Miele or Riccar or something else

[tekjunkie28]

I have a rainbow now but don't really use it much. I'm thinking about getting a Miele or Riccar canister. What are your thoughts? Other options?

 

[compuvac]

I'm not familiar with Riccar but i think Miele (bagged version, ignore the triflex) or Sebo are a solid option if you want a good quality modern vacuum.

 

[lesinutah]

Miele

Riccar is a good canister. Riccar has a lot of sister vacs.
Miele is probably the best canister out there. It's got lots of filters. It's got a great docking station for the bag.
Titan canister is a very good vacuum. Tom gasko/dysonman had a thread on it back in March. It's cheaper than miele and is really good bang for the buck.

 

[tekjunkie28]

How much weight does CRI carry? Is it worth it to purchase a vacuum with a gold or silver rating? I see where the Riccar power team tandem air is a gold rating but I have no clue about Riccar quality or longevity.

 

[ralph123]

Just curious what don't you like about your Rainbow E-2? Did you purchase the Rainbow E-2 new? What don't you like about it? What features if any do you like? What is your price range? What kind of flooring do you currently have?

I will say that the Rainbow sales pitch uses Jedi mind tricks to make you believe that no other product will ever satisfy you. Perhaps you could just give in and believe, so that you don't need a new canister. Perhaps you just need a new power nozzle or other accessories to go with your Rainbow?

 

[ralph123]

Given that you already have a Rainbow, your marginal costs of ownership are relatively low. Will you resent the high cost of Bags and filters? Many Rainbow owners have an upright for quick pick ups. It may be that you need to relearn how to use your Rainbow. I can remember visiting Tom Gasko’s museum, and he had good ideas for techniques for using a canister vacuum.

 

[tseg]

I LOVE my Miele C3 cannister for wood floors and "above ground" cleaning/dusting. I prefer an upright for carpets... Sebo Felix (although I'm drooling to get an X7). I do have a Miele U1 upright that is great except it is TOO HEAVY.

 

[tekjunkie28]

I just don't like having to deal with water on the rainbow. Also I have been through a hepa filter about every year. I use the correct amount of water and dump almost after every room. I have 3 cats and 2 dogs. I also have a Kirby Sentria 2 which I really like. The only thing I don't like that I love about the rainbow is that I can go from barefoot to carpet with a simple nozzle switch.

I bought my E2 black brand new in 2017 I believe. I have the aqua mate and the mop kit. I'm not a sure fan of the aquamate. It doesn't spray water completely from one side to the other and leaves dark marks where it didn't clean the carpet. I have to be conscious of where it puts down the spray. I also have had to get a new belt for it once already. As for the rainbow hose.... its trash. I have gone through a set of wands already and the handle itself is cracked and the switch no longer works. The power nozzle bottom plate also broke where the plastic tabs come up and allow the handle to sit upright. Good think it has a warranty. I am not hard on anything I own. The rainbow itself is okay but I wish I know more about other things before I purchased it. I do believe that its a great machine for someone with allergies but I know more now and the price of the rainbow is far too high. You would be better off getting a whole home dehumidifier or an ERV with a merv 14 filter rather then the rainbow for clean air purposes. It would be wonderful for people in rentals or apartments but for a average house there are much better and healthier ways to get cleaner air but thats just a rant and has nothing to do with my current thoughts on it.

Does the rainbow clean that well vs a Miele or Riccar canister? I dislike having to add water and I REALLY dislike how long it takes me to vacuum with it. I have mid-low pile carpet and berber in the living areas but tile in the hall, kitchen, dining room and part of downstairs. I don't like the PN because it's narrow and I can't get close to thing's with it. The side brushes are useless.

I know it sounds like I hate the rainbow but I don't but if there is something better that cleans better and gets it done faster then wonderful. All advise is appreciated!

 

[gmarquez]

Personally I’d choose a Miele over a riccar canister, I’m currently working in a vacuum store that used to sell both lines of canisters but has now dropped the riccar canister line because of how often the circuit boards and handle controls where failing. I’ve got two mieles, a Capricorn and monte verde and love both of them. I’ve used just about one model from every line of canister vacuums from almost all the high end and door to door brands and none of them I’ve found can compete with the Miele. They might be better in one particular area than it but the Miele is definitely the most complete package for me. I find it especially good at removing pet hair, I’ve got a husky and German Shepard so there’s always hair for it to remove and even with that bags still last me at least two months.

 

[n0oxy]

Miele or sebo

I would go with a Miele or a Sebo, those are probably the two best brands available. I would avoid Riccar, I have a Riccar Prima canister, it's nice, I love it, but they have since moved all production to China and their quality has really gone down. Miele and Sebo are both very good though I think Sebo is slightly better quality and the parts are cheaper if it needs to be repaired.
I also have a Rainbow E2 black, they are ok but overpriced. Another canister you might consider is the Aerus classic, very much like the older Electrolux models, Perfect Products also makes a canister with a design similar to the old Electrolux.
Mike

 

[vacuumdevil]

I would definitely pick Miele , SEBO or Lindhaus for a canister to daily drive.

The Riccar canisters are rather poorly made in China.

 

[tekjunkie28]

Update: Riccar is out of the question now. I'm leaning towards the SEBO D4.

What the take on Miele power heads breaking? I've heard they are unreliable. It also seems the repairs costs are high. Same goes for the bags and filters.

I have seen a SEBO ET-1 in action though. It looked like it had a lot of agitation.

Anyone have any airflow measurements of high end miele with PNs and the Sebo D4?

 

[compuvac]

Sebo D4!

Nice! I really like Sebo D4's especially the ones with the ET-1 powerhead!
I don't know what airflow the D4 has but i assume it's good.

 

[ralph123]

VacDevil - just curious what Lindhaus canisters do you like?

 

[n0oxy]

Sebo D4 and Lindhaus

Lindhaus is a very good brand, they are a bit harder to purchase though, they don't sell a lot of their products on line the way Miele and Sebo do. If you can find one, the Lindhaus Aria would be a good choice.
The Sebo D4 is a great canister, I have the D1 which is the straight suction version of that series, it's excellent. The D4 includes the ET1 power nozzle which is probably the best power nozzle made today. The Miele canisters use Wessel-Werk power nozzles which are also good, but I like some of the features of the Sebo power nozzles such as the ability to easily remove the brush roll.
Mike

 

[gmarquez]

I wouldn’t be worried about the Miele power nozzle reliability, having owned one for several years the only issue I had was the common handle release failure. This was a quick repair that took me maybe 15 minutes and the part is only about $20 with shipping. I think the stories of the power head being unreliable where mostly the early production units when it first came out and since then all of its issues have been fixed.

 

[ralph123]

I saw a Lindhaus HF6 on amazon and a Lindhaus Aria elite at www.centralvacuumstores.com, but I have no idea how the prices compare at vac stores. I will say that the Lindhaus Aria has stylish ad pics. I don't know about how the vacuum works, but I admire their ad pics. There's something stylish about a woman dressing in a black cocktail dress with high heals to vacuum her living room...


https://www.amazon.com/Lindhaus-HF6...1&keywords=lindhaus+hf6&qid=1600363721&sr=8-1

https://www.centralvacuumstores.com...MI_5va39rw6wIVDb7ACh0VBAtJEAQYASABEgKAJvD_BwE



https://www.centralvacuumstores.com...I_5va39rw6wIVDb7ACh0VBAtJEAQYASABEgKAJvD_BwE#

 

[ralph123]

I would have thought that Rainbows would be a little more durable than to have so many issues. What do other Rainbow users do when they have lots of pets and pet hair? Do they buy the 4 quart water container? Would the 12 foot hose allow you to finish faster? Is it difficult to convert a Rainbow to use a Sebo, Wesselwerks, or Lindhaus power nozzle? I'm assuming that you've got over $2600+ "invested" in your Rainbow, it would be nice if you could make the damn thing work for you.

 

[rivstg1]

rainbow breaking?

I was surprised to hear of your Rainbow parts breaking...having only bought in 2017! I've had mine ,new, since 2012 and nothing has broken. I like it a good deal....but its not the most convienant canister...having to fill and empty the water even if you only needed a 'quick pickup' of debris. I do enjoy my royal and Electrolux and Filter Queens for my hardwood floors....easy to use for a quick spill. The rainbow is for a whole house cleaning ( especially dusting!)