Looking for a commericial vac.

[bowyorang]

Hi everyone! I was hoping to ask your guys opinion on a vac that I am about to purchase for use at my church. I have been given the go ahead on getting a new one but kind of at a dilemma on which one. Our church is fairly large, seats about 350 and has about 8 classrooms that are all low profile carpet. One of the main problems is I need a vac that is maneuverable enough to get under and around the pews but large enough that I'm not vacuuming FOREVER on the rest of the church.
I just went to the local vacuum store and they suggested the Riccar RSL3. They mentioned several other churches around the area that are using the same one. I like the lightweight of the vac and videos that I've watched look like it does a great job. I'm just curious how well it will hold up with twice a week use on the church and I'm a little concerned with the size.
Curious of thoughts on this situation and this brand/model. I know that best situation would be for a small vac for the pews and a larger on for the other areas but I'm afraid that might not be possible. I am going to ask when I give them my suggestions for a new vac but I'm not going to hold my breath.
If they are open for suggestions on an additional larger vac, what would you suggest?
Thanks SO MUCH!

 

[hoove94]

well....

uum im going to have to say a commercial wide path, they have them in all kinds of different sizes. some have shake out bags while others have disposable paper bags.
heres a link, they have a backpack vacuum that in my opinion would be better n that low pile carpet. check it out...
http://www.royalvacuums.com/Commercial/default.aspx

 

[bagintheback]

I Love Riccars...

....but I don't think the RSL3 is for you. There are no attachments and cleaning path is a bit small. Take a look at the Aerus Lux Commerical or a Proteam. The low profile and L-shaped nozzle will get under the pews and hose will get places you can't reach & above floors. Both the Aerus and Proteam are approved by the Carpet and Rug Institute. 



http://www.aerusvacuums.com/luxcommercialupright/index.cfm

 

[cam2s]

Commercial vac

I would look at Windsor vacuums. If you need some thats highly maneuverable, you could get an Axcess. It is like a Sebo Felix, but in commercial guise. They sell them with 12" or 15" powerheads. Windsor claims that this model is the lightest commercial two motor upright at 17 pounds. In case you aren't familair with the Axcess/Felix, the power head swivels making it very maneuverable in tight spots. Also, you can take the suction unit off the power nozzle and use it as a canister. I believe there is a shoulder strap you can put on it to make it easier to use for above floor cleaning. While I haven't used an Axcess/Felix personally, I do have a Versmatic and I can tell you that they are built like tanks. Of course, you could always get a regular Versamatic, which is sold in 14" and 18" varieties.

http://windsorind2.reachlocal.net/ViewCategories.aspx?Pid=380

 

[dustin]

My first choice would be a Sanitaire SC-684, I purchased the same machine for my church, and the only thing I would change would be to order it with a disposable bag system (I had the shakeout bag, and it was convenient, but was a mess to empty and leaked dust. My second choice (for flat, no pile carpeting only), would be a Proteam running vac canister. I use one at work and it works fairly well. It has good suction and is very quiet. No power nozzle, but it is not really necessary on flat pile carpet. For my church, if I had to buy another vacuum, I think I wouod go with the Proteam, although I was completely satisfied with the reliability and cleaning ability of the Sanitaire. The Sanitaire was pretty high maintenance though, I replaced the belt every couple weeks, emptied it usually once a week, and changed the brush strips a couple times a year.

 

[tolivac]

Do you have to use the vacuum to clean other parts of the church-above floor and bare floors.I think for a church that large you may need a good upright-Sanitaires are excellent-get the one that uses the newer "ST" bags I beleive-they are easier to change and perform better than the older F&G bag designs.For other cleaning jobs in the church would go with a commercial canister-such as the Royal backpack or a Proteam backpack.If you use the disposable bag kit in the Royal-you will have to change the disposable bag often-otherwise that machines powerful motor will burst the paper bag inside the cloth one--BIG MESS.The Proteam uses disposable paper bags.The best commercial canister-bar none--is the NSS M1 "Pig" type vacuum.They are equipped with a "universal" cloth bag that you can use as a dump bag or use disposable paper ones inside.And you can get a "chapel" tool kit for the NSS designed for church cleaning-everything from cleaning the floors to HVAC vents or organ pipe chamber grills.The church kit for the NSS allows the machine to stay on the floor while you use the long wand to reach high places without a ladder.The "Pig" and church kit is worth the money.And probably for a church that big you may need two or more people vacuuming in order to get done in a reasonable amount of time.This is where the two machines is good.Another good alternative to the NSS is the "Port-A-Vac" sold by Greenville Vacuum & Sewing.Its an MD Central vacuum mounted on a janitors cart.It uses a bag.Just about any central vac tools can be used with it.That is another machine good for cleaning in between seats or pews.

 

[scvacuumguy]

An SL3 is a horrible choice- it is not designed for commercial use. I would try an RSL5C. You're going to get a metal brushroll, lifetime belt, and a decent lightweight machine to use all over. The bottom line depends on the church's budget. Just remember, the more you spend, the better quality and longer warranty you will have.

If you do have the funding, a NSS pig that was mentioned above will completely solve all of your above floor cleaning needs. Awesome machine!

 

[bowyorang]

Thanks, I am going to look into several of these recomendations. I will have to stick with an upright though. While I will be the mainly using this vac, it will also have to remain accessable to the other members of the church for them to use if need be and they will want someting they can just plug in and push.
Like I said, I will definitely look into all of these more, but on initial browsing I noticed that a couple of them are designed about the same like the Lux and the Windsor. I did see at another place in town they sell the Spectrum 15d. http://www.advance-us.com/products/vacuums/spectrum/15d 18d.aspx
It looks a lot like the other two that were mentioned. So you know if this one is on par with the others?
THanks again for your help! I am looking into each one that is suggested.

 

[sebo_fan]

Funnily enough, I've just reviewed a commercial upright vac (Ensign Stealth 1) similar to the SEBO X1 Automatic (Windsor Sensor in the U.S) that has appeared at our church (seating of 270) and has recently been re-fitted with carpets. Feel free to read this review if you wish as it does highlight its general performance around pews, pulpit stairs, altar and such like. It is a LONG review, so be warned!

As a Sebo owner, although the Felix has a swivel, the smaller dust bag capacity may go against the value. Those who have suggested the Versamatics are spot on - they're built with a lot more durable plastics, have replaceable parts on them including the brush strips and a much bigger dust bag capacity. They're also a lot quieter than the heavier metal based uprights and clean flat to the floor without exertion. The Windsor Sensor models are also good too, but this depends on whether you have carpet or not.



http://www.ciao.co.uk/Ensign_Stealth_1_Upright_Vacuum_Cleaner__Review_6081798

 

[dysonman1]

Riccar (and Simplicity) make a commercial version of their 8 pound light weight model, that includes rubber wheels and a 35 foot commercial 3-wire cord. You might consider getting the RSL1AC (the "C" means commercial) for the pews and a Wide Path Sanitaire for the huge open areas. Best of all worlds.

 

[vacuumman206]

I would recomend a widepath windsor or electrolux. But first make sure it'll fit between the pews, because I know they are a tight fit sometimes, and it would suck to have a vac too big to fit between the rows, or one you have to twist and turn to get in there, because the big foot gets in the way! Proteam is also good too, same as Electrolux.

 

[sanitaireboy99]

I would recommend a Sanitaire or a Hoover Commercial Convertible or Elite. They are great machines and will last a lifetime!!

 

[sebo_fan]

Well, whatever you get, if it has a hose and tools on board, it makes life a lot easier when it comes to dusting the kneelers off, should your church provide them.

For years we had the old ones with saw dust in them that the mice in the church took a lot of delight chewing into and some even made their homes in them!

 

[bowyorang]

Thanks for all your guys suggestions. I decided on the Sanitaire sc899 for the majority of my cleaning and the Riccar RSL3 for around the pews. I was able to get both of them ok'd yesterday for purchase and will be getting them this week.
Thanks again for all your help!

 

[dysonman1]

RSL3

Riccar makes the RSL3 in a commercial version. The only difference is the much longer 35 foot grounded cord. The price of the vacuum should be the same for the household as well as the commercial. You might want to ask for the RSL3C (the C stands for commercial).

 

[SanitaireBoy97]

Eureka C2094G

Hey I have this 2005 Eureka C2094G for sale. I'm asking $140, it'll have a new motor, bumper, and a brand new VG2 bristle strips. If you happen to be interested email me @ [email protected]