ET-1 Problems

[tekjunkie28]

I have made a few posts on here about my Sebo D4 and my ET-1 issues and frustrations. I do thing the Sebo D4 is a great machine and hopefully my mind will be changed by the fixes that will be done. I have had the machine for about 16 months and have been using it but never really enjoyed the ET1. Recent I had some people over for dinner and I decided to pull out the Rainbow E2 Black and take it for a spin as I knew I wouldn't be getting much up as I just vacuumed the day before. Well the rainbow got up A LOT of grit, sand and silt like dirt. I also noticed how much faster the rainbow PN brush spun. It also has a lot more agitation to me. This got me thinking.. "why does everyone like the ET1 so much? I never thought the ET-1 had much power/torque or agitation. I have been really impressed with youtube videos of the SEB228 and SEB236. Miele also filters better and looks sexier... never thought I would say that about anything other then the wife

So I got to asking questions with the feeling my ET1 was broken. I even up talking to Sebo America and they asked can you take the machine by the dealer and test it beside another machine. (I was thinking that I maybe dissatisfied and the ET1 maybe working as designed) I took my D4 to the dealer today and low and behold my PN works quite a bit differently. Mine seems to loose a little power on the denser/deeper piles and it definitely had some sort of vibration in the unit although it was difficult to ascertain. My PN felt like a cheap Chinese knockoff. My PN also failed to shut off on high pile carpet when it was set to low height. The floor model shut off quickly.. quicker then I thought was normal. Well my normal was that my PN NEVER shut off. I stood on mine and it just kept on going. I let it suck up a towel and it just ate it. It was almost like a kirby.

After that I called Sebo america back and told them. I gave them my SN and they are going to get it touch with the dealer and get me at least a new motor and circuit board. They are also going to keep the machine and check over the rest of the electrical. I dont like dealers but in this case I have to have them do the work. Looks like its going to be there at least a week.

TLDR: I shoulda bought a Miele LOL.. or never owned the beast of a PN that is the rainbow...

 

[countryguy]

I got the ET-1 powerhead when I bought my Patriot Hybrid a year ago. I love it. It is quiet, it cleans well and it grooms the carpet very well...much better than my Aerus Guardian Platinum or my brownie Filter Queen. I have also had a Miele Capricorn with the SEB236. It worked well but then the power nozzle started to have electronic problems. I have had many other vacs with different power nozzles and for me, the ET-1 has been the best so far.

Gary

 

[tekjunkie28]

I wish I could like it. It would save me the trouble of buying another machine. Hopefully this will fix the issues. The build quality is really good. As for now cleaning performance on some of my carpet is lackluster for deep cleaning. It has no problem removing surface dirt. Very little agitation.

 

[tseg]

I had bought a used Felix and after I had owned it several months the brush roll stopped working. I took it to a dealership and they changed out the connector mount on the ET-1 that receives the upper unit. I was not real happy because my "Classic" brown plastic was replaced with grey... but at least the machine worked. I brought it home and the first time I used and replaced the detachable hose the brush stopped working again. This time I dismantled the machine myself to determine the little plastic round actuator that connects to the internal switch that senses the hose has been placed back into the machine was a bit loose. I tightened things up and now the ET-1 has been back to flawless operations for several years.

But I also have a Miele SEB236... after 6 months the foot pedal level adjustment stopped working. I took that to the dealership and they fixed it under warranty. It has now been fine for several years.

Out of all the above I'm still not a fan of the ET-1 brush roll foot switch. It is just a bit cumbersome to access.

 

[tekjunkie28]

Yup. Miele plastic isn't quite as good but the brush roll performance seems great. The pink salt test always gets me with amount of agitation. It also sounds aggressive. If I had a miele I would probably fix it myself. I fix stuff for a living and never found anything to be too hard to fix, just hard to engineer it to be hard to fix, lol. Id like to have more time with the Miele as I feel I would like it better. Maybe its thats its just the grass looks greener on the other side but IDK.

My rainbow E2 Black has had 1 belt break, 2 wands go bad, the handle is now broke where the hose switch is and the switch doesnt stay in the on position. The PN base plate broke the tabs off also. All but the hose handle has been fixed under warranty. The aqaumate belt broke also. Another issue I have is the aquamate doesnt even spray out all the way from side to side. It only wets 4-5" of carpet at a time. I no longer use the aquamate and now use a bissel pet shampooer. Which I really like.

I've never has so much stuff break on any appliance in my life except for the Rainbow. I must have a lemon of that because I take care of everything I own.

 

[ctvacman]

Tekjunkie28

Have you considered a lindhaus aria canister? Very well built and the PN is fantastic, I always liked that they offer a carry handle on the top of the unit in addition to the front like most canisters.

 

[tekjunkie28]

No one around here has ever even heard of one. If I got one and needed warranty repair how would that work?

Only reason I ask is that Im 2 for 2 on "premium" vacuums needing warranty repairs.

 

[n0oxy]

Sebo ET1

In my opinion the Sebo power nozzles are some of the best power nozzles available. The Lindhaus power nozzle is also very good, but Lindhaus is a much harder brand to purchase, just not a lot of places that sell them. the Miele SEB nozzles are rebranded Wessel-Werk nozzles.
Mike

 

[tekjunkie28]

That is very true. I can get miele and sebo service pretty much anywhere. I would say they are the only 2 vacuums to get around here and they are direct competitors. Thing is Miele needs to step up their game by either reducing prices or shoring up their warranty. I do thing the Miele/Wezzel Work PN is a superior cleaner for canisters compared to the ET-1 just from what I have seen with respect to agitation. I have no hands on testing except for comparing my ET1 to my Rainbow PN. I don't refer to surface cleaning but the deep cleaning.. any PN is gonna clean the surface to an extent, I want to look more into deep cleaning.

I know that is a little counter intuitive as I should have a upright but I do have a kirby sentria 2 but my carpet isnt very kirby friendly. I have old Berber in the back bed rooms and Carpet in the den that has no padding. The kirdy cant get much air flow on either one of them but cleans surface dirt just fine. It maybe cleaning deep down but it sounds like its straining. My living room carpet and 1 bedroom had padding and the kirby and lift up the carpet and suck air through it. I will say the sebo ET1 does groom and clean my den carpet fairly well as I was vacuuming with the rainbow the day after adn got minimal dirt out which really blew me away.

 

[n0oxy]

getting an upright

Actually a good power nozzle canister will clean carpets just as good as an upright. Many people choose to use an upright for carpet and a canister for cleaning everything else. Certainly there's nothing wrong with that, but a power nozzle canister will meet all of those needs, and if you really want to crank up the power, get a central vacuum, you don't have to install pipes to benefit from one of those.
Mike

 

[oliveoiltinfoil]

Sebo seem to be having build quality / design issues recently. It’s as if they’ve dropped the ball slightly. I’m speaking to Sebo owners of decades saying the same thing. I’ve had a D4 and currently have an E3 premium with the same head; not noticed those issues with the PH but the hose on the E3 leaks…. A lot. It whistles. They all do it.

Quickly falling out of favour with Sebo. It’s down to the consumers to vote with their wallet.

 

[tekjunkie28]

I believe It may not be Sebo as I have noticed a drop in quality in equipment I work with. The parts suppliers themselves are being hit hard with costs since about 2018. Specifically metals and motor manufactures. Hand made PCB boards are hit and miss too depending on which supplier.

I have thought about a Central Vac. I can install it myself easily. I just need to do some more research and get the best of the best. I probably only need 3 outlets and I have a basement with an attached garage so its not too much of an issue.