Bagless vacuums and poor airflow rate. Can this be real??

[Mike81]

I just saw these videos and I am stunned.
Basically what these videos are trying to prove is that the cyclone system in the bagless vacuums restrict the airflow A LOT.
He even showed it quite dramatically how well these bagless vacuums can pull airflow without the cyclones.
My own experience is that the cyclone system will make resistance, but not nearly as much what these videos are trying to show.

 

[sebo_fan]

Frankly I'd like resistance. Otherwise I'd be in danger of breaking those upright vacs if they had maximum pull!

Its all very well showing one of those meters for strongest suction but when it comes to pushing a vacuum like an upright along the floor, I think I would be in fear of the upright ripping up my carpet coupled with such strong force. Same with the Miele, which he didn't bother showing performance with a suction only floor head as that would be just too hard to push.

Similarly, if the bagless uprights could release such powerful suction without the bagless units in place, isn't that going to cause the motor to overheat and cut out?

 

[Mike81]

Yes I totally understand what you mean.
However I don't think that Riccar is any harder to push compared to the Dyson or Shark despite having multiple times more airflow
It's all about how the nozzle is designed. I honestly hate modern straight suction heads because those are designed to be very sealed to the floor/carpet. That makes them extremely hard to move compared to the turbo or powerhead.

 

[dysonman1]

I don't hold a lot of stock when it comes to the Baird meter. It was designed to trick people into buying a Kirby, not as a real and meaningful test. A far better testing device is a wind speed indicator (digital). They cost about $125, but are accurate and reliable. I had to buy one when I serviced Rainbow E and E2 models, to check the air (wind) speed to know if the HEPA filter was restricting airflow due to being dirty.

 

[Mike81]

I personally use the full-size turbo brush to "measure" the suction level. It's quite easy to hear tone of the turbo brush how powerful vacuum/airflow is.
It certainly has revealed some surprises what I normally would not expect.

http://https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BDHAVmNTMA

 

[wyaple]

Mike81, Yes it is very real

Please examine my tests of a fully restored DC14. Bottom line: those cyclones restrict airflow something terrible. For my DC14 the loss is 128 CFM - 78.6 CFM = 49.4 CFM drop. Please note: these tests were verified with a digital anemometer and a Baird meter.

For my Hoover Windtunnel 2, the loss is 117 CFM - 73 CFM = 44 CFM drop.

Of course I want to get a newer Dyson ball vac to see how much CFM is lost; however, I find it noteworthy that the water lift (suction) loss was minimal in both machines.

Bill

http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?31767

 

[Mike81]

Well after seeing all this I will never again buy another bagless vacuum again.
For example my old Lux Royal pulls a lot more airflow than my brand new Electrolux UltraFlex which supposed to be one of the most powerfull bagless canister vac (EU limited wattage ones) for sale.

 

[rvarley]

I would take any demo done by a dealer selling a competing brand with several grains of salt. As for top of the line Tacony Twin Air, I had one and sold it because I found it not quiet and clumsy to push around. It may have done a good job on the carpets, but it handled like a tank. And those tacky, metal flake paint colors look like they belong on a SEMA car. No comment on bagless, as I've never owned one. Sorry, Tacony, love your light weight upright, but not the full sized.

 

[vacerator]

I bet fine dust

can eventually clog even a Dyson filter. This dealer also sells Miele's. Which would you think brings him more margin?

 

[Mike81]

Dyson cyclones can get clogged over time. In the youtube there are a lot of videos showing it.

 

[dys0nb0y]

No Offence dude but

If you just wanna googled it you would know why this happeneds. So I wouldn't jump to conclusions too quickly mate.



http://thedysonguy.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/dc17-wont-suck-up.html

 

[sebo_fan]

That's shocking. If the DC17 had a preventive piece of plastic to stop the rubber ring rising up in the first place then clogging wouldn't over flow the cyclones. Did Dyson go and change the user manual in reflection of this?

 

[sebo_fan]

The answer is no...

 

[dys0nb0y]

No they didn't they just gave people a new cyclone unit with the fixed problem.

 

[sebo_fan]

The problem with turbo brushes is that they are not all the same inside. Some don't even rotate all that quickly.

 

[Mike81]

When I do my suction test with the turbo brush I compare several vacuums using the same turbo brush. So this method always need a another "reference" vacuum where to compare.

When Dyson cyclones clog, reason is mostly lack of mainentance. Filling the bin too full, vacuuming damp dust and that inner tube seal fail which is critical for cyclones to work well.

 

[dys0nb0y]

The only time cyclone can fully clog if there is an opening which dirt and fluff can get into,Like in the DC17 case the bottom seal would ride up and allow fluffy hair to go straight into the cyclone.