Rainbow Hepa

[tekjunkie28]

How does anyone else rainbow Hepa look after a year or less? Mine looks like it's getting clogged by something. What do you giuys think? We talked about this a little in another thread but I want to dedicate this thread to it.i included photos.

 

[rivstg1]

I see from your photos ..

..what your pointing out. From what I’ve experienced , that filter gets dirtier much faster when we don’t change the water enough during a cleaning session. One test that indicates a clogged filter is to use the rainbow in ‘blower mode’. I did this with my mothers’ Rainbow and the output of air was pathetic. We had both bought our Rainbows bear the same time...hers just a head of my purchase . Well, mine didn’t need replacing till 5 years it appeared, hers? Within 2.5yrs or less. Why? She didn’t change the water enough ( big house) and the water was getting so dirty( thickended) or dust saturated , that incoming dirt didn’t have enough water to filter it out and the remaining sorry/dust went into the rear Hepa filter.

Lesson we learned ? Of you have a lot of cleaning to do , monitor the water in he basil as it might need to be changed mid-cleaning to stay effective .

Maybe that’s the case with yours? That’s the only way I can ‘see’ that might explain the dirty filter unless you are vacuuming stuff that’s not water soliable ( Sheetrock dust, talcum powder etc) which goes directly to the filter.

 

[mark40511]

Yep

Keep separator clean and change the water before it gets too dirty.... I did this from day 1 with my brand new rainbow 2 speed gold bought in 2006. I used it so much during the first 5 years and never changed the HEPA.....I used the blower function too to blow out fridge coils... I used my rainbow to suck the bin and filters of my bagless shark....lots of nasty dirt getting sucked into the rainbow. After 5 years I cut into my hepa and it actually had lots of life left in it. All I use in the water mostly is a few drops of essential oil....No jet dry or fabric softener or anything like that. I do have moderately hard city water.

Sad to say: but I think most people who own Rainbows vacuum with one filling of water and dump the thick crud......probably don't take the separator off to clean it for months.....all these vacuum shops will get these filthy rainbows inside and out....and conclude they are horrible machines.

 

[electroluxxxx]

That used filter seems to have a lot of life still left in it. I’d say another 3 years and it should be changed.

 

[vacuumdevil]

I tell my customers to change the rainbow HEPA filter yearly. The reason for this ...

Water is a poor filtration medium.

Most of the stuff a HEPA filter catches your eye cannot see.

For the 30 to $50 they cost it should be a no-brainer.

 

[tekjunkie28]

I change the water out at least once or twice per floor. It's never too dirty and there nothing non wettable that I can think of in the house. Separator stays clean and I even use the larger water basin.
I talked do a lady at rexair and she sent me a new Hepa free about 9 month ago or so. She also said to use about a t spoon of oil in the water. Well.. I didn't do that every time after a few times of doing it.

 

[mark40511]

Well

if they recommend oil just use essential oil........but not a teaspoon. I've used Lemon, eucalyptus and orange and never had problems and it's pretty cheap and lasts a LONG time and it smells awesome when vacuuming.......much better than the rainbow scents which are basically chemicals. Damn. I wonder if that's why my machine has stayed so clean..

 

[rainbowguy2016]

@vacuumdevil i have to disagree with you saying that water is a poor filtration medium. You only say that because your in the business of bagged vacuum’s . Like those aweful overpriced Miele vacuum cleaner’s that breed germs .

 

[mark40511]

I think

Miele's are great.......I think Kirby's are fine machines. I think Rainbow's are great. Also Sebo's, Riccar, Simplicity, etc.

but..about the water being a poor filtration medium......It's not just the water, but a combination of water/separator. If the water/separator isn't doing crap, you would need to change HEPA filters every week.

I've honestly never used my Rainbow in a very dirty environment. Since living in this house brand new I've always been a clean freak so my rainbow hasn't really had to pass too many tough challenges, not to mention the fact that I clean the separator after every single use with a toothbrush and dish soap... I mean, don't get me wrong, I've vacuumed up some nasty stuff with my rainbow - mainly other bagless vacuum bin's....but the majority of dirt it has seen is just common house dirt you would expect......nothing super filthy. But with all that, the HEPA lasted me 5 years. I can clean my entire house on one filling usually but sometimes change it once just to be safe.

Think about it. If someone isn't in a very clean home, they get their rainbow, fill it with water, start vacuuming, and I suspect 90% will keep vacuuming until the basin is getting way too thick...My Grandma bought a rainbow in the 1980s and when we would use that thing, we totally let the water get WAY too dirty. I remember dumping it outside and it was thick with dirt. Way too thick. But we didn't know. We filled it with water once, and that was it, to clean the entire house. I seriously don't remember EVER changing the water multiple times to clean the house. But we should have. She had a wood burning stove and LOTS of traffic in her house. She had her rainbow from 1984 I think until the late 90s when a Kirby guy talked her into trading. I even remember running out of scents that came with it and we put a couple of drops of pine sol....the dirt killed the foam almost immediately.

I think that was my reason for wanting a Rainbow when I moved into this new house. I remembered how awesome it smelled when we were cleaning when I was younger. I vowed to take care of mine and I have.....even though once I fell off a ladder holding it trying to clean a high place - before I bought the 14-foot hose...

but sometimes just getting it out to start cleaning is a pain. It's heavy and getting down to set it up and put it away is annoying......but your house is so fresh when you're done sometimes it's worth it. I mostly use my upright HEPA bagged vacuum now. I will still use my Rainbow sometimes.

 

[vacuumdevil]

Found this today . Series of pictures from another service center recommending regular filter changes.

 

[mark40511]

trust me

even if the inside of my rainbow looked 10% as bad as that pic in the link, I'd be changing it immediately.