Dyson long term durability vs. other brands

[man114]

Since I've been on this Fantom kick as of late, doing a quick scouting I've got a lot of 11 amp Fantoms as well as Thunders, Destinys and Destiny Pluses. Some of these are pushing a hard to believe almost 20 years old. A few of these, like a Destiny I got yesterday were probably in regular use up until recently. I'm also happy to report the $4 Thunder I got last week works perfectly and only needed a belt, its in really good shape too.

This has got me to wondering how Dysons will hold up in long term regular use, my oldest Dyson is a DC07 but I alternate vacs between a Fantom Thunder it and my Rainbow and use it only upstairs, consequently I use my DC33 downstairs as well as a Thunder and the Rainbow.

While the DC07 seems pretty sturdy aside from its brush roller clogging, the DC33 doesn't seem all that sturdy, in fact the motor in mine doesn't sound all that hot and I hardly use it and maintain it meticulously.

If I recall my DC07 is 7 years old, and it has always been alternated with another vac, so it was never used heavily.

I bought the DC33 about 2 years ago if I recall.

The think that worries me is they seem so rickety especially the new ones. You pick up a Fantom Thunder that is one solid machine, the handles on the Dysons wobble and parts squeak.

I'm wondering if anyone knows how they're holding up under real every day use from a repair shop perspective.

I just have the feeling I'll still be using my Rainbow and Thunder after the DC33 has come and gone, the DC07 seems a bit sturdier. Are they cheapening these things out?

 

[gusherb]

My DC07 was used regularly for 7 years by it's previous owner, who wasn't very nice on it. It's survived but with a cracked canister handle, and a nozzle hose that's split and needs replacing. Other then that a good cleaning fixed it, and it could go a long while yet IMO. Still runs perfectly. The plastic is creaky and rickety feeling though.

My DC17 feels like it could give a long healthy life too, it's a bit more solid and has no creakiness for one. Not sure about the Cyclone assembly and it's longevity, I'm sure those will need to be completely disassembled every once in awhile.
And I think they used Panasonic motors in those. Can anyone confirm that?

 

[parwaz786]

The Dyson DC41 s the WORST Dyson I used... Performance is not as good as they say, the wheeled Dysons are better
My neighbours DC33, they have a 5 bedroomed, 2 bathroomed house, 3 storeys, and a BIG family home, loads of kids, and the DC33 is their best vac, they always had Vax, Numatic Henry and now the DC33 multi floor
My DC14 is the fab model, its better built than the DC14 and its much more easier to use
the DC04 is un beatable, its quiet, has a large bin, has 230 AW, good brushbar for UK homes, light, easy to use, filter hardly gets dirty and its UK made

 

[gsheen]

I have a dyson dc23 allergy that has only ever been used as a shopvac, It all started when we were building and I got sick and tired of the fine dust clogging the wap's filter every few minutes. I drove through to my shop and fetched a demo allergy model which had been discontinued. I took it home and sucked up everything with it. Thats was two years ago and its still working strong, we used it at my shop when sucking up all the dry wall dust but now days its hooked up to my fine wood sander and does an amazing job of sucking up the fine dust

 

[dysonman1]

Dyson motors are certainly more protected than Fantom motors. Fantom cleaners had either no pre-motor filtration, or poor filtration through a metal mesh screen. Dyson's, of course, have really good pre-motor filtration - but then again - they weren't basing their profit around a hepa filter that had to be replaced every two years as Fantom did. Fantom Thunders were well made - being based on a commercial Vectron model designed for Johnson Wax to sell to janitorial services. The Fury was made significantly less expensive, and was designed to maximize profits from their popular infomercial.

Overall, the Dyson cleaners are not experiencing the same repair problems that Fantoms did. They are experiencing different ones. Ultimately, the Thunder's motor was the best motor ever used by a multi-cyclonic upright (It was a double fan, double ball bearing Lamb motor with a small belt drive shaft - virtually the same motor used in Compact, Filter Queen, etc.). Too bad Fantom had no pre-motor filtration in the thunder (other than the cyclones). If they did, those cleaners would run 30 or more years.

 

[madaboutsebo]

No more wheeled Dyson's...

I see in the UK Dyson has decided to drop it wheeled Dyson Uprights (and I think canisters too!), no longer showing on UK website. So no more DC33 or a successor to it! It was confirmed also by a Facebook reply to a customer/fan comment. The ball cleaners are more man-movable to the wheeled versions hence the reason. Not all Dyson users/fans like the Ball versions! Wonder if other Dyson markets will follow!?

 

[parwaz786]

madaboutsebo that w now, the are going madaboutsebo was me on facebook! I think dyson are going downhill with their ball vacs

 

[madaboutsebo]

Cool nice one thanks for letting us know parwaz786 good question by the way! That was me that put the other comment after Dyson!!

I have to agree with you the latest ball vacuums are not as good! Wonder if that's why they have continued the base DC25 in grey! You read so many negative comments from users of the new ball vacuums!

 

[man114]

The comment about a 30 year old Fantom Thunder if they had a pre motor filter is probably a good possibility, the 11 amp Destiny I picked up the other day still sounds good its pushing 18 years. I think with proper maintenance they'd hold up well even without the pre motor filter. I've often thought of trying to mod one to put a filter in in the top of the cyclone shroud but had to tamper with an otherwise good machine, maybe if I come across one that is in really poor cosmetic condition I'll mess around with it.

Furys always get dirt into the motors, if you use it and carefully monitor the eventual loss of suction you could time it pretty well take the motor out and clean the fan with a pipe cleaner. I did this to all Furys I regularly used and all still work. I suppose worse than the dust damaging the motor that quickly the restricted airflow would heat the motor up, then you'd have problems start to arise.

In regards to Dyson, I bought the DC07 for something like $199 on clearance at Home Depot (they had a bunch with damaged boxes but the machine was fine). It at least feels fairly solid. I got the DC33 on clearance for $239 but it just feels a lot flimsier. Consequently my sister bought a Dyson Slim on clearance (pre ball) around the same time and it felt pretty solid. My mom recently bought the Ball animal. I don't think it seems as sturdy. I'm actually kind of glad I never bought one when I could have on clearance at Lowes. I really didn't care for the ball in handling. She had a Rainbow demoed recently and the Rainbow did a better job of grooming the carpet (and still pulled up a lot of dirt).

I think it would be a huge mistake to eliminate wheeled models. I think the Ball design is hard on your wrist.

I like the Dyson technology but each successive generation seems cheaper. I'm not saying they won't outlast a $50 throwaway I'm just comparing them within their own line. I'm pretty confident they'll outlast most of the the stuff they're up against in your big box stores.

 

[parwaz786]

Cool Jon
Shall I add you on FB? and yes I hate Dyson's new vacuums, they are so RUBBISH and they are not as good as their old ones.

 

[turbo500]

they are so RUBBISH and they are not as good as their old on

on what grounds are you making this statement? You can't just say "they're rubbish" and not give a reason for it. By you just saying that and not backing up, why should anybody take you seriously?

I've found the current range of Dysons to be far better performers than any other. The DC40 is a really lovely vacuum to use - lightweight but not as pathetic as the DC24 or DC50, relatively quiet, strong suction and the brushroll has improved dramatically. The tools are also far more accessible - the hose just pulls off.

I think the build quality is very poor for a £350 machine, but overall when compared with other cleaners, isn't too bad. But I don't think the high price reflects the quality of the unit. I'm also not a fan of the handle release on the DC40 and 41. I appreciate that this was done to make the unit lighter, but it's very awkward to use.

Overall though, I was pretty impressed with the DC40 and DC41. I also think there are some really great features on Dyson's current cylinder line up, like the self adjusting floorheads and the new carbon bristles on the brushroll for bare floors.

The DC07 and DC14 were, in my absolutely honest opinion, horrendous. Yes, they had strong suction, but they were bulky, awkward, LOUD, the root cycles would clog up with hair and dust and cause the machine's airflow to drop VERY easily and the motors weren't exactly reliable. I've seen more clogged up and burnt out DC07's and DC14's than any other Dyson. And before you say it, that isn't because that cleaner was more popular. I don't think I've ever seen a DC01 or DC04 with a failed motor that wasn't due to user error (eg not cleaning the filters or sucking up things they shouldn't).

Also, if one really IS concerned about the build quality of the machine, just remember it comes with 5 years cover so if anything breaks, it will be replaced.

 

[suckolux]

My dc18 past the 5 year mark without a hick up in its life

 

[vacuumfreak95]

I have a question.

Is there any way to tell the age of a Dyson by the serial number on the bottom? I have a DC07 and I'm not the original owner so I have no idea how old it is. Also my machine doesn't say DC07 anywhere on the machine! I think this is really weird...Maybe it was remanufactured at some point?

 

[vacuumfreak95]

Here is the machine....

As you can see it doesn't say DC07 on the base like every other Dyson DC07 I've ever seen. Just wondering if anyone can fill me in on why.

 

[madabouthoovers]

Only the early DC07's in the UK had the DC07 logo on the front of the head, later ones moved it to the motor cover, as below.


Even later ones moved the DC07 logo onto the bin.


Here is one I refurbed last year for sale:

 

[madabouthoovers]

This is an earlier model that DOES have the DC07 logo on the head:

 

[madabouthoovers]

And here's one with 2 DC07 logos:

 

[madabouthoovers]

The very late models from about 2007 onwards had no logo at all except on a sticker on the top of the bin:

 

[madabouthoovers]

Oh, and no there is no eassy way to date a Dyson, well not that I'm aware of anyway. The DC07 was made between 2001 and 2009, so quite a long run, but it was a very successful model indeed, and the first vac in history to use multiple cyclones. It was also the first Dyson model the Americans got.

 

[madabouthoovers]

This is an example of the very earliest DC07 from 2001, it was made in the UK before Mr Dyson decided to ship production off to the far east, note the cleaning tools were colour co-ordinated to match the body, later they all became grey to cheapen Mr Dysons costs:

 

[parwaz786]

Steve, are you not interested in Dyson's as much as you used to be? You dont post much about Dysons now :/

 

[parwaz786]

BTW The Early Dysons were grey instead of silver, in terms of their bodies colour. You can give Dyson the serial number and ask for the manufacture date. they were accurate, My DC08 origin was made in 15th march 2005

 

[madabouthoovers]

All my Dysons are now in the attic for long term storage. I don't use them any more and don't intend to buy any more. New Dysons beyond the DC15 are too cheaply made and poor quality. I cant forgive Dyson for getting the greedy bug, and laying off his workers in the UK just so he could make more profit by churning them out in the Far East using cheap labour. Whilst the technology can be interesting to look at on the newer models, the price is far too high and other manufacturers now produce interesting vacs for much less money.


I still prefer using my old Kirby and other bagged models for convenience as daily drivers.


 


As I now have over 40 vacs, space is tight and I have to be more selective over what I buy. Saying that, I only just bought my first Purepower the other week, the new PU2115 in red and white, and it has just as much suck as the DC07, probably more. Look how long the Purepower has been going, 1997-2013, so its 16 years in production now - longer than ANY Dyson

 

[madaboutsebo]

Yeah you can add us on FB parwaz786.

One thing I don't understand why on the DC40 is there only one row of brushes I the brush bar yet the DC41 has 2 rows of 2 different lengths. I must admit I'm impressed with the new DC59 digital slim might get one!

 

[vacuumfreak95]

Thanks

For the info! Mine is for sure a later run model as its in like new condition. I had a DC14 for six years before I got the DC07 and I must say the 07 is a much better machine! Works better on floors and carpet.

 

[parwaz786]

The new Dysons are crap, because they are more flimsy than the older ones, the plastics feel like snapping, the DC41 wand is plastic! No more metal, I don't think so. My friend's DC40 multi floor hose ripped, I had to fix it for him by cutting the bad bits off and re-connecting it again. The DC41 I used was a friends one, it was terrible, same crap quality, suction not as good as a DC04, the DC04 lifts mats better! I don't know why they say "strongest suction at the cleaner head" and the release thing is RUBBISH, and now I seen LOADS of DC41's have the side ball (I mean wheel) thing snap off from the pins its held on by. They are not as good like they used to be, the last best Dyson is the DC33, and I like the DC44 the best from the latest Dysons.

How many Dyson DC14's do you see with snapped or broken parts? there is not much to break, its sturdy, they perform well, but yes I agree it's loud, and the motors only b urn out if the user does not maintain it, and/or let the vacuum fill over the MAX line.
The DC04 was an amazing vac, its quiet, powerful, easy to use, not durable, but Dyson made the constant max for commercial use, can also be used at home obviously
too!
The DC08 on the other hand, is a good machine for a bagless cylinder, it has the teremendous suction, people like the design, its not a ball, and You would see loads of DC19 owners (similar to DC08) I seen my uncle with a DC19, a family friend, another man on the road cleaning the car, family friend's neighbour vacuuming the car, and loads more non ball Dyson owners
Plus, the turbine head has good air flow and does not slow down or stop spinning when it goes into contact with the floor, the air goes to the turbine, and speeds it up and through the air filter on the side. This means the brushbar will spin faster and also still suck up the debris/dirt picked up.

 

[gsheen]

From a design point I love the d07 but prefer using my Dc28air muscle. That said for day to day cleaning I always grab either my dc41 ( imported not available in SA ) or my dc42 ( dc40) what I cannot understand is why some people think they have poor build quality. I have sold many of these units and have not had any come backs at all.

They are ideal in todays fast paste world were vacuuming can't take to long to do.
I love my dc28,14,07 but when I use them they feel antiquated compaired to my dc41&42.

 

[madabouthoovers]

Parwaz has it spot on - Dyson has done away with the metal parts on the later vacs. The DC07 had a metal wand and this made a very strong and sturdy spine to the cleaner, and as a result it was very robust, and not bendy and pliable like the DC41.


When I went to try out a DC41, I stood over it and grabbed the handle, twisting it from side to side and was shocked how thin and pliable the spine was. I don't think the DC41 is made of ABS like the DC07 was. OK ABS aint perfect and when older, it tends to get a bit brittle, hence older DC07s suffered from cracking plastics, but the DC07 was a sturdy vac that just felt better quality than even the DC33.


The DC33 is a cheapened quality DC14, where Dyson, as Parwaz says, did away with the metal wand and made it from plastic, and you can feel the flexing in the spine when using the vac as I tried the one my Aunt had and wasn't inpressed.


Dyson has a very effective marketing strategy that makes people feel that their vac is antiquated, even thoughits less than 10 years old, as Gsheen has demonstrated, as he says that the DC14 is an antique compared to the DC41, even though the DC14 was launched less than 10 years ago in 2004. Just because Dyson says that something is better, people now swallow it as if he is the Lord God and they must obey by dashing out and buying the latest model, only to find it "obsolete" before its 10 years old again and replaced by something "so much better with even more cyclones and the latest technology - with more in built obsolescence".


Dyson is a traitor to his own country, and we have enough problems with lack of jobs in the UK without him making it worse by taking his jobs to the Far East, and although he is saving money by doing this, the UK consumer doesn't do they with prices like £400 for a DC41.


If Vax can produce vacs cheaply and sell them cheaply as well, why cant Dyson? Vax's are made in China. Dysons in Malaysia. Does it cost 3 times more to make them in Malaysia than in China? I didn't think so. The foolish people of this world are making Mr Dyson richer and richer while he just sits back and laughs at them for swallowing his latest hype.


 


He started off well, I agree, but now has become just the same as other greedy businessmen after making themselves a fast buck and stuff the consumer who gets useless quality and mediocre products that are overrated and overpriced.

 

[gsheen]

Steve
You misquote me. any vacuum feels like it comes out of the dark ages when you compare it to a dc41 0r 42. Its new technology.its glides across all floor types.

One other thing the aluminium wands are actually cheaper to make than the ABS plastic ones, and yes the new dysons are all still made of abs you can clearly see it marked on the body.

What causes ABS to get brittle are the pigments in the plastic and how they react to light. Hence blue,green and red ones were more brittle than the yellow ones. This is also one of the reasons Dyson switched to the current Iron colour.

Also moving production to Malaysia was your governments and tree huger fault. They prevented Dyson from expanding its production facility to the size they needed.

One last thing, Dyson's research and development department is bigger than some other vacuum company's production facility's. Company's like Vax simply copy Dyson's designs as best they can they don't actually come up with anything innovative. When your R&D department is simply copying some one else hard work then you can make stuff cheaply