Kirby Avalir 2 Questions - Am I doing it right?

[vacuumwars]

Ok so its my second day testing the Avalir 2, which is my first Kirby vacuum.
I bought it used so there is a possibility of wear or other issues, but other than a slightly lower CFM numbers (129 instead of 137) than other Kirby numbers I have seen everything seems to be in perfect working order.

I want to like the Avalir 2. Its really solid and fun, I even like just looking at it, but I am wondering how much my experience so far is due to my lack of experience with Kirby vacs.

Here are some things I have noticed:

1. It is good with hard floors but you really have to constantly play around with the height adjustment based on what you encounter. Too low and it pushes it around, too high and it wont pick it up, and because the hose is a lot of work to attach, you find yourself having to change height quite a bit.

2. On hard floors you simply cannot have the brush spinning or it will shoot debris everywhere, I am assuming this is a rookie mistake.

3. because of the superb airflow and agitation it is great with deep cleaning carpets, I would say that this is why someone should buy a Kirby, though it kind of has the same problem as hard floors with needing the height adjustment. You basically have to go over larger debris fields once with the height up and once with it down.

4. I like it in canister mode with the combo tool? Im not sure what it is called but it does decently with fine debris on carpets and really good with hard floors. Though I found that its really bad with pet hair clumps on carpet, though good on hard floors.

5. In my crevice pickup test where I have 2 crevice sizes 1/8" and 1/4" filled with coffee rounds or sand It didnt do as good as I thought it would considering the airflow is much higher than anything else I have tested. It was confusing, I mean it did very good, but it did leave some debris with the sand version and the coffee wasnt a perfect run either. The Shark Apex, Dyson Ball Animal 2, Dyson V10 and V8 all did slightly better, I am assuming that it has something to do with shape and style of the floor head, which I have seen plays a role in that test before.

I havent tested any of the other attachments yet (shampooer etc) I will probably start tomorrow with that.

So I guess I am asking if my experience is on par with other Kirby owners and Kirby lovers. I guess I have assumed that it is the greatest vacuum ever, and maybe I had my hopes a little too high. I also dont want to put out any kind of video on it until I am sure I am doing everything right and truly understand what I am doing. SO any help or thoughts would help.

 

[blackheart]

Kirby

They've never fared well on hard floors with their standard carpet nozzle. There is an insert for the main nozzle you can use to adapt it for hard floor (seen below) but it's really quite inconvenient you need to deactivate the brushroll and this unit clips into the bottom of the floor tool. The best way to clean hard flooring with a Kirby is just to use the hose and the hard floor tool.

Yes they will struggle with large amounts of large debris but typically that's not what is encountered in the home.

When the crevice test was done it sounds as though the main nozzle was used? While we do have a high amount of flow it's also distributed over a larger area. I'd say it'd be better to use the hard floor tool for it, as that's how a Kirby should be used on hard flooring.

Yeah high expectations often lead to disappointment, I feel there's not much in the same class as Kirby in terms of pure carpet cleaning ability that massive flow of their combined with a strong vibration producing agitation makes for a wonderful deep down clean.

Oh, before I forget. The height adjustment has a bit of a learning curve to it the suggested method is to raise it up then lower it one click at a time until the tone of the motor changes then lower it another 2 clicks. You don't want it too low cause then you don't leave room for the vacuum to pick up the carpet and beat it like it's supposed to do.

I apologize if i over-explained anything I tend to do that even when it's not needed.

 

[vacuumwars]

@blackheart Thanks that was really helpful!

 

[sptyks]

@vacuumwars,


 


Blackheart is correct. The best way to clean hard floors with a Kirby is to use the Hard Floor attachment in Canister Mode.


 


When cleaning carpet in Upright Mode and with a new filter bag installed you need to first raise the floor nozzle all the way up to position #7 then with the motor running, lower one click at a time until you hear the brushes contact the carpet, then lower one more click. I have found that for most carpets the nozzle height ends up at position #3. 


 


As your bag fills up with dirt and airflow is somewhat reduced, you may find that you will need to go down to position #2 to maintain ultimate cleaning performance.


 


Hope this helps,


 


~Stan


 


 


 


 


 


 

 

[rivstg1]

Hard floor attachment

I use that addition often, thought, I agree the hose / floor tool seems the most effective, the snap on attachment to the power nozzle is a more convienant option, i Ike it

 

[sleepdoc]

Floor attachment

I don't understand why Kirby doesn't include a better hard floor tool. Using a Kirby with the hose is somewhat inconvenient, but they do work well. A Kirby generates ample suction and airflow at the hose end to clean with a floor attachment, such as they had prior to the Generation series. I don't like the wheeled attachment they include now at all. At Kirby's price, they could include a floor tool with a decent soft brush. The Electrolux (Aerus) uprights are an identical situation: turning the spinning brush off and just running the vacuum over the floor without a brush doesn't clean as well as using a brush attachment. Electrolux includes two full-length wands in the attachment caddy but omits the floor brush, even though they make at least two floor tools, one of which is decent and the other a standard setter for decades. In both cases, I guess the strategy is to encourage customers to think the upright can clean hard floors without converting to the hose, but the actual performance is much better with proper tools. It seems hard to believe that their only motivation is to reduce the production cost by excluding the tool.

 

[rivstg1]

sleep doc,

I"m interested in why you think the hose/floor wand is THAT much better? I'm not truly doubting your thoughts...just wanting justification. I ask, because I use both the hose/floor tool AND sometimes us the power nozzle attachment ( hard floor) that clicks on from under the nozzle, and it appears to pick up any and all debris I run the Kirby over in my kitchen. Its definitely easier/quicker to use that attachment than get out all the hose/attachments....granted, the hose attachments can get 'under' cabinets etc better where the Kirby power nozzle won't..... thoughts?

 

[vacuumwars]

I do feel like the Kirby hard floor tool could be improved. I wish there were more options, it looks like they have a combo brush which I dont have, I wonder if a Miele tool would fit.

I also wish there was an option for a suction based carpet nozzle like with the Miele canisters.
I like using it in canister mode a lot I just wish the tools were about 20% better

 

[tolivac]

I use the Wessel Works hard floor tool with my Kirby when I have it in the hose mode.SO MUCH better than the largely useless Kirby tool.Kirby REALLY needs to redo this tool-or better yet provide a carpet suction only tool AND a good hard floor tool.

 

[pr-21]

You can purchase a 1 1/4 inch friction fit floor tool&#92with horsehair bristle that cleans hard surfaces very well 


that will fit the Kirby. Several versions, castle cut or shorter cut brisles in front of brush and longer on the 


sides.


PR-21


 


Bud

 

[kirby519]

Can't say that I have had any issues with the Kirby set up with the carpet nozzle having any issues picking up off hard surface floors. Then I was on vinyl or VCT flooring. I never disengage the brush for hard floors. Just my experience with them. I wouldn't recommend using the Kirby in that manor on the man made laminate wood floors.

 

[frkirby560]

Floor Brushes that fit Kirby

I agree that Kirby's floor tool as of late is not helpful for bare floors. I do use it for under low furniture on rugs when I don't feel like moving the large furniture. But on bare floors, no!

I have both of the following floor brushes that I use (depending on the area of the floor) with my later Kirby's and they are great. Not very expensive and well made. Easily ordered from Amazon. I do also use the clip on attachment for the main nozzle sometimes and find it works fine for a general cleaning of wide floor but not helpful in smaller spaces.

https://smile.amazon.com/inches-DEL...sr=8-5&keywords=vacuum+floor+brush+attachment


https://smile.amazon.com/Green-Labe...sr=8-7&keywords=vacuum+floor+brush+attachment

 

[tolivac]

The Wessel Works Tool I have I bought it from the vac shop near me.It can fit any other vacuum with 1.25" wands.The vac store operator stocks them for central vacuum users.I use it on my central vacuums,too!The tool has a dual way swivel neck-side-side or up-down.

 

[rivstg1]

frkirby, this one too

The amazon posting you listed is amazingly similar to my Rainbow floor attachment which I have found, thus far, to be the best. Your posting of that is a good reminder to possibly NOT stick with an attachment if you don't care for it anyway

https://www.amazon.com/Rainbow-Genu...eywords=rainbow+vacuum+floor+brush+attachment

 

[texaskirbyguy]

I find the pre-G floor tool works much better than the post-G one with the wheels. The pre-G one is what I always use.

 

[mariotron]

For hard floors I usually just use it in upright mode with the power nozzle one click up from the lowest setting. I only turn off the brush roll or use the floor attachment when picking up larger stuff like cat litter. I'd like to to know how the attachment that goes on the nozzle works though

BTW dont use it with the brush roll on with hardwood floors or laminate. It works fine on linoleum and tile aslong as you're not trying pick up large pieces.