Maytag/Riccar/Simplicity What Setting Best for Carpets

[shrink1982]

I have found it really tough to know which setting is best for my carpets. The Maytag has 6 settings and there are so many types of carpets, what the heck is low, medium, and high? Most of my carpets are cheap builder quality that have a slight pile to them. They aren't flat but not real plush either. The carpet we put in the family room is a thicker pile which you can dig your feet into. It is what I see as most popular right now. The other carpets in the house do show foot prints and vacuum tracks but not very well. If the carpet has just been vacuumed, it is more prominent. The family carpet will show every footprint imaginable.

So, am I overthinking this one? I want to ensure optimal airflow and agitation. This is easy on the Kirby, although I have read they changed their method on the Avalair. Any recommendations?

 

[tolivac]

Kirby height setting IGNORE the instructions for the Avalir.Just raise the nozzle up all the way-then go down until you hear the rollerbrush hitting the carpet with the motor on-then go down one more notch.For my Simplicity and Riccar Tandem air machines I found the "auto" setting works very well.I have tried setting these like the Kirby-but their height adjust works differently.My carpet is deep pile.

 

[shrink1982]

Thanks Tolivac. Yeah, I am not sure why Kirby changed the system they have been using for ever as far as I know. I have been using auto on the Maytag.
David

 

[tolivac]

Brian-The Kirby salesman I use-says the same thing--Ignore Avalir instructions and set the Kirby as described-the old way-I find their new Avalir instructions to be CONFUSING and meaningless.And you won't get the proper performance the Kirby Avalir was designed to do.In the Avalir instruction video they show the user vacuuming her carpet with the nozzle ALL THE WAY up-how are you going to clean your floor that way?

 

[pr-21]

Avalir video is the worst. I commented on this as well when it first came out. I have the Avalir and am even wondering if the ratcheting lever notches are somewhat different, from the prior models? I listen for the motor change and then lower one more notch. On the Avalir their is a slight motor change one notch higher than on previous models, but I still wait for the complete motor change and then go one more notch. Wonder if this has to do with the newer style brush rolls being made?


PR-21
Bud

 

[tekjunkie28]

I had a Kirby guy come by just so I could see the new Avalir when we was out near my house one day. I liked them and was noticing how he lowered it. He used it the old way. if you watche the carpet it would
Get pulled up to the Kirby. Which seems correct to me because the air would pull dirt from deep in the carpet. The rainbow PN does the same thing but to a smaller extent. My Kenmore Elite said to always use the lowest carpet setting on everything but long carpets. But... even yet another guy I talked to said that dirt falls through carpeting and gets for onto the foam and you should lower the machines all the way to pull that up. I'm not so sure about that idea because the only way to get dirt to move is AIRFLOW. Also go look at the YouTube videos of people using Kirby vacs and if you notice that the ones that lower it too far don't have the airflow to pull up the dirt. That's atleast what I see and that's my theory is that the carpet needs to be lifted up and not the head set down on the floor.

 

[tolivac]

For the Kirbys the nozzle has to be lowered to where it can just rest on the floor-then you will get the "airlift" action.If its too high---NOTHING.And of course too low-you stall the roller brush and wear out the belts faster.And the airlift action will stop,too because the nozzle is pushing down too hard.