tomdawg
Member
Just curious to hear if any of you guys like rainbow vacuums.. I currently have a miele and love it. is there anything I should look for?
I have Rainbow Rep coming to my house
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madman
Well-known member
No idea. Welcome to the forums though! 
compactc9guy
Well-known member
Yes you have to clean and empty the water bassin after each use that is a thing you must do every time and dry it well .
vexorgtr
Well-known member
I've had a few of them second hand, and like them very much. They were my favorite up until becoming a Central Vac owner. The retail price always kept me away, but scooping up a refurbished one, or something from an estate can be a great find.
One of the biggest things that I didn't like about vacuuming is the smell of a dust bin. Rainbows don't suffer this fate. You can put oil fragrance, or I'd put cheap cologne in mine when using it.
The "pot of mud" when you're done is best dumped outside, as hairballs can block drains, and or be a problem if you have a septic system. Some users "flush" the contents when they are done, but with low-flow systems, I'm not sure that's the best anymore.
A water vacuum is a great idea, but you trade a bag of dirt, or a dry plastic bin of dirt for a WET plastic bin of dirt. As an owner, if you are willing to fill the bin to the proper level before using, and dump and dry it promptly when finished (leaving the motor/bin apart to dry)... You'll have a nice long life vacuum.
One of the biggest things that I didn't like about vacuuming is the smell of a dust bin. Rainbows don't suffer this fate. You can put oil fragrance, or I'd put cheap cologne in mine when using it.
The "pot of mud" when you're done is best dumped outside, as hairballs can block drains, and or be a problem if you have a septic system. Some users "flush" the contents when they are done, but with low-flow systems, I'm not sure that's the best anymore.
A water vacuum is a great idea, but you trade a bag of dirt, or a dry plastic bin of dirt for a WET plastic bin of dirt. As an owner, if you are willing to fill the bin to the proper level before using, and dump and dry it promptly when finished (leaving the motor/bin apart to dry)... You'll have a nice long life vacuum.
fairfaxclass
Well-known member
I sold them for a period. Very Solid machines! I recommend getting the extra large water basin and filling it just a tiny tad above the fill line. Do that, and the back-up hepa filter will stay clean for a long time.
mark40511
Well-known member
Well be careful
because they will start high.......VERY HIGH. perhaps keep declining as much as possible until they come down.....But I wouldn't be surprised if they try to start at $3000 dollars. I'm not sure how LOW they are willing to go...but it's definitely going be still be over $1500 because of the chain of people that have to get paid. But they are awesome vacuums and work great.
I've had one since 2006 brand new. Used the hell out of it but taken care of it still looks/smells new.
If you end up not wanting to pay the outrageous Rainbow price you might trying looking at the Quantum vacuum or Sirena - both water filtration similar to Rainbows - but not quite the quality of a rainbow - still decent though.
because they will start high.......VERY HIGH. perhaps keep declining as much as possible until they come down.....But I wouldn't be surprised if they try to start at $3000 dollars. I'm not sure how LOW they are willing to go...but it's definitely going be still be over $1500 because of the chain of people that have to get paid. But they are awesome vacuums and work great.
I've had one since 2006 brand new. Used the hell out of it but taken care of it still looks/smells new.
If you end up not wanting to pay the outrageous Rainbow price you might trying looking at the Quantum vacuum or Sirena - both water filtration similar to Rainbows - but not quite the quality of a rainbow - still decent though.
I have a Rainbow which I purchased new 2 yrs ago. As already mentioned they are not cheap but well built. I have had zero problems with mine but I faithfully maintain mine. They do require work and maintenance, you can't just whip it out of the closet, plug it in and vacuum and when done, unplug and put it back in the closet. You have to fill the bin with water and then while vacuuming continue to empty and refill the water bin. When done, I clean the water bin and clean the rotator cup. You cannot store it with water sitting in the bin, has to be dry. To empty the dirty water bin I use a strainer and empty it in the sink. Some people say they empty it outside but where I live we get tons of snow and below freezing temps, not going outside! It cleans well but we have another vacuum for quick pick-ups. I also find when cleaning it to be heavy when going up/down stairs. I would recommend when they are demonstrating, you, not them, vacuum the whole room and try changing out the water and then you can decide if having to change the water bin and the maneuverability of the unit would be something you wouldn't mind or find to be more of annoyance after time.
johnsmith96
Well-known member
@tomdawg
If you have the money to spend, and it's not savings, I'd say go for it. The reason o say this (and it's none of my business what your financial situation is) because I too wanted a brand new rainbow a few years ago. I'm young, and I was going to use some of my tax return to buy a rainbow. I figured it wasn't a bad idea, because it wasn't money I had saved for a long time, not was it needed to pay bills. I struck a deal with a salesman from the state above me, who lived in the upper portion of THAT state (long drive) and technically he was not in my "area" to be selling it to me. I'm not sure if you know this, but rainbow dealers all have signed agreements apparently, saying they won't sell out of their defined areas. He was lol. But many do this believe it or not. I talked to him and we agreed on 1300$ because I flat our said that I wanted one, no demo needed, and he was going to meet me and sell it out of his trunk. No one needed to be paid, none of the usual expenses. I also would be able to buy accessories within the first year of ownership for 50% off I think. However, I looked around and found a basically new rainbow e2 black for 400$. I did have to drive almost 2 hours to get it, but now having it, I'm glad I didn't spend a fortune on it.
It has its ups and downs. People sell these everyday because they are too much of a hassle for some people. That's why they say to only buy one if you have a larger house or lots of carpet. Of course you can regardless, but you may be reluctant to continue to use it after so long because it's such a pain to take set up and take down. Most people, even collectors do not take care of the rainbow properly. You do not store the basin attached to the motor unit, no matter what. You also should not store the hose attached to the unit, and really shouldn't store the hose attached to the wand because of the material it's made out. I OWNED A QUANTUM, and most people who do, bought one because they didn't want to spend for a rainbow. I advise against this. If someone has owned both, LIKE ME, they should be telling you that the rainbow is better made. It is less messy as well, and parts are more readily available. Rainbows have been known to last 20-30 years and still repairable to get it back to like new. I do not see quantum being around that long or becoming a household name, though it could happen! However, the price for a quantum should reflect a lot about the unit, and I highly doubt it would be repairable after the warranty is up.
With that being said, the rainbow is decent at cleaning. I only pull it out to freshen the air, and to really so a major cleaning top to bottom. Not because it's a great deep cleaner, but because once it's set up, you feel compelled to do more with it and make the set up worth my while lol. Also the hose has a nice length and i don't have to move it all around to clean above the floor.
If you have the money to spend, and it's not savings, I'd say go for it. The reason o say this (and it's none of my business what your financial situation is) because I too wanted a brand new rainbow a few years ago. I'm young, and I was going to use some of my tax return to buy a rainbow. I figured it wasn't a bad idea, because it wasn't money I had saved for a long time, not was it needed to pay bills. I struck a deal with a salesman from the state above me, who lived in the upper portion of THAT state (long drive) and technically he was not in my "area" to be selling it to me. I'm not sure if you know this, but rainbow dealers all have signed agreements apparently, saying they won't sell out of their defined areas. He was lol. But many do this believe it or not. I talked to him and we agreed on 1300$ because I flat our said that I wanted one, no demo needed, and he was going to meet me and sell it out of his trunk. No one needed to be paid, none of the usual expenses. I also would be able to buy accessories within the first year of ownership for 50% off I think. However, I looked around and found a basically new rainbow e2 black for 400$. I did have to drive almost 2 hours to get it, but now having it, I'm glad I didn't spend a fortune on it.
It has its ups and downs. People sell these everyday because they are too much of a hassle for some people. That's why they say to only buy one if you have a larger house or lots of carpet. Of course you can regardless, but you may be reluctant to continue to use it after so long because it's such a pain to take set up and take down. Most people, even collectors do not take care of the rainbow properly. You do not store the basin attached to the motor unit, no matter what. You also should not store the hose attached to the unit, and really shouldn't store the hose attached to the wand because of the material it's made out. I OWNED A QUANTUM, and most people who do, bought one because they didn't want to spend for a rainbow. I advise against this. If someone has owned both, LIKE ME, they should be telling you that the rainbow is better made. It is less messy as well, and parts are more readily available. Rainbows have been known to last 20-30 years and still repairable to get it back to like new. I do not see quantum being around that long or becoming a household name, though it could happen! However, the price for a quantum should reflect a lot about the unit, and I highly doubt it would be repairable after the warranty is up.
With that being said, the rainbow is decent at cleaning. I only pull it out to freshen the air, and to really so a major cleaning top to bottom. Not because it's a great deep cleaner, but because once it's set up, you feel compelled to do more with it and make the set up worth my while lol. Also the hose has a nice length and i don't have to move it all around to clean above the floor.
robsmith1977
Active member
I have owned many Rainbows in my lifetime. Some I bought for 100 bucks and cleaned them up and made necessary repairs and once I bought an E2 Gold model for $1000.00 and although it cleaned really well, it was loud! I agree that you should always use the 4 quart water basin with any Rainbow vac. It filters dust and dirt better all around. You don't have to pay big money to get a nice Rainbow vacuum to use. They do require cleaning the separator after every use... I would usually throw mine in the dishwasher!! Easy cleanup! When you are done vacuuming - always empty the dirty water out, rinse out your water basin really really well and leave it sitting off to the side... never store the motor on top of the water basin. Doing all of this every time you use it, it will last 15 years or more. The model D3C has good cleaning power AND it runs very quietly. Just suggesting that, but they are getting harder to come by in nice shape on eBay.
kirbylux77
Well-known member
Well, if you are thinking about buying a Rainbow, one important aspect I would be thinking of is how much will you actually use it? Yes, the Rainbow & other water filtration vacuums do a great job of cleaning, & ultimately the water filtration is the best way to dispose of dirt if you want to use a bagless vacuum. The problem with them lies in the fact that it requires extra effort to set up & clean afterwards. It's not just as simple as press a button & the dirt falls out, & you clean a filter once a month, like a Dyson requires. And they are not as convenient to take out & clean up quickly when company calls & says they will be coming to your home soon & you have a messy house that needs cleaning.
For that reason, make sure you keep a spare vacuum that you can use for quick cleaning jobs & for maintenance cleaning. And definitely DO NOT trade in your Miele to lower the price of the Rainbow! Chances are you can sell your Miele locally or on Ebay & get substantially more money than the credit they will take off the vacuum's selling price. And chances are, the dealer will recoup their money they took off the vacuum by selling yours anyways, so keep that money in YOUR pocket, not theirs.
Make sure when the dealer is in your home & showing you how the vacuum & optional attachments & uses it has, think carefully about whether you will REALLY use those attachments. For instance, how many people would actually use the carpet extractor attachment & extraction clean their carpet at home? And make sure the dealer knows you do have other options, & they aren't the only company that makes & sells a water filtration vacuum. There are other competing brands, like Sirena & Quantum, that make a water filtration vacuum that cleans just as well. As Mark said above, keep turning them down until you make it clear to them that either they have the lowest price or no sale!
If you are thinking of buying another brand of water filtration vacuum to save some money & you don't need all the extra functionality a Rainbow offers, here's some tips:
1. Make sure any water filtration vacuum you buy has a HEPA Filter on the exhaust, & don't buy if it doesn't have that feature. The water filtration vacuums may be the cleanest way to own a bagless vacuum, but unfortunately their filtration claims aren't exactly true. Any dirt that cannot be wetted by the action of the water....flour, baking soda, carpet deodorizers, fireplace ashes, any fine powder dirt, etc....will bounce off the water, go right thru the separator, into the motor & be exhausted back into the room air you are cleaning. That's the whole point of the HEPA Filter on the exhaust, to trap the fine particulates the water filtration cannot trap.
2. Make sure the brand you buy has parts support & availability from a local vacuum shop. This can be a HUGE issue, especially with water filtration vacuums, as there are many unknown or unheard of brands that are so new that the shop's distributor they buy their parts from doesn't stock parts for that brand. Also beware that many vac shops won't repair Rainbow or other water filtration vacuums, because they don't believe that such a vacuum is a good idea or design, they believe it's dangerous & they refuse to repair it. So make sure you have a local shop that is also willing to cooperate & work on them. I'm sure the last thing you want to have happen is to buy a vacuum & then every time it breaks spend hours in a car taking it to be repaired & then to pick it up again.
3. Consider buying a extended warranty if it's reasonably priced. You are making a substantial investment in cleaning equipment for your home, & since there's moisture, a motor & likely computer boards involved, it's not unheard of to have a vacuum break down unexpectedly, even if it's maintained well. Just make sure you know the EXACT terms & conditions of the warranty & what it covers, & more importantly that there's a way of getting the warranty honored if something does break & that it's convenient to use the warranty.
Good luck with your purchase & enjoy it.
Rob
For that reason, make sure you keep a spare vacuum that you can use for quick cleaning jobs & for maintenance cleaning. And definitely DO NOT trade in your Miele to lower the price of the Rainbow! Chances are you can sell your Miele locally or on Ebay & get substantially more money than the credit they will take off the vacuum's selling price. And chances are, the dealer will recoup their money they took off the vacuum by selling yours anyways, so keep that money in YOUR pocket, not theirs.
Make sure when the dealer is in your home & showing you how the vacuum & optional attachments & uses it has, think carefully about whether you will REALLY use those attachments. For instance, how many people would actually use the carpet extractor attachment & extraction clean their carpet at home? And make sure the dealer knows you do have other options, & they aren't the only company that makes & sells a water filtration vacuum. There are other competing brands, like Sirena & Quantum, that make a water filtration vacuum that cleans just as well. As Mark said above, keep turning them down until you make it clear to them that either they have the lowest price or no sale!
If you are thinking of buying another brand of water filtration vacuum to save some money & you don't need all the extra functionality a Rainbow offers, here's some tips:
1. Make sure any water filtration vacuum you buy has a HEPA Filter on the exhaust, & don't buy if it doesn't have that feature. The water filtration vacuums may be the cleanest way to own a bagless vacuum, but unfortunately their filtration claims aren't exactly true. Any dirt that cannot be wetted by the action of the water....flour, baking soda, carpet deodorizers, fireplace ashes, any fine powder dirt, etc....will bounce off the water, go right thru the separator, into the motor & be exhausted back into the room air you are cleaning. That's the whole point of the HEPA Filter on the exhaust, to trap the fine particulates the water filtration cannot trap.
2. Make sure the brand you buy has parts support & availability from a local vacuum shop. This can be a HUGE issue, especially with water filtration vacuums, as there are many unknown or unheard of brands that are so new that the shop's distributor they buy their parts from doesn't stock parts for that brand. Also beware that many vac shops won't repair Rainbow or other water filtration vacuums, because they don't believe that such a vacuum is a good idea or design, they believe it's dangerous & they refuse to repair it. So make sure you have a local shop that is also willing to cooperate & work on them. I'm sure the last thing you want to have happen is to buy a vacuum & then every time it breaks spend hours in a car taking it to be repaired & then to pick it up again.
3. Consider buying a extended warranty if it's reasonably priced. You are making a substantial investment in cleaning equipment for your home, & since there's moisture, a motor & likely computer boards involved, it's not unheard of to have a vacuum break down unexpectedly, even if it's maintained well. Just make sure you know the EXACT terms & conditions of the warranty & what it covers, & more importantly that there's a way of getting the warranty honored if something does break & that it's convenient to use the warranty.
Good luck with your purchase & enjoy it.
Rob
mark40511
Well-known member
Wait?
How does the 4-quart basin filter better?
How does the 4-quart basin filter better?
electroluxxxx
New member
tomdawg
If the dealer cannot get you a good deal, I can with free shipping.
The rainbow comes with an 8 year warranty on the rainbow itself (rexair standards) and 4 years on accessories and attachments (ie) power nozzle, hose, wands etc... (sometimes we go over the 4 years within reason, defects, abnormal excessive wear, etc. ). If you have any questions ragarding that I would be more than happy to answer them TRUTHFULLY! Also Rexair nor Distributors do not offer extended warranties. I have sold some rainbows to members on vacuumland both current and no longer, and they are happy with their purchase and level of customer service. I also do not require trade ins, leads etc, for out of state customers.
As far as turning a dealer down until you get the lowest possible price goes... if the dealer catches on to that they will walk away saying " thank you for your time". I have had many do that and when it comes down to it Dealers make a commission on the sale, anywhere between 300-600 a sale depending on the rank position and the person above them will make 100-200 on a sale depending on how much it is sold for. If the sale is at the bare minimum the dealer will make 100 on a sale and the person above them will make 100 on the sale and by that time there isn't really much left in the deal to cover other expenses. travel, food,equipment (depending on rank) etc... Dealers Depending on the rank have to pay for the equipment that they supply their dealers with as well as Demo kits and materials for doing demos. Dealers do not get paid hourly, they also do not get paid just for " doing a demo" so when it comes down to it and it is their only job, at the end of the day they need to make something too to keep food on the table and bills paid. Being in sales can be either very rewarding or have Severe consequences.
I have been in the sales position before when that was my only source of income so I know what people go through. If people are pushy then my advice is don't do business. I am not pushy when it comes to a sale, if someone wants it, I sell it, if someone doesn't want it, I don't push it.
When it comes to a trade in:
As part of the requirements trade something in to help the dealer, weather it be a broom, mop, crappy vacuum that you have sitting in the garage, whatever. honestly I wouldn't trade in a Miele. Distributors are different when it comes to their trade ins. Some toss them in the landfill others donate them to charity, some will sell them to vac shops or even scrap guys. If they get other water vacs or kirbys in on trade and the Distributor is "friendly" with the other distributor they will work a trade with that person depending on his " trade in pile". The machines that are traded in by a dealer become the property of the Distributor and a dealer cannot sell it without the permission of the distributor. So in reality the dealer does not make anything extra and a lot of the times neither does the distributor.
A lot of people really do not know how the business really works so hopefully this gives a little insight from someone who works behind the scenes, in the office and on the road. It definitely is not an easy business to be in as a lot of people make it out to be a "Get rich quick" thing. Its not, it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to get to where a lot people are in rainbow.
If the dealer cannot get you a good deal, I can with free shipping.
The rainbow comes with an 8 year warranty on the rainbow itself (rexair standards) and 4 years on accessories and attachments (ie) power nozzle, hose, wands etc... (sometimes we go over the 4 years within reason, defects, abnormal excessive wear, etc. ). If you have any questions ragarding that I would be more than happy to answer them TRUTHFULLY! Also Rexair nor Distributors do not offer extended warranties. I have sold some rainbows to members on vacuumland both current and no longer, and they are happy with their purchase and level of customer service. I also do not require trade ins, leads etc, for out of state customers.
As far as turning a dealer down until you get the lowest possible price goes... if the dealer catches on to that they will walk away saying " thank you for your time". I have had many do that and when it comes down to it Dealers make a commission on the sale, anywhere between 300-600 a sale depending on the rank position and the person above them will make 100-200 on a sale depending on how much it is sold for. If the sale is at the bare minimum the dealer will make 100 on a sale and the person above them will make 100 on the sale and by that time there isn't really much left in the deal to cover other expenses. travel, food,equipment (depending on rank) etc... Dealers Depending on the rank have to pay for the equipment that they supply their dealers with as well as Demo kits and materials for doing demos. Dealers do not get paid hourly, they also do not get paid just for " doing a demo" so when it comes down to it and it is their only job, at the end of the day they need to make something too to keep food on the table and bills paid. Being in sales can be either very rewarding or have Severe consequences.
I have been in the sales position before when that was my only source of income so I know what people go through. If people are pushy then my advice is don't do business. I am not pushy when it comes to a sale, if someone wants it, I sell it, if someone doesn't want it, I don't push it.
When it comes to a trade in:
As part of the requirements trade something in to help the dealer, weather it be a broom, mop, crappy vacuum that you have sitting in the garage, whatever. honestly I wouldn't trade in a Miele. Distributors are different when it comes to their trade ins. Some toss them in the landfill others donate them to charity, some will sell them to vac shops or even scrap guys. If they get other water vacs or kirbys in on trade and the Distributor is "friendly" with the other distributor they will work a trade with that person depending on his " trade in pile". The machines that are traded in by a dealer become the property of the Distributor and a dealer cannot sell it without the permission of the distributor. So in reality the dealer does not make anything extra and a lot of the times neither does the distributor.
A lot of people really do not know how the business really works so hopefully this gives a little insight from someone who works behind the scenes, in the office and on the road. It definitely is not an easy business to be in as a lot of people make it out to be a "Get rich quick" thing. Its not, it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to get to where a lot people are in rainbow.
electroluxxxx
New member
Mark
A 4 qt basin doesn't filter any better than a 2 qt basin. It just holds more crap. I have vacuumed to the point of where the water is almost at a stand still and my filters and Separator are still clean.
A 4 qt basin doesn't filter any better than a 2 qt basin. It just holds more crap. I have vacuumed to the point of where the water is almost at a stand still and my filters and Separator are still clean.
tomdawg
Member
brings me to the next question..
I am building a house this year. looking into central vacs. I like the idea of taking all the dirt and sending it the garage. But i don't know how that will compare to Rainbow- since they just called this week. My new house will have hardwood floors through out the main level and carpet downstairs.
electroluxxxx- (mike) i will keep you in mind! I've heard they cost 4k!
I am building a house this year. looking into central vacs. I like the idea of taking all the dirt and sending it the garage. But i don't know how that will compare to Rainbow- since they just called this week. My new house will have hardwood floors through out the main level and carpet downstairs.
electroluxxxx- (mike) i will keep you in mind! I've heard they cost 4k!
rugsucker
Well-known member
"building a house"
I think most here will tell you to plumb and wire while under construction(the easiest,cheapest time) and then decide if you want the system now or in the future.
I think most here will tell you to plumb and wire while under construction(the easiest,cheapest time) and then decide if you want the system now or in the future.
electroluxxxx
New member
I’m some states yes. My distributor is at 3100 retail, with trade in, leads and program $2600... I usually do better for the fellow collectors on this site.
I’ll second what jimmy (rugsucker) said!
I’ll second what jimmy (rugsucker) said!
oreck_xl
Well-known member
To Tomdawg:
If you're contemplating central vac, you may want to look into a DrainVac. They make a unit called the Automatik which collects the dirt in a bin and every 20 minutes cycles it through and washes it down the drain. Of course a plumber would have to get involved as well but it seems like the central vac equivalent of a Rainbow.
If you're contemplating central vac, you may want to look into a DrainVac. They make a unit called the Automatik which collects the dirt in a bin and every 20 minutes cycles it through and washes it down the drain. Of course a plumber would have to get involved as well but it seems like the central vac equivalent of a Rainbow.
fairfaxclass
Well-known member
Don't forget Ocean Blue! 130 CFM so they say! And 60 inches of water lift.
https://oceanbluevacuums.com/
It's like a supped up D4 by appearance.
https://oceanbluevacuums.com/
https://oceanbluevacuums.com/
It's like a supped up D4 by appearance.
https://oceanbluevacuums.com/
rivstg1
Well-known member
Tomdawg
I bought my rainbow new in fall of 2012, it has performed remarkably. I would recommend one to yOur collection W/o a doubt. I clean the separator very other time I use it, always store the wet water basin after in done separately from the motor unit, and enjoy NOT buying. Bags/smelling old vac dirt smells, and never losing airflow as no filter is getting clogged w/use. It does take more work to use/set up/put away than bagged vac. I do not... Think its a big deal at all....to empty the dirty water basin after vacuuming , rinsing it out (never more than 20 seconds) knowing I don't have to send any $ on bags and only every 4-5 years change out the heoa filter...IF I am not using it too long in a given cleaning w/o changing the water. I agree that it takes more time to use, isn't as powerful at deep cleaning as some, & are stupidly expensive bought new. Get one though, you'll be amazed at what you see after vacuuming & your home will smell great, andyour vac will never smell like other vacs after using them for a while.
I bought my rainbow new in fall of 2012, it has performed remarkably. I would recommend one to yOur collection W/o a doubt. I clean the separator very other time I use it, always store the wet water basin after in done separately from the motor unit, and enjoy NOT buying. Bags/smelling old vac dirt smells, and never losing airflow as no filter is getting clogged w/use. It does take more work to use/set up/put away than bagged vac. I do not... Think its a big deal at all....to empty the dirty water basin after vacuuming , rinsing it out (never more than 20 seconds) knowing I don't have to send any $ on bags and only every 4-5 years change out the heoa filter...IF I am not using it too long in a given cleaning w/o changing the water. I agree that it takes more time to use, isn't as powerful at deep cleaning as some, & are stupidly expensive bought new. Get one though, you'll be amazed at what you see after vacuuming & your home will smell great, andyour vac will never smell like other vacs after using them for a while.
