How Do You Feel About "Wide-Track" Nozzles?

[bagintheback]

In years past manufactures have marketed uprights with larger 15 inch or even 17' paths as a deluxe feature. In the typical American home, I have always considered the standard 12'/13' cleaning path sufficient, and occasionally the shorter length will make cleaning in between furniture much easier. I can understand in commercial environments, but I personally prefer the smaller nozzle. How do you all feel? 

 

[vinvac]

I personally don't like them. I live in a smaller home and wide nozzle machines don't fit in spaces I need them to fit.

I also have to wonder what it does to air flow, especially newer machines with air flow not directed from the center but rather from the end of the machine. My guess is the opposite side of the machine won't edge clean very well and will rely on the brush roll to do the job...just my thoughts..

 

[marks_here]

Smaller nozzles are better for my house I can get in/around furniture easier but the wide track was great for long hallways in the hotel, took less time to vacuum. Even wider ones 28" are for ball room settings with no furniture. I had to use an Oreck for the ball room..took me almost all day to vacuum it!

 

[super-sweeper]

I'm also one for small nozzles.I love the miniature nozzle on my Heritage II Legend! It makes an already GREAT vacuum even better! It glides effortlessly and easily! This is a good topic! 

 

[DesertTortoise]

12-14 inches wide is ideal for a home or office. The maneuverability of the narrower brush has advantages.

 

[suckolux]

not a fan of the wide, tough fit in smaller places, reduced airflow over wide surface and heavier machine.

 

[parwaz786]

BTW it doesn't matter where the suction is, regardless of it being in the centre or on the side, the suction will spread out when the head is sealed to the floor.

 

[sebo_fan]

I have used wide track uprights in larger domestic homes - it all comes down to the size of the home as to whether wide track is required or not. I haven't noticed that much of a difference other than the bulk of the floor head. 


 


However I much prefer the standard size, but I also realise it can take longer compared to a wide track if you haven't got that much furniture located around a floor.

 

[parwaz786]

In my house we have long hallways, landing, approx. 5X4 cm2 rooms area
Multi floors and lots of furniture (mainly sofas, chairs, tables, etc. TBH The DC25 and DC24 we had were pretty good for the table legs and chairs

 

[DesertTortoise]

If you have a canister vac it is not terribly expensive to have a narrow and a wide floor brush. Some vacs, not all, have wands that will accept several different kinds of powered floor brushes, or you can do as I did and adapt a floor brush from a different make vacuum to your wand (I made a small Wessel Werk brush fit a standard Kenmore wand by making a short pig tail that plugs into the electrical plug on the wand). As long as the swivel neck is sized for a normal 1 1/4 inch wand coming up with an electrical connection is pretty easy to do. Cost me five bucks and some screwdriver time to do this plus the $20 I paid for the used W-W head. I can swap back and forth between a standard Panasonic head or the W-W head with minimal fuss. Best of both worlds. Central vacs offer some very wide floor brushes sized for a standard wand that are ideal for large swaths of uninterupted carpet or long hallways. Team one of those with a narrow one for maneuvering around furniture. Just an idea to chew on.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

I, too, like the regular size.

Sometimes, Bigger is not Better............

 

[pr-21]

I like both......

The reason I like the wide nozzle's for some things are, tight areas where you can't get a full nozzle in. For instance organ pedals.....

If I ever buy another Sanitaire, I will get the wide track because the 7amp motor is overkill in my opinion and this should bring down the suction to some degree.

I absolutely prefer the Aerus/Electrolux L shaped power nozzles over all but the new E-2 Rainbow power nozzle with the side brushes.

PR-21

 

[vacuumfreak95]

Depends on the area I'm having to vacuum. In my home probably the smaller nozzle, but If I lived in a very large home the extra length might be nice. I will say one thing though.... I hate Oreck's, however they are wonderful for cleaning in between church pews! Other then that they are just loud electric brooms. Not trying to offend anyone, just my perianal opinion. Pictured below would be my choice of the ideal light weight vacuum cleaner.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

I used to clean a church, too

a MASSIVE church...1200 people PLUS a horseshoe shaped balcony! I used a HOOVER Guardsman. It left might nice lines. I used attachments for the linoleum under the pews. They had a Kirby Omega.... got rid of that. Where I used to teach, they had an Oreck. WE all HAD to use it at one time or another. Not bashing. Do I bash??? My cousin who just died, had snow white plush carpeting in her formal livingroom and diningroom. A meticulous housekeeper, (scrubbed EVERYTHING) and used the famed "black duster" on the furniture. She'd always "run the cleaner" before anyone came. Those lines were perfect. She was proud of thet. EVERYONE knew what she was doing. There is NOTHING like a Convertible to leave perfect "lines". ... just wide enough.

 

[suckolux]

The Royal does pretty nice lines too!

 

[sptyks]

Kirby Sentria...

With stiff brush roll grooms very well and leaves really nice lines in my carpet.

[this post was last edited: 8/23/2014-17:51]

 

[vacuumman206]

I just love the stance of 16-18" path vacs, they just look so aggressive! In a residential setting, something like extra wide sanitaire or windsor where the 18" models are "winged" compared to lux or hoover's L nozzle, it does kind of make cleaning in an average home difficult, and no one would do it normally I'm sure. The L nozzles however are useful no matter how wide because you can maneuver the one end around furniture legs, under furniture,etc... compared to standard nozzles where you have to manipulate the whole cleaner more to get in those areas.Oddly enough, for bigger areas, as much as I like my Dubl-Duty 18" or my wide-path windsors, they seem to take longer and give me more of a workout than the sanitaire, and I think it has something to do with the style of the nozzle.

 

[parwaz786]

I like Bigfoot machines sometimes because I can go under the kitchen cupboards without getting the hose out, well that's when I tilt my Dyson ball to the side slightly

 

[super-sweeper]

Or.......It's when you hook-up the attachment set and GO!