Poor filtration on Shark vacuums

[niclonnic]

I was volunteering at a family support center this afternoon. I used their Shark Rocket Professional vacuum. When I initially turned it on, I heard a significant change in the tone of the motor, like it was clogged. So I turned it off, removed the dust cup, and sure enough, the foam and felt filters were absolutely FILTHY! They were completely caked with dust.

I smacked both filters against the inside of a trash can, and there was dust flying all over the place! I had to step away from the giant dust cloud several times. So after that, I put the filters back in, and began vacuuming. I was back in business! The vacuum's suction had improved.

Another problem I observed with this vacuum was that the dust screen at the top of the dust cup was missing! So I think that's what's causing the filters to clog more easily.

For the most part, I enjoy Shark vacuums, but I'm starting to think that they aren't worth my time. How can it clearly state "never loses suction" on the vacuum itself, when a design flaw WILL cause it to lose suction? I just don't understand! To me, it's lying and false advertising.

This, along with the recent recall of Powered Lift-Away vacuums, makes me think that the Euro-Pro company is turning into a bunch of sharks! (Pun intended.)

Below is a pic of the filters after I banged them out. And this was after using it today. Trust me, these filters were SO dirty when I got there! Unfortunately, I didn't take any before pictures. BTW, just so you know, my hands got coated in dust after cleaning the filters.

 

[dys0nb0y]

shark cyclonic filtration normally isn't the best but without the screen it becomes terrible the screen is designed to stop the filter from getting dirty and without it those filters are gonna clog literally instantly normally you can go few weeks even months if you vacuum once a week without cleaning the filter,and actually the whole screen is the cyclonic system so without the screen it can't separate the dust.

 

[dys0nb0y]

there is a few things I do like about sharks cyclonic system it's not complicated and it's easy to clean easy to clean the filters I just really like it and have noticed I only fine dust goes to the filter not hair and fluff like others.

 

[suckolux]

The statement never looses suction is in accordance to standard test of a measured amount of dust/dirt.Past that amount, who knows! Misleading, but they all do it

 

[Mike81]

to dys0nb0y

That same reason I like my Electrolux UltraPerformer/UltraActive. It has similar cyclone design like in the Shark. Bin and cyclone assembly is see through and very easy to wash and empty.
Yes the cyclone efficiency isn't good as the multi cyclone vacuums, but far better than filter in the bin vacuums.
I don't think it's too much trouble to wash the foam filter once or even twice in a month.

http://https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=KemPr8-XVQY

 

[vac-o-matic]

Ah...

the beauty of a bagless vacuum. Give me a bagged vacuum any day, lower maintenance, and when quality bags are used, no leakage.

 

[Mike81]

That's why I also have my 26 year old bagged Volta with large high filtration bag. It remains me that good canister vac doesn't need to be state of the art bagless with million cyclones to keep my home clean

 

[sebo_fan]

Oh here we go again...poor ownership maintenance.

It doesn't surprise me in the least that the Shark got clogged up. Clearly whoever emptied it before you did Nic, may well have knocked out the screen by accident.

To be honest some bagged "brands" are just as bad. It depends on what the brand put in to make emptying easier without anything getting lost in transit. I know this from past experience with some brands who produce bagged vacuums with the slide in bag holder.

Some go to the point of adding a handle carrier that is supposed to slot into the existing bag holder inside the dust bin. If that gets chucked along with the full dust bag then a new bag can't be inserted properly, hence why most motor filters at the back of the bag then get completely choked with dust.

It is good that they have you around!

 

[sptyks]

Here is a pretty good demonstration video of the bagless Shark vs. lower range Riccar bagged vacuums. You will see that It IS possible to replace a full bag of dirt with a new bag and not lose a speck of dust.


 


This video is fun to watch:



http://https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSS-sZlEJdM

 

[oliveoiltinfoil]

Yepp, that is a good video. Really wish they sold Riccar's here in the UK. Don't see how there isn't a market for them if they are in the same sort of price range as Miele and SEBO.

That is one thing that is disgusting about bagless units, is the fact the dirt is spun around and whipped up like candy floss, scratching the inside of the canister, with rubber seals that are never good enough.

The rocket looks like a nice little vacuum, but they seem very noisy and it seems this cyclonic system is pretty poor.

 

[dys0nb0y]

I think that video wasn't the best because fine dust is what cloggs vacuum bag and he didn't pick up a lot only really a small amount and the bag wasn't even full.and in a real home there's a lot more dust then that.it's the same with poor cyclonic vacuums.shark cyclonic technology isn't bad it was pretty good job it just has more filter maintenance compare to others and no hair of fluff goes to the filter fine dust which is really good.

 

[dys0nb0y]

and I really like riccers tandem Air models they look really good.

 

[dys0nb0y]

Is a picture of my old shark filter after vacuuming the whole house this was about last year.

 

[sebo_fan]

I'd have preferred the time in the video that shows when the bin gets emptied. Try 7.34 to everyone else. The compressed air tip is a lot of nonsense though - the average vacuum cleaner owner won't bother with this.

Not unless you're OCD about cleanliness, which for most OCD people I know, they don't own a bagless vacuum.

But the original posting of this thread isn't about bagless versus bagged.

I'm a bit surprised to see that the Riccar sole plate seems to lack edge brushing on each side of the brush roll. I'd have thought for a high end upright and with all the airflow comparisons made in this video, that this upright would have had edge cleaning on either side, rather than just two dust channels to scoop dirt in from the sides.

 

[niclonnic]

Alright

Sebo_fan, to clarify, the dust cup on the Shark Rocket Professional vacuum opens up both on the top and bottom. You first push the bottom release lever to empty the big debris. Then you push the top release latch to flip open the top of the cup and clean off the screen when necessary. It just lifts up out of the dust cup. However, that makes the screen more prone to getting lost!

Yes, all the places I've volunteered at are glad to have a vacuum aficionado like me around!

BTW, my real name is Nick, not Nic.

That video was decent. Yes, bags are more sanitary, but I prefer bagless for the convenience factor. I don't bother using compressed air to clean out the canister. Besides, I don't even have an air compressor! I just wipe down bins with paper towels as needed. Occasionally I will take apart a bagless dirt cup and wash all the pieces under water. I'll admit that I have a bit of OCD.

I'm from a generation that was brought up around bagless vacuums.

To me, when a vacuum states "no loss of suction," it should mean just that. The Shark states that right on the front of the vacuum itself, but when you remove the dust cup, in small writing, it says that "loss of suction may occur if foam filters are not cleaned every 3 months. Rinse and let air dry completely." How misleading!

However, as it turns out, another company has solved it! Dyson solved that problem with their Cinetic science. By using tons of ultra-efficient cyclones with oscillating tips, Dyson Cinetic vacuums will TRULY never lose suction!

http://www.dyson.com/vacuum-cleaners/upright/dyson-cinetic-big-ball.aspx

 

[hepa]

Honestly my Shark Rotator powered lift away filtration is good and is sealed HEPA. I NEVER have had a plum a dust from emptying it like some claim bagless units do. And my filters are relatively clean.

All companies are going to have some misleading advertising, AT&T has the "strongest" LTE signal, while Verizon has the biggest network etc..

 

[sebo_fan]

Sorry Nick. But I did understand your post the first time. I did realise about the screen filter - but evidently it has got lost in the hands of the average user, NOT the collector.

However, what you fail to see is that ALL brands lie about something. Lifetime belt? Has to be replaced eventually. No loss of suction? Not quite. Stretch hose? (that then pulls the upright back and breaks something.) Edge cleaning (cue THAT Riccar) on both sides of brush roll..

I'd have thought that in your experience of getting all those free Vine vacuums that you'd have learnt that by now.

Open your eyes - This member found dust leaking into the motor of his Dyson Cinetic.

 

[tolivac]

Do I understand correctly-are these filters after the motor?If so that fine dust will eventually kill the motor.If that is the case of the filters after the motor-should be BEFORE the motor to keep those fines out of it.

 

[suckolux]

Pretty sure those are pre motor, from the ones I have seen anyway!