New Carpet with Vacuum Limits

[man114]

I was thinking about this again, the Airspeed has really stiff bristles on its roller. I'd think it would be bad, on the fibers of a particularly sensitive carpet. I wouldn't hesitate to use my Rainbow on it, but I'd shy away from something too aggressive. I'd even use an older Kirby than the Sentria.

 

[tolivac]

Its a good point Stan has brought up if the Kirby has a Gold seal approval from the Carpet-Rug Institute-must be OK to use on any carpet.No problems when I have used Kirbys-just mostly find Dirt-dust in the bag when I have done Kirby disposable bag "autopsys"

 

[sebo_fan]

Im aware of CRI but I don't believe half of it. They have awarded all of SEBOs uprights with a Bronze seal of approval, yet Silver seal of approval for the similarly known Windsor 370 series, which gets a Bronze seal with the SEBO label. They're both the same but for the badge.

Miele's S7 isn't even listed.

 

[sptyks]

Nar, I'm just speculating here but I believe the reason CRI gave the SEBO uprights a bronze rating is because they have a brushroll that may be too soft and not aggressive enough for some types of carpet. The Windsor does not have the automatic carpet height adjustment which has proven to be a problem on some types of plush high pile carpet.

 

[sebo_fan]

Stan - I don't mind what rating the SEBO gets. They've already been approved by other carpet brands such as Axminster carpets and I am aware that the brushrolls may well be softer and gentler since the X series are advertised as being gentle vacuums.

However CRI obviously have a discrepancy with SEBO - the Versamatic with manual adjustment is the SAME AS THE SEBO 370 models.

 

[Gr8DaneDad]

I don't put too much stock in CRI ratings. They only rate what is submitted to them along with a fairly hefty payment and they are horribly inconsistent, as pointed out in the previous post by sebo_fan. They are also completely opaque on what the testing results were. For instance, a vacuum that removed 100% of dirt, but had dust containment of ≤ 100 µg/m³ of dust particles would be rated at best as Silver.

 

[marks_here]

That's my favourite colour

Opaque no clear

 

[luxman107]

Tom

I agree. Manufacturers pay the CRI big money so they get on their list. Aerus was on it a number of years back but the guy who owned my local aerus franchise, told me aerus no longer wanted to pay the annual fee

An endorsement from the CRI and a quarter will do nothing more than buy you a cup of coffee if that

 

[sptyks]

CRI testing proceedure

Luxman107:

I don't know where you get your infolrmation, but CRI is an independant and impartial testing facility as shown by a portion of their testing agreement and application form below:

(c) Vacuum Cleaner Testing and Test Protocols - The product performance tests will be conducted in a
uniform and impartial manner by a testing facility which is independent of CRI, and is under contract with CRI for
performance of Program testing. The Company’s product unit type(s) shall be tested using consensus-based test
standards to determine product performance. The company time frame for completion of said testing Said standards
are attached hereto as Exhibit A.

The entire document can be viewed at the link below.


http://www.carpet-rug.org/Documents/SOA/CRI_SOA_Vacuum_packet.pdf

 

[sebo_fan]

It may be an independent company but it isn't an official body that recognises every brand, - your link provides the answers.

CRI are an independent company but they are also providing a voluntary service which doesn't require every brand to sign up to. It may be a very clear contract but the only bonus that brands stand to win is the unnecessary promotion of that model or brand, if the machine passes the tests that CRI performs. If it doesn't then, the brand and model has already been recorded on CRI's books for future public viewing.

However, what about GHI? How many awards are necessary for buyers to believe in a particular vacuum cleaner model if the standard marketing by sellers or commercial media companies aren't enough? And when does a buyer stand back and get a chance to put forward their own viewpoint?

No wonder buyers are confused all the time. It isn't just the variety of vacuums that buyers face, or the different prices, but also the marketing spin, claims and sometimes, even the awards that come with them.

Witness the "British Allergy Foundation," Seal of Approval. Totally unbelievable if its a bagless vacuum that the seal comes with. Yet buyers believe in it....

 

[DesertTortoise]

Who is paying for the testing?

 

[sptyks]

So, Sebo_fan, what's your point???


No testing corporation can force a vacuum manufacturer to have it's vacuums tested. But it IS to the vacuum manufacture's advantage to have their products tested unless, of course, a particular manufacturer knows it's vacuum cleaners are inferior to their competitors products. As a prospective vacuum buyer, it would be to my advantage to check CRI's vacuum ratings before I buy.

 

[DesertTortoise]

That assumes that test results are honest and that vacuum companies are not simply buying an endorsement with some testing thrown in to make it look objective. Not sure it works that way, but I'm not sure it doesn't either.

Again, who is paying for these tests?

 

[sebo_fan]

Well, therein lies my point concerning the Windsor and the identical SEBO upright. The Windsor gets the Silver award and the identical SEBO model gets a bronze award. I wouldn't say the testing in this case is accurate but then honesty and accuracy are not the same.

Is it really to the vacuum cleaner brand's advantage that something like CRI necessarily has its seal of approval stamped on the machine? CRI only seems to exist for buyers who believe wholeheartedly in it.

 

[Gr8DaneDad]

And since the manufactures pay a fee to CRI for the testing the results are somewhat suspect, especially when virtually identical machines get different ratings and the testing methodology is only partially transparent. And to assume that a given manufacturer believes that their product is inferior and therefore doesn't pay to be tested is a bit of a stretch since the vast majority of vacuums are never submitted for testing and most work at least reasonably well. Few are complete failures at cleaning at least a large percentage of dirt of visible size.

 

[luxman107]

Exactly Tom

So I don't care what links you put out there SPTYKS, a manufacturer will only get endorsed by CRI if it pays for it

 

[ralph123]

Are the Sebo and Windsor REALLY identical?

Although the Sebo and Windsor may look the same, are they equipped with the exact same brush roll? I would assume that the Windsor is set up for cleaning commercial low pile carpeting whereas the Sebo is set up for residential carpeting. Any comments?

 

[sebo_fan]

They are the same part according to the user manuals!

 

[sebo_fan]

Also, the SEBO 370 Comfort isn't listed as a "household" vacuum, either on SEBO's UK site or SEBO's US or German site. Where CRI have got this idea it is a household vacuum is beyond me - it is a commercial vacuum

The only domestic line up from SEBO are the X series, G series and Felix.