Aerus Vacuums

[danemodsandy]

The Intelligent Intelligence....

....In Googling the Intelligence, I found one very interesting tidbit of information: It's a metal-bodied vac. That makes it much more desirable to me.

I know some here feel that plastic is okay, and that we'll never see metal vacs again, but I don't want plastic, and I think we will see metal vacs again.

One of the sad things about a plastic vac is that if you crack or break part of the housing, you are at the mercy of the manufacturer, who often has discontinued housing parts - or on cheaper vacs, never made them available as replacement parts in the first place. A metal housing can be repaired more easily.

Also, metal housings accept screws and fasteners better, and the screws can be removed and replaced without wearing the screw holes as much, important for longevity.

I personally think we're going to have to get back to manufacturing goods that really last, because this throwaway, overseas-made, plastic mentality we've got going on right now is unsustainable.

P.S. - Yes, I know metal housings dent. I have an otherwise minty Lux Model L with a heckuva dent in it. But - it still works, which might not have been the case with a plastic vac taking that kind of blow.

 

[joshdonnell]

Well

There not gonna make metal the only 2 canisters that are all metal or air tech and metro . Which i like

 

[danemodsandy]

Josh:

First of all, the Lux Intelligence is metal, as is the TriStar, as is the Patriot, among others. Not all metal - handles and control panels and such are plastic - but metal where it counts, which is the body where the suction is developed.

Also, as has been pointed out earlier in this thread, your posting style is a little annoying. If you disagree, you disagree, but to flatly say "They're not gonna make metal," is silly, unless you have some fact to back that up. It's your opinion, not a fact.

My opinion is that the days of easy, cheap plastic merchandise are about to come to a screeching halt, due to environmental concerns, availability of oil and shipping costs. In my opinion, the next twenty years are going to see a shift back to more durable consumer goods, with higher price tags; not everyone is going to be able to afford everything they might like to have.

 

[joshdonnell]

Well

Then ill find something backing that up. I like metal but here in the us thats not gonna happen i doubt it . The lux that you like wont come here i dont see that it will no one these days dont care when they to walmart to buy a cleaner. And some people care. And tristars are ok.

 

[bagintheback]

I never knew that the European Lux and Aerus were related! Knowing this, there are somethings I don't understand.

First of all, Aerus is using a quite outdated power-nozzle while Lux is using a very modern looking one. From what I have used and heard, European power nozzles, such as Sebo, Wessel Werk and Lindhaus, are better than American models. Why does Aerus continue with older Electrolux nozzles?

Secondly, Aerus is selling all these home products, such as air purifiers and heaters, that are manufactured by other companies. Riccar sells the exact same heater as Aerus. It looks to me that Lux is selling original products. Lux has for sale as much different air purifier. Now I don't know if it is an original Lux product, but why can't the same company sell the same products?

To me the Lux product lines looks much more appealing, even to Americans. Does anyone have any idea why Aerus is not progressing at the same rate?

 

[rolltide]

I'm a huge Aerus/Lux fan !

I have always had a love for the then Electrolux canisters and uprights. Yes I know up until now that the suction motor in the uprights were lacking, but all those Southern ladies in my family stand by them as probably the most utilized appliance in the home with exception only to the dishwasher. There are about 16 canister Electrolux canisters and 12 uprights among my big family I can remember in the last 20 years. Paying attention tho my mother, grandmothers, aunts, and/or their maids.. I've seen other vacs come into the household only to be passed over in preference to the upright. Even when some of the folks purchased the D4 Rainbows in the boom season, The Lux still remained the most favored. Other than the sleek design and brushroll on and off, I attribute this to my favorite feature.. The pistol grip handled hose and dusting brush. The hose handles very closely to the Silverado and model L I grew up using. The Discovery, ProLux, and Epic uprights are the only upright I would consider using to really put a cleaning on my house because of the ease of use with attachments. As I generally always use a canister vac due to the ease of cleaning EVERYWHERE. To me cleaning is an everywhere detailed clean. Whether Aerus canister or upright, that pistol grip hose and brush get so much use in my home. I like my Renaissance ok but when getting down to business with a hose, I'm not going to do hours of dusting with that hose! My parents have it at their house for daily cleaning now and love it. I tend to stick to my Luv Classic, Silverado, upright or even the Rainbow because of the no nonsense hose.
All that being said.. I love Aerus products including the new upright but I agree the Aerus branding schtick and the games the dealer played with a family member of mine made me want to never make another purchase. I hope this company can get it together and resemble more of the "ELECTROLUX" we grew to love. So sorry this is long but I'm glad this topic was mentioned. It just so happened I picked up a $3.00 Lux grey 3500 upright in new condition yesterday. It was like Christmas ! Does anyone know how and if I can retrofit this with the newpowerful guardian motor ?
Thanks for letting me share and I hope to hear from some of you !

 

[venson]

@bagintheback . . .

Hoover, Kenmore and Eureka have put out some very good power nozzles in past and present. However, I think the assessment of "good," no matter where it comes from, is by user's judgement of things due to "surface cleaning". It great to have a vac that swoops up whatever you see in front of it in a couple of passes or less but what we "see" is on top of the rug. What's going on where I usually don't look?

If you are a regular vacuumer, my rule of thumb is get down on your hands and knees -- every once in a while -- and use your fingers to gently separate your carpet tufting and see what's going on down near the carpet backing.

The areas best to do this "check" in are in high traffic areas, at entry doors and spots situated directly in front of seating. If you see a lot of accumulated grit and dirt, you're either not vacuuming enough or your cleaner may not be quite up to par if you are.

There are many brands of vacuum dearly loved in this country more for doing what's obvious than for what's not.

Deep cleaning ability is an issue but may not have to be depending upon the frequency of use of any decent machine. Again my own opinion, quick passes of a vac every couple of days or so in at least high traffic areas prevents the "bad stuff" from getting ground down into carpet fibers and may lessen a lot of to-do come your designated cleaning day.

 

[GM1982]

one advantage over the others

I think what sold me on the Aerus is the amount of dirt it captures even with the mini turbo add on...I don't know of any other vacuum brand with and electrified turbo that deep cleans beds, chairs, etc... Miele, sebo and the others all seem to have an air driven.

 

[danemodsandy]

George:

That turbo attachment is called a Sidekick, and it's either included or optionally available for all Aeruses and Luxes, including any canister that can accept a PN.

I would not want to be without mine, particularly because of my little furry friend Tony, seen in the picture. He's cute, he's sweet, he's loyal. But, my LORD, the shedding! The Sidekick makes short work of the hair he leaves.

 

[petek]

The Sidekick was also produced as the Kenmore Powermate Jr. back in the 90's, identical except for the molding around the electrical connection to fit the Kenmore.

 

[eurekaprince]

Sweden's Electrolux is also now selling an electrically powered mini power nozzle which fits on most of their power nozzle canisters in North America. It's called the "@hand" power brush....see link below:



http://www.lowes.com/pd_302856-7382...294937087_?Ns=p_product_brand_name|1||p_produ

 

[floor-a-matic]

Lux SideKick PNs

The SideKick was also known as a RainbowMate (except the RM has a pigtail cord & no snap-lock mechanism)

SideKick II is also a TriStar MiniStar.

 

[danemodsandy]

Figures!

"SideKick II is also a TriStar MiniStar."

That makes sense, since Aerus and TriStar are owned by the same company.

 

[kirbylux77]

Pete, in addition to the slight styling changes & changes to the electrical connections to suit Kennmore's hose handles, they also put a flat belt on the Power Mate Jr, whereas the Sidekick & RainbowMate used cogged belts.

 

[petek]

Hmmmm didn't know that. I've got a Powermate version but I've never opened it up

 

[kirbyloverdan]

No the

Sidekick 3 is the Tristar mini star not the Sidekick 2 . Looks the same but it`s not .

 

[blackheart]

Sidekick II and Ministar

The ministar is the same as the newest sidekick for the guardian ultra, i know the sidekick II does not fit on the tristar. Gotta love those mini electric nozzles!

 

[kirbyloverdan]

I just said

the sidekick 3 is the mini star : )

 

[bimmer740]

I've owned many different machines over the years, I haven't been alive as long as some other members of this club or had as many vacs, but never the less I have owned many high-end machines. Miele's are fabulous machines, Kirby is my #1 choice for an upright, I'll never live without one and my VacuFlo system beats any portable/traditional vacuum I've had, but sometimes you just want to use a regular machine. With that said I have always owned an Aerus/Electrolux machine and they are the one I go back to again and again. They may not be the best at deep cleaning or filter as well as a Miele, but they last for many years and they are easy to use. Miele isn't necessarily difficult to use, at least not for people like us, but for the average person they can certainly be a bit complicated. A new Aerus machine may not be my number 1 choice if I was in the market for a new machine, but if they improved the current Guardian canister I just might change my mind. The Electrolux tank style machines and their L-shaped power nozzles are a tried and true design that makes them easy to use and steer around the house, and for me that makes using an Electrolux more enjoyable than any other canister vacs.

 

[venson]

@bimmer740

Hi,

Thanks for the broader view proving that for at least some of us it's not all about one brand or vacuum. However, the Electrolux/Aerus PN is not the only PN with an el.

Both Sebo and Lindhaus offer similar, and have more features. Before I purchased my Miele Capricorn I had a Miracle Mate that I'd acquired with out a power nozzle. I opted for adding on a Lindhaus PB14PRO. The price at the time -- 250 bucks -- was what it cost to buy a canister complete with everything but I sprang for it and was extremely pleased.

Albeit sans headlight, the PB14PRO offered a governed motor, height adjustment, a foot-operated lever to release the handle and a couple of small rollers to lessen chance of marring when getting up close and personal with walls and baseboards. The thing even had a small filter to keep dust out of its motor compartment. Better yet, like Sebo, it had a removable end cap that allowed for painless removal of the revolving brush. There was no fiddling with base plates or belts to get the brushroll in or out of the power nozzle.

Besides the pro-version, Lindhaus also offers PNs for non-commercial use with similar features. Had it not been that one, I went on to a Miele that's PN works perfectly well and, two, that there would have been need to go messing round with adapters and cords to get to fit onto my Miele, it would have made the trip south with me.

The investment was admittedly disproportionate but I saw far more value by way of workmanship in the PB14PRO than I seen in any power nozzle in quite some time. Unfortunately, I'm not of the miserly sort even though I should be. However, as far as I'm concerned, PB14PRO is the kind of power nozzle you bring when you show up at my door asking me for 1,700 bucks for the vacuum cleaner you've got in your hand.

I couldn't find any downloadable images of the model I had so I've linked to someone's website. Please be advised, I have no affiliation of any kind with Lindhaus or Vac Depot.

http://www.vacdepot.com/product-info/312

 

[Sanifan]

Lindhaus...

That Lindhaus looks similar but not identical to the one on my Lindhaus Healthcare Pro upright. I haven't used the Lindhaus enough to have a firm opinion on the PN. I do recall, however, a thread sometime back comparing Lindhaus and other PNs. I can't recall in what context.

The upshot was that folks preferred the Edgelift PN over the Lindhaus, though again, I don't recall which specific Lindhaus PN was being discussed. I do recall some folks having a bit of a low opinion of that particular Lindhaus PN. Maybe something about the brushroll not being agressive enough, or not enough airflow. Can't fully recall.

Having said that, I think the Lindhaus Home Healthcare is a pretty cool vac.

Maybe it's not productive to discuss with such shoddy recall about the specifics, but maybe it will jog someone's memory.

 

[pr-21]

Lindhaus Power Nozzle

I have used the Lindhaus Power Nozzles. They are very well built. The only thing I didn't like was there is a lot of dead space on the underneath side and I don't think they can edge clean as well, due to this. I do like the weight of the power nozzle, it has enough weight to groom the carpet well, without just gliding across the carpet.


 


 


 


Sincerely,


 


Bud Mattingly

 

[bimmer740]

@venson,
I think you may have misunderstood my post about the Electrolux L-shaped power nozzle. I wasn't implying that they are the only machine with that style nozzle, its just been a very recognizable feature of Electrolux/Aerus machines since it was introduced about 30 years ago on the Silverado.

I agree with you about the Miele power nozzle though, I had the 236 PN on my Red Velvet and it was probably one of the best I've ever used.

As far as the Lindhaus power nozzle goes, I really hate it. Please don't take offense to that, we all don’t love the same machines or accessories, which is what makes this club so interesting. I purchased the residential version, the PB14E brand new several years ago and I'm just glad I didn’t pay the full retail price. The Lindhaus is well made and for the most part it is very well thought out. However, for me if it doesn't clean well then it doesn’t matter how well constructed it may be. The brush roll is just awful considering the price of this p/n, and for all the time and money that must have been spent designing it they really missed the most important part of the entire nozzle, a well-designed high performance brush roll. Electrolux power nozzles certainly aren’t the best out there but I'll take a Lux PN over all the Lindhaus' electronic features, as the Lux can certainly clean much better than the Lindhaus.

 

[djtaylor]

I have a question about deep cleaning. I own a 1205, I love it... but, it's not a deep cleaner. Are later models better? Of those who LIKE Electrolux/Aerus vacuums, which models are more powerful and will deep clean carpets?
Thanks
Justin

 

[danemodsandy]

Justin:

Later models were better in some ways, and not as good in others. I own a Diamond Jubilee, which has a more powerful motor and develops much more suction than my 1205.

However, the PN-5 supplied with the Diamond Jubilee and other, later models through the Grand Marquise/Ultralux is not as deep a cleaner as earlier PN's, due to a "floating" design that was supposed to help the PN adjust to different carpets' pile heights. The PN-5 tends to ride the surface of carpet, rather than "biting" it to brush dirt from between the carpet's fibers.

All of that having been said, an Electrolux can still be an excellent choice for frequent vacuumers who have carpet that has been well-maintained.

If you want a PN canister capable of deep cleaning, I personally think very highly of the TriStar CXL. Mine was first used in a house previously maintained with a Kirby, and the schmutz it pulled up was phenomenal. That carpet was off-white, and a side benefit of the CXL was that it greatly extended the interval between steam cleanings. I should stress, though, that I'm a daily vacuumer; other people might have different results.

 

[danemodsandy]

P.S,, Justin:

My comments apply only through the Grand Marquise/Ultralux, which were the last of the metal-bodied machines. The later, plastic-bodied machines are not vacuums I have personal experience with, so someone else will have to chime in about those. Aerus has re-designed its power nozzle since the PN-5, and the new one may be a better performer.

 

[venson]

@bimmer740

I agree. We're all entitled to like what we like and buy what we want to buy bimmer740.

I have also owned the Electrolux Silverado but mine came with the rectangular cast-metal PN prior the plastic el-shape version. The paint job on mine matched the gray color of the cleaner. I do not recall seeing a chromed version of it until around the time the Super J came out.

My problem was yours in reverse it would seem. I've used many models but I've never been quite satisfied with the way the Electrolux power nozzles work on deep pile. They were certainly decent and adequate but that was about all. And, the el versions aren't really all that adjustable -- if the spring action that brings up the front of the PN up when you push down on the wand is an adjustment.

The Silverado ended up being kicked out of Dodge for a Hoover Dimension 1000 canister and was given to a friend. It somehow survived more than twenty years despite his cleaning person's best efforts to kill it.

The Lindhaus nozzle I purchased served quite well while I had it. I had it at my apartment and then my office for a time. It was used with a Miracle Mate and a Nilfisk 90 and it performed very well with either machine. Were I to ditch the Miele today, I'd be looking to add a Lindhaus nozzle onto what ever my replacement machine was to be if affordable. Next choices would either be a Kenmore-clone or Eureka-cloned PN. What machine did you use your Lindhaus PN with?

In any event, when I chose my Capricorn, now almost four years ago, I could have quite easily gone for the Lux/Aerus current at the time but it didn't register as a consideration for the reason I stated before. It's not hard to get money out of me but you must show up with something I can use.

 

[bimmer740]

@danemodsandy
I haven't used the very latest power nozzle from the Guardian Ultra, although I don’t know what has changed about it other than the LED headlight, but I have used those that came right before it. The Lux PN has improved since the DJ PN5 but I don’t know if its so much that the nozzle was "redesigned" as I personally haven't noticed that there is a marked significant difference between the internal structure of the different power nozzles. What does make a very noticeable and welcomed difference is the improved brush roll. Electrolux/Aerus improved the brush roll several years back by adding an extra "turn" to the chevron style roller, which added a significant amount of extra bristles. As far as I know this new brush roll can be used in all PN's from the PN5 up to the most current models.

Below is a picture of the new and old brush rolls. The one on top that is in the PN to my Epic 6000 is the new style brush roll, the one below is the old style which came out of my Renaissance circa 1994. I hope you are able to see the difference between the two, its much more noticeable in person.

BTW I have noticed your posts recently about your Tri-Star on this thread and a few others, and it really looks wonderful. I remember reading a few years ago about all the trouble you went through and buying parts from Tri-Star in Canada to restore it to like new condition. I've never used a Tri-Star before but it has certainly made me want to buy one

 

[bimmer740]

Venson, I use the Lindhaus with my VacuFlo 566Q central vac but its hardly been used in the past two years and just collects dust in a closet now. I guess we will just have to agree to disagree, as no one vac is a perfect fit for everyone.

You mentioned a Eureka power nozzle or clone of one, now you are talking! The Eureka Express power nozzle that has been used under different private labels and by several central vac companies, is a fantastic p/n. The VG3 brush roll does a great job cleaning carpets, it really digs the dirt out of the rug. And, its a straight foward and simple to use design. I have been using the Express power nozzle with my vac system which came from my mom's blue Eureka Express canister that she bought new in 1986. After 25 years though, the motor needs to be replaced but haven't gotten around to buying a new one yet.

 

[danemodsandy]

Steven:

My PN-5 has the improved brush roll, which did make a difference, but the "floating" feature still interferes with the brush roll's "bite," in my opinion. Sadly, the Diamond Jubilee has been in storage for a while; I haven't used it in a long time, because the PN-5 has to have a new bottom plate. One of the problems with the PN-5 is that the screw mounts for the bottom plate are built into the plastic of the plate. Works just fine until something jams the PN. Then, WHAMMO! - you end up with broken screw mounts. So, that's going to have to be fixed before I can use the DJ and its PN-5 again, and frankly, it's not my favorite machine, so I have been lazy about it.

Thanks for the compliments on the TriStar. Do not EVER follow my example on that machine, LOL. It was kind of rough when I got it, and I decided nothing less than perfection would do. Set me back WAY more money than I should have spent - around $400. If I had it to do over again, I'd hold out for one in better condition. Oh, well, live and learn. And it is a pleasure to own and use.