Looking to Buy a new Vacuum

[Chetlaham]

I currently have a Kenmore Intuition 116.31100902 Vacuum and I love it. I want to buy a new one of equal quality and performance but absolutely unsure what to buy. Are these Kenmore vacuums equal to my old one Intuition? And who is now making the specifications and selling these Kenmore vacuums now that Sears is no longer in business?


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075DZY7FR

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08M36B5JZ

 

[centralsweeper63]

Why do you want to replace it. It may be an easy fix.

 

[cheesewonton]

I currently have a Kenmore Intuition 116.31100902 Vacuum and I love it. I want to buy a new one of equal quality and performance but absolutely unsure what to buy. Are these Kenmore vacuums equal to my old one Intuition? And who is now making the specifications and selling these Kenmore vacuums now that Sears is no longer in business?


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075DZY7FR

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08M36B5JZ

Kenmore's current upright vacuums are not as nice as your Intuition. Today you would have to spend $500 or more minimum to get as nice an upright as your Intuition. But Kenmore's canister vacuums, especially the 600 Series are, I think, the best canister vacuums Kenmore has ever sold.

So in it's entire history Kenmore never made anything. Their business model since day one was to hire other appliance manufacturers to make products to Kenmore's specifications. The first three digits of a Kenmore appliance or Craftsman power tool model number is the manufacturer's code. Your Intuition was made by Panasonic at their plant in Monterrey Mexico. Over the decades Kenmore vacuums have been manufactured by Birtman Electric, Whirlpool, Singer, Eureka, Panasonic, Electrolux Group ( the Swedish company ), LG, Sanyo, and a company owned by Casio wrist watches who's name escapes me. Currently all Kenmore vacuums are made by Suzhou Cleva Electric Appliance Co Ltd in Suzhou China, an hour and a half drive from Shanghai ( it is a resort area along Lake Tai ). Circa 2016 Panasonic decided to exit the North American vacuum market and wanted to offload their Kenmore vacuum business. Suzhou Cleva was already making shop vacs for Craftsman and were selling shop vacs under the Vacmaster and Armor All brand names so taking over the Kenmore vacuum biz from Panasonic was a natural step. They have done much to improve Kenmore canister vacuums but their uprights are sort of chasing Shark and Diesoon in terms of style, features and light weight, but they are not as durable or repairable as the old, sober but solid Panasonic made Kenmore uprights.

 

[centralsweeper63]

If you love it why would you replace it?

 

[Chetlaham]

Thanks for the knowledgeable replies everyone!

If you love it why would you replace it?

The plastic underneath is broken and getting caught up on the carpet. In addition to that the height adjustment wheels are getting stuck. Pushing the vacuum backward and forward has become impossible. The suction is excellent and hose wand is still working like new. I absolutely LOVE this vacuum with all my might and to be honest it is one of the best I have ever owned. However I just can't vacuum carpet any longer and cleaning hardwood has become a workout.

 

[eurekaprince]

The current Kenmore Elite Direct Drive upright is an excellent carpet cleaner and is top-rated by Consumer Reports. You can shut off the brush roll to vacuum bare floors safely. It’s made in China by the Cleva Company which bought all the vacuum designs from Panasonic when Panasonic stopped making vacuums in the USA.

 

[Chetlaham]

How is the quality of the new Clava Kenmores vs the old Panasonic Kenmores?

 

[cheesewonton]

The current Kenmore Elite Direct Drive upright is an excellent carpet cleaner and is top-rated by Consumer Reports. You can shut off the brush roll to vacuum bare floors safely. It’s made in China by the Cleva Company which bought all the vacuum designs from Panasonic when Panasonic stopped making vacuums in the USA.

That flavor of the Intuition has the same direct drive brush roll as the Elite but honestly the Intuition is a much nicer vacuum to use.

 

[cheesewonton]

Thanks for the knowledgeable replies everyone!





The plastic underneath is broken and getting caught up on the carpet. In addition to that the height adjustment wheels are getting stuck. Pushing the vacuum backward and forward has become impossible. The suction is excellent and hose wand is still working like new. I absolutely LOVE this vacuum with all my might and to be honest it is one of the best I have ever owned. However I just can't vacuum carpet any longer and cleaning hardwood has become a workout.

I have to run to the doctors right now but I bet the part you need is either on ebay or maybe someplace like eVacuumstore has one.

 

[panasonicvac]

How is the quality of the new Clava Kenmores vs the old Panasonic Kenmores?

Quality wise, I honestly can't tell the differences. I even bet that if Cleva was still selling the 31069 that it'd be the same, that was in my opinion the last good Kenmore upright. But if I wanted to buy a Kenmore upright today, I'd get myself a SEBO who once made vacuums for Kenmore. Anyways, hope you'll enjoy your new Kenmore I just noticed you bought on the other forum. You can still buy a Sanitaire if you wanted to as a second vacuum you've mentioned about or just fix up your other Kenmore. Honestly, I prefer living in a place where there's more than one vacuum to use (that's one of the reasons why I collect vacuums). Makes it rather less boring to vacuum in my opinion, one can be a spare if the other is put out of service, two people can vacuum at once, one can help clean the other vacuum out for maintenance, or do some fun comparison tests.

 

[centralsweeper63]

What about a cirrus/prolux/airway upright, aren't the very similar to this kenmore machine.

 

[panasonicvac]

Not really, this Panasonic Optiflow MC-UG787 was more similar to that red Kenmore but even better.

https://vacuumland.org/threads/the-top-panansonic-mc-ug787.21678/

 

[centralsweeper63]

I know that was more similar but if the OP wants a new machine it is very unlikely they will find one of those. If they did that would be a good option.

 

[panasonicvac]

Chet already bought a new machine.

https://automaticwasher.org/threads/new-kenmore-vacuum.99831/

 

[cheesewonton]

Not really, this Panasonic Optiflow MC-UG787 was more similar to that red Kenmore but even better.

https://vacuumland.org/threads/the-top-panansonic-mc-ug787.21678/

That thing has been out of production for over ten years. There are no parts anywhere for it. I know because I have one. It is a nice vacuum, yes, but when you wear out a brush roll on it you're done. The grippy soft handle falls apart too and no replacements anywhere.

 

[cheesewonton]

Chet already bought a new machine.

https://automaticwasher.org/threads/new-kenmore-vacuum.99831/

Price a replacement brush roll, if you can even find one available. The drive motor is inside the brush roll. That is how they make it "beltless". The cheapest I have seen a new replacement brush roll is over $250 when the part is available. Some shops are pricing them upwards of $400. Blow me ! I'm a life long hard core Kenhead but stuff like that repels me. It's also really big, bulky and heavy.

 

[cheesewonton]

What about a cirrus/prolux/airway upright, aren't the very similar to this kenmore machine.

Cirrus has really good quality upright vacuums. Steel handles, steel sole plates, steel brush rolls with replaceable brush strips and the basic layout is based on the tried and true Panasonic Jet Flo. Not too big or bulky either. They are much more like an old Panasonic than a Kenmore upright. High end models have a mechanical brush roll shut off, spotting wand and hose and on board attachments. Made in Taiwan, our ally in the Pacific. Highly recommended !

 

[cheesewonton]

I would say hang on to the Kenny because that bottom plate will turn up sooner or later on ebay. But for the immediate need look at Cirrus or the Lindhaus Diamante. The Diamante is a two motor upright like the Intuition, is a bit lighter and carries its weight lower in the body, is super durable and while Lindhaus only offers a paper dust bag for it, a high quality synthetic HEPA Kenmore Style O dust bag fits the Lindhaus spout and if you bend the mounting card over just like you would with the Lindhaus bag it holds the bag door safety up and out of the way so you can close the door. Lindhaus has an optional HEPA exhaust filter and two layer pre motor filter, or you can cut a Kenmore CF-1 to fit the Lindhaus filter housing ( which is what I do ). Call it a Lindmore, or is that a Kenhaus? : ) Great vacuum.

 

[centralsweeper63]

Basically the recommendations are as follows. This seems to apply for most people too.

1. lindhaus
2. sebo
3. cirrus
4. Kenmore 600 series
5. Electrolux discovery series uprights
6. Electrolux models g-silverado

 

[eurekaprince]

I think it’s worth it. Even if you have to replace the motorized brush roll in 10 years for $250.

Here is one: https://www.ezvacuum.com/products/kenmore-kc92sdwfz000-agitator-brushroll.

If a person wants a classic bagged Eureka for carpets, just buy a Sanitaire with the ST bag set up. No headlights any more, though.

 

[panasonicvac]

Right, I was just saying that at the time when those Kenmores were being sold there was something else similar to it. Otherwise I can't think of anything that'd be as close to it in today's market.

I agree about the brushroll. I love Panasonic and Kenmore so much but the direct drive brushroll is one of the worst designs I've ever seen. It may sound nice and cool but there are reasons why Panasonic themselves quit making them on their own vacuums. So expensive, problematic, very complicated underneath, don't clean as well from my experience, etc. One time I was given a Kenmore Intelliclean to repair for a neighbor of mine. The suction motor quit working but the brushroll and dirt sensor lights still turn on. So I took it in to my old vacuum store to have my buddy get a new circuit board put on. But once he got the boards swapped, it blew up from what I was told by him. Into the trash it went. It wasn't just this Kenmore I've seen go bad but also I've seen it happen on the 31150 as well which is my concern honestly with Chet's new machine. Hope it won't happen for a long while.

I also agree about Cirrus, I own a CR89 that I love very much and I own a Bernina 6500C I also love as well that you can still find one similar from Air-Way. I do prefer Tacony like the CleanMax Pro Series but I wouldn't overlook on Cirrus or Air-Way.

Chet did had interest on a Sanitaire I've talked about from the sister forum. Likes and respects old classic designs. May possibly still get one as a second vacuum according to Chet. Chet was also interested in a SEBO since I mentioned that they once made vacuums for Kenmore and Chet is also a fan of Kenmore like me, may still get one as well.

 

[cheesewonton]

Right, I was just saying that at the time when those Kenmores were being sold there was something else similar to it. Otherwise I can't think of anything that'd be as close to it in today's market.

I agree about the brushroll. I love Panasonic and Kenmore so much but the direct drive brushroll is one of the worst designs I've ever seen. It may sound nice and cool but there are reasons why Panasonic themselves quit making them on their own vacuums. So expensive, problematic, very complicated underneath, don't clean as well from my experience, etc. One time I was given a Kenmore Intelliclean to repair for a neighbor of mine. The suction motor quit working but the brushroll and dirt sensor lights still turn on. So I took it in to my old vacuum store to have my buddy get a new circuit board put on. But once he got the boards swapped, it blew up from what I was told by him. Into the trash it went. It wasn't just this Kenmore I've seen go bad but also I've seen it happen on the 31150 as well which is my concern honestly with Chet's new machine. Hope it won't happen for a long while.

I also agree about Cirrus, I own a CR89 that I love very much and I own a Bernina 6500C I also love as well that you can still find one similar from Air-Way. I do prefer Tacony like the CleanMax Pro Series but I wouldn't overlook on Cirrus or Air-Way.

Chet did had interest on a Sanitaire I've talked about from the sister forum. Likes and respects old classic designs. May possibly still get one as a second vacuum according to Chet. Chet was also interested in a SEBO since I mentioned that they once made vacuums for Kenmore and Chet is also a fan of Kenmore like me, may still get one as well.

Sebo made one vacuum for Kenmore, a version of their G series. It was a one off sort of thing. Sebo didn't mass produce dozens, even hundreds of different model vacuums for Kenmore the way Whirlpool, Singer and Panasonic did.

That direct drive brush roll came from an early 2000s Japanese market Panasonic canister power nozzle sold with their MC-P600JX. I have one. Direct drive brush roll in a little power nozzle. It's a clever idea but they need to re-design it so the either the brush roll tube can be separated easily from the motor for replacement, or go back to using replaceable brush strips. Having to chuck an otherwise good electric motor because the brush bristles are worn down is not smart.