Have Vacuum Cleaners reached their peak of performance?

[marcusprit]

I've noticed vacuum cleaners have not made any great strides forward in regards to suction and airflow over the last couple of decades.

The biggest improvements have been in filtration.

Have vacuums reached their peak of performance?

 

[kenkart]

If you consider..

The Apex Strato Cleaner of 1953-1962 and the Sunbeam Dual Deluxe introduced in 1958...sealed suction is nearly as good as most machines today,..85 to 90 inches, and the airflow is better than nearly everything today....then no , very little improvements have been made, as to sealed suction, a mid 70s Filter Queen will pull 95 to 100 inches of waterlift...and thats darn near as good as anything!...im sure there are some new machines that actually have more power, but not many.and very few filter as well as the Filter Queens do.

 

[sebo_fan]

I don't think that vacuums have "reached their peak performance," just yet even if we all thought that the EU law would bring an end to cheap and cheerful vacuums with loud motors. I don't think that has yet made a big influence. However, I am not discounting the usage and production of digital motors being transferred to conventional vacuums - it is just a matter of cost and time..

 

[marcusprit]

So it looks like they have reached their peak

 

[marcusprit]

Oh so there's more to come you think?

 

[sebo_fan]

But how can they with the new EU law?

If you are referring to "reaching their peak" in 2014, then yes for the moment a lot of brands and models probably have.

However don't forget the law changes in 2017 with watts lowered to 900 watts. I can imagine that brands are either going to:

1) Cap motors yet again and just hope for the best.

2) Cap motors and test components with a possible view to realisation that they have to redesign key parts to make their models competitive.

3) Actually produce a better built model.

 

[marcusprit]

Hopefully a better model. But isn't it going to be a difficult task to improve airflow with a lower wattage motor?

 

[sebo_fan]

Improving airflow doesn't just mean stronger airflow - but rather the aspect of sealed channels and no air to escape, other than an air valve added on a design, which most brands have always added.

However, there are vacuums which may well offer and promise "sealed suction," but if suction air can be felt at the cord, or other areas of the vacuum, then airflow is obviously leaking.

 

[marcusprit]

So that is one area of improvement.Maybe making motors more efficient. Possibly digital motors will become the norm?

 

[sebo_fan]

Possibly making upright vacuums lighter as well. Not just to push but also to carry.

 

[marcusprit]

Yes that would be good

 

[sptyks]

When 2017 rolls around...

I think you guys in UK and Europe will be looking at the return of the Direct Air vacuum such as the Hoover Junior and Senior, Sanitaire and Kirby. Theser Direct Air machines all use less than 900 watts.

 

[sebo_fan]

The UK already has those kind of vacuums - no one wants the Oreck formula sadly, let alone an upright only without a hose & tools attached.

 

[vintagerepairer]

Direct air

has all but gone, and I think gone for good. With direct air it is much more difficult to provide the same level of filtration which is expected of today's cleaners. It's been 20 years or more since the UK market shifted towards an almost exclusive range of clean-air upright vacuum cleaners, and as such many generations of people who are buying cleaners now will have no knowledge or experience of a cleaner which bounces large particles in & out of the fan area, and other quirks of a direct air machine.

As for cleaners having "peaked", until the day that research is done to prove which surfaces require what quantity of suction power to clean them (and I don't think we will ever see the day), then it's all guess work as to what is needed. Manufactures need to make good all-rounders in order to win the sales, that's all. People may get vocal about such matters when the subject is raised, but overall the performance of a household appliance is rarely at the forefront of your average persons mind.

 

[super-sweeper]

large particles may be the only issue with direct air, but provided the seals are in good shape and you're using modern bags (Which should be standard for both clean air and dirty air cleaners), most direct-air cleaners are wonderful!

 

[sptyks]

The facts are...

The new Kirby bags filter down to .01 micron which is as good or better than any bypass air vacuum, bagged or bagless.


 


The new KirbyAmodel fans are much tougher than the metal ones and they have tapered fins which reduce or eliminate the large particle bouncing effect.