Hoover vs Hoover - You Help Decide

VacuumLand – Vintage & Modern Vacuum Enthusiasts

Help Support VacuumLand:

I've decided I want to get a Hoover vacuum, a brand new one.
I've narrowed it down to either getting me a Windtunnel self propel bagged model, or a Hoover Guardsman C1631 commercial vac.
I've gotten to fix and use a bagless Windtunnel self propelled before and my impression first thing was it's build quality, it felt cheap and clunky.
But needless to say I was quite pleased by the self propel, the good carpet grooming, the brushroll shutoff, and the extreme amount of airflow for a clean-air upright.
Of course it was also the loudest thing I ever used and it was EXTREMELY heavy.

Now the cleaner I have NO experience with is the Commercial Guardsman 1631, so I have to ask if anyone on here has used one before and if so I want to ask what did you think of it? (particularly, how does it sound, how well does it clean, and your overall thoughts of it).

I'm right now really torn between the Windtunnel self propelled and the Guardsman 1631, but the Guardsman does look quite appealing and appears to possibly be a complete modern version of the Convertible.
So your input and opinions would be highly appreciated on this.

Thanks,
Jonathan
 
Jonathan

I have experience with the original Windtunnel bagless (Made In America). The cleaning power it had was mind blowing, but its biggest drawback with the filter in the dirt container. Now I have no experience with the bagged version but I have heard very good things about it.
 
The Guardsman is for all intents and purposes a Convertible with a longer cord and a few other touches for the commercial market. If you've ever used a plastic based Convertible and were happy with it you'll like the Guardsman as it feels and sounds the same. It comes with a basic 2-brush agitator with no beater bars though so you'll probably want to swap it out for a better one to improve cleaning performance.
 
mb1981

Thanks for confirming that the Guardsman is still pretty much a Convertible, I figured it HAD to be anyway.
I've never gotten to use a Convertible....yet, so yeah I pretty much don't know what one's really like. For me the closest thing to that design that I've used would be my Sanitaire vacuums even though there not even made by the same company.



"I have experience with the original Windtunnel bagless (Made In America). The cleaning power it had was mind blowing, but its biggest drawback with the filter in the dirt container. Now I have no experience with the bagged version but I have heard very good things about it."

I've only had experience with bagless Windtunnels (if a bagged Tempo doesn't count) and I agree, the biggest PITA on them from day to day use would be the filters in them, that silly little thing where it tells you to spin it around in the canister does nothing. I always end up shaking them out outside and the last one I cleaned, horrible plumes of dust came off of it. One of the 3 big reasons I don't like bagless vacs.
 
Hey there.... You know, even though the Sanitaires/Eurekes look very similar to the Convertibles, I think they are much better performers. I use my Eurekas all the time, I don't think I've run the Convertible in over a year. On my flat carpet, it just throws dirt around without picking it up.... I think the Eurekas are superior in every way, except ease of bag change.

If you don't have another upright with on board tools, I'd say to go for the bagged WindTunnel. I use mine almost every day and the power and ease of use AMAZES me every time. I love all its features, and for a modern plastic vac, it's fabulous. I used it on the car mat of my car... I brought the mat inside and vacuumed it using the vacuum as an upright. I left the WindTunnel in one place and it took 20 seconds for the red light to change to green. I did that for over the whole mat, and when I was done, I had about a half pound of grit in a brand new bag that I'd only used for that purpose. The mat looked clean, and I had just done it with the suction only vacuum at the car wash. It was noticeable lighter when I picked it up to put it back in the car after using the Hoover. It's one of my favorites, and that says a lot, I usually prefer vacuums with ballooning bags instead of hard cases. I want a bagless one too just for fun, but I don't care for the tower chamber filter either. Since you don't have any Convertibles, you may want to go with the Gaurdsman.... but I'd say to get both eventually. You can often find a used s/p WindTunnel on CL for a good deal. The WindTunnel is loud, but nothing compared to any dirt devil or Hoover Elite.
 
Definitely the Bagged WindTunnel....

it's one powerful carpet cleaner and for the occasional dusting of end-tables and dining room chairs, the on-board hose has the strongest suction out there. It also lies very flat to get under coffee tables, and the cord is really long - 30 feet. The brush off switch makes removal of debris on bare floors a breeze.

The only downsides: very noisy, heavy to lift up stairs, and I always find the "Y" bags hard to change because you have to remove and replace the cardboard collar almost blindly behind the bag itself.
 
Vacuumfreeeke

My 2 Sanitaire's are my best cleaning vacuums for sure, especially the SC888, it has the newer ST style bag system so it's very easy to change bags. Just today I went over to my Grandma's and used my SC888 on her whole house of new carpet that had never been vacuumed before, it picked up tons of crumbs and filled the empty bag about 1/4 full with dust. I used that on 3 bedrooms a carpeted bathroom and a huge living room.

Right now my only vacuum with on-board tools is my Eureka Boss 4870 bagged. I find it quite a great cleaner, it grooms the carpet really well, has a nice stiff brushroll (If not too stiff), and has a good efficient airflow path. It's bags are easy to change too.
I find my Boss quite competitive with the Bagged Windtunnel's I've used before. The Boss is definitely WAY quieter, much smoother operating (doesn't hurt the ears like a Windtunnel), and it has a brushroll off feature, where it also turns off when it's put into the upright "store" position.... One of my favorite features with it.

I definitely want a Windtunnel self propel bagged model sometime down the road, but I was trying to decided whether to get a Guardsman or the Windtunnel first, now.


I've had plenty of experience with bagless vacs, and I've over the years really grown to hate them....They're such a PITA to maintain, I hated having to wash the thing all the time, and also be emptying it alot, and of course dealing with those filters that start to develop a horrible stink.
 
I agree... for bagless, Dyson is the only option!

Used the WindTunnel again today, and I fall in love with it all over again each time I use it... my other vacuums are crying for some attention and I'm neglecting them! LOL

Let us know what you decide to get... and we want pictures!
 
And think of it this way........

The WT is still being made and is going to be made, my guess is for a while. On the other hand the Gaurdsman is probably close to being discontinued because in TTI's eyes it to "old fashioned" for todays "clean-air" market. So id say get the Gaurdsman while you still can.
just my opinion
Jason
 
The Guardsman is marketed to commercial users rather than household.It will probably still be marketed as a commercial vacuum.I have two Guardsman vacuums.I also have a few convertibles-seriously-The direct air Hoover family is more efficient,and with todays filter bags can be upgraded.Just think those work better than WT for the price and use.I also have seen to many Hoover WT vacuums as "patients" at the former Vacuum Cleaner Hospital.Belts and clogs most common "illnesses"The design of the WT is easily clogged.The WT's also end up in the "dead" pile.The WT bagless is a HORRIBLE,DIRTY machine.The bagged ones are MUCH better.
 
tolivac

I've dealt with a couple bagless Windtunnels, you are right...they are very nasty dirty machines to deal with, worst part is the ever-clog filter.

and an update to what I've been deciding....New competitors are in my lineup, and they're tough ones too.....Sanitaires. Now it's the Guardsman, Sanitaire SC678, and the new Sanitaire SC9050A.
 
Go with the SC678!

My vote is for he SC678. Although it has the wooden brushroll in it, you can easily upgrade that to the VGI or VGII. I prefer the VGII. It seems to agitate and groom the carpet better. Also, the ST bag system is outstanding. I think it's superior to the Hoover Type A bag system. The ST bag filters much better and is easier to install. I also think the SC678 will be a better deep cleaner than the SC9050. The SC9050 will mainly sweep up surface debris. However the SC678, even with its 5 amp motor, will create a seal to the carpet, draw it into the nozzle, agitate and "thump" it, while also creating air flow through to the pad for a more thorough clean.
 
eurekastar

I have the Sanitaire S634 which is pretty much the same thing as the SC678, it has the wooden brushroll with half beater half brushes. I like having the brushroll with the beaters even though the brushroll still isn't as good as the VGI that came with my SC888.
I do really like the ST bag system, it's the easiest I've used so far of any vacuum. The F&G on my S634 can be a PITA, but at least it doesn't have to be changed often.
I might just get the Guardsman because I don't own any Hoovers yet and that would be a great start and great competitor for my Sanitaires.
 
Converting to ST

You can convert any F&G setup to the ST style bag by purchasing an ST fill tube. I purchased one from an online janitorial supply, but I don't remember yet which one. The ST fill tube just snaps right onto the exhaust horn. Its design makes the whole assembly very airtight.

I also have two Windtunnel Uprights -- a self-propelled bagged and a Platinum bagless. As described earlier, both are very clunky and don't maneuver well. The transmission on the self-propelled model shifts too fast and is very jerky. I learned quickly not to use it with bare feet because the vacuum can easily run over your feet in reverse! The Platinum model does have some good features and the dust cup empties easily. But it is a beast! Oddly enough, both emit a faint electrical smell. For all their drawbacks, they do clean extremely well.

Sounds like the Guardsman is a good call. Convertibles are good machines!
 
eurekastar

I did notice how easy it would be to convert to ST when I out of curiosity took apart the fill tube on my SC888, that one even has the spring clamping down the fill tube, same as what's used to hold down the F&G bag.

On a similar note: I went and visited a local vacuum store today to see if they stocked any of the models I'm considering.....no they don't, but they did have a good selection of other things like the Royal version of the Windtunnel which looked pretty decent. They had the Eureka 1934 for 99 dollars - just like my S634, and there TOL is the Riccar line, those things are super solid.... and expensive.
 
Hmmm... check Ebay or online maybe... don't settle... get what you want. I just put the WindTunnel away and used my Sanitaire SC864 with shake out bag and metal brushroll... what a power horse..... it was fun, but I missed the WT. I LOVE my 1934A, but only paid 14 dollars for it... and I see them on CL for 25 all the time. I wouldn't pay 99 for one (that's what I paid for the WindTunnel), but it's a fabulous machine as well... so light and what a great cleaner!
 
Vacuumfreeeke

I never settle. I was just checking to see if I could get what I wanted locally. I already got the best prices located online.
While at that vacuum store they had the Windtunnel self propel bagged, it seems more solid than the bagless for sure, but of course it still was clunky.
One day I'm gonna get a Windtunnel but for now I think it's gonna be the Guardsman.
 
T

tolivac

Well-known member
Platinum Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2006
Messages
7,303
Location
Greenville,NC
I would defintely take a Sanitaire over a Hoover WT any day!!!The Sanitaire is a simpler-far more effective and efficient machine-and the Sanitaires have HEPA type cloth inner bags-so the filtration is going to be just as good as the WT.However I thought this was about Hoover Vs Hoover--A Slobber knocker STREETFIGHT!! as they say on the wrestling shows.
 
tolivac

lol it was Hoover vs Hoover, and Hoover won......... The Guardsman anyway. But then I had mean highly competitive cleaning monster Sanitaire come bangin on the door of my brain.... LOL
 
The Hoover Guardsman and Conquest are the last Hoovers that are built with quality. I'm not saying their lower-end vacuums don't clean well, beacuse they do, but they just aren't built very well like they used to be.

I work at a vacuum shop, and we see their plastic stuff all the time. We rarely get the conquests or guardsmans in for anything else but a tune up.



I think you'll like the guardman.
 
joe22

I'm old fashioned, I usually levitate towards high quality, tried and true, or both. The Guardsman meets my "old fashioned" criteria perfectly lol.
 

Similar threads

C
To many restorations in 2 months
Replies
24
Views
2K
cheesewonton
C
B
My recent find, a Hoover ultra self propelled windtunnel model U6425-920
Replies
4
Views
667
abobotek
A
M
Do you hate Hoover? This is the perfect ranting thread!
Replies
24
Views
529
mikanic
M
J
A Converted Hoover Turbopower Freedom!
Replies
9
Views
265
jake1234
J
psyberemt
Hoover Hushtone 15+ (CH54115) 3 month review
Replies
4
Views
900
honestjoe68
H

Latest posts

Back
Top