-LOVE my Pigs!The bags on them today are zippertop bags and can be used as a dump bag(messy) or with paper inner bags-BETTER!!!These vacuums work by strong CFM rather than suction "pressure".Any canister guy should try one of these.They use 1.5 In hose and attachments,wands.The Pig can generate over 200CFM.

 

[mark40511]

You use a central vacuum without pipes? What?
I have a Cirrus and I actually love it......maybe I have low standards?

 

[tolivac]

Yes,the central vacs in my collection don't have "pipes" just use the 50ft hose in the utility inlets-or make an inlet for the hose to fit into.

 

[n0oxy]

cirrus vacuum

I've thought about getting a Cirrus canister, as far as I know this one is their top of the line model and it sounds really nice.
Mike

https://evacuumstore.com/p-26209-cirrus-c-vc439-canister-vacuum-cleaner.aspx

 

[n0oxy]

central vacuums without pipes

Yes, I use all of my central vacuum units without pipes. A couple of them have a utility valve on the unit but most don't, they just have the intake for the pipe. For those units, attach a utility valve directly to the intake and plug in your hose. The power is awesome, it's the most powerful canister configuration available, and since you're not going through pipes, you get all of the power the unit has to offer. Connecting a hose directly to a dual motor 240 volt unit is an experience like no other. I have four of those and I call them the beasts. Even using a single motor 120 volt unit this way is more powerful than any portable vacuum, and it's really the best of both worlds. You get the power that central vacuums offer without the need to install piping in the walls. I have central vacuum units all around my apartment, there is at least one in every room, and some rooms have several.
Mike

 

[mark40511]

I can imagine

that would be extremely powerful! I'm trying to imagine a setup like that.

About Cirrus. I don't use any of the attachments that comes with it. They stay on board never touched, because I have the 12 foot hose attachment kit. So basically, the upright is like a canister. I just pop the hose off and connect it to the 12 foot hose, pop attachments on and clean.

the HEPA bags are great and don't leak. The chamber is super clean and takes many months for me to have to change a bag. For example: November will be 2 years I've had it and I'm still on my 1st pack of bags with 2 bags left. Occasionally, when the bag starts to emit that stale smell, I suck up a bit of activated charcoal and the next time I turn the vac on, zero smell for a few weeks until I have to do it again.

The ONLY thing that's breaking on my Cirrus is the squeegee on the bottom...more like it's tearing from friction of vacuuming...but the vacuum itself has powerful suction. I haven't had to change the HEPA filter on it either.

To me, it's a big step up from walmart vacuums, but obviously it's not a super premium vacuum either. But it's definitely a happy medium.

I can't comment on the canister.