Screeming new machines

[williamr1248]

Does anyone know why these new machines are so LOUD! My new Anniversary Hoover is so loud. I was thinking it was because the motors on the new cleaners are bigger but that's not true.
My new Electrolux Oxygen is VERY VERY hushed and the new Constellation is not bad either-but this Hoover Windtunnel and my Oreck are just ear splitting. It makes you want to finish vacuuming as quick as possible. I noticed on epinions.com there were many complaints from customers about how loud the Windtunnel motor operated.
Some of my older machines like the Electrolux XXX,Air-Way 66 and even the old Hoovers were very quiet. I have been told the Miele vacuum are very quiet too. It looks like if Electrolux and Miele can produce quiet machines so could the others.

 

[lux1521]

I think your big factors are Motor Speed (not amps but RPM), Insulation Material, and motor design.

On older vacuums that were quiet, you usually find a large and slow motor. On loud modern cleaners you find smaller motors that run faster. The Oreck motor is fairly small, and very fast. The insulation surrounding it is minimal (you can actually see it from the outside), and also a factor in my opinion.

Electrolux and Miele also make use of after filters on many models that also reduce exhaust noise.

I think the choice of motor bearings and motor fan design can also be factors in some cases.

 

[hoovercelebrity]

Hey Rob-

Yes, they are noisy... and that is in part, due to the 12-amp motor that they use in the machine.

Moreso, though... I think it's due to the lack of insulation or muffling material around or after the motor. That's what usually makes a machine quiet(er). Filter Queens have a foam batting up around the motor, AirWays had sound suppressors. Even Dial A Matics had a "muffler" after the motor to absorb some of the noise.

But most new machines--bought at Target, Wal Mart, or the like... for under 100, 200, or 300 or so dollars, are gonna be screamers.

~F

 

[williamr1248]

Screeming machines

Thanks guys. I love my new Hoover Anniversary machine EXCEPT for the noise. I would be glad to PAY more and get a quieter machine. I can't imagine using one of these if you lived in an apartment or condo.The Electrolux Oxygen is an absolute pleasure to use because it so quiet.
Fred-I will put the Hoover at the BOTTOM of the stairs and work from the bottom up. Thanks for the tip. I had never used an upright to clean stairs but I had to try out that Hoover stretch hose.

 

[tolivac]

At my workplace the janitors have a newer Oreck Commercial vacuum that is a real SCREAMER!Loudest Oreck I have heard.I asked the janitor if the noise bothered him-he said it didn't-probably he has suffered hearing damage!I am not near the vac when he uses it-he vacuums the mats in front of the transmitters-the noise of the thing is so bad I ask him to turn the vac off so I can hear the sounds of the transmitter when starting it and tuning it.The Sanitare the other janitors used was less noisey-could hear the transmitter sounds.Like to hear the transmitter sounds so you can tell all is well.Abnormal sounds you like to hear so you can shut down the rig right away if something is wrong.I offred the janitor a Sanitaire but he turned me down-he wanted to use his haunted banshee Oreck.Its the loudest Oreck I have heard-I have used commercial Orecks in the past and they weren't as noisey as this one.Other Orecks in my collection aren't as loud either-home models.But both are really the sasme-the commercial ones have the three wire cords to meet safety regulations and no headlights.

 

[williamr1248]

Screeming new machines

I agree with you on the Orecks. How can such a small motor make soooo much noice. I think the two earlier explanations make sense. But why do these companies want to put out a product that you hate to turn on! I have a $38.99 Bissell upright from WalMart that is quiet and that's about as cheap as they come. It will clean circles around the $600.00 Oreck.
This is not something new. I have my grandmother's Hoover Concept One Powerdrive and it is very loud and I have a Hoover Canister with quadaflex power nozzel that I really like but it too is a screemer. My new Electolux Oxygen is just a pleasure to use because it is so quiet and user friendly. It makes you WANT to use the machine! All you hear is the swish of the air.It actually has a very pleasing sound.

 

[thunderhexed]

Yikes!

I bought a Royal 10 amp machine from ebay Model 4000 i think? Burgundy with Classic silkscreen printing on bag.. anyways.. i was expecting to have a cool like, nice running vacuum to use. Well, it did look cool, Royal is my fav next to Kirby, and it cleaned BEAUTIFULLY.. but DANG!!!! TOOOO LOUD! Even my partner of the time complained about it being too loud, especially for the apartment we were in at the time.. Guess we were both just used to the growly, throaty sound of the Kirby... Needless to say.. i sold the Royal... hated to cut it loose. It looked so neat and cleaned so well, but.. couldn't handle the noise.. it sounded like she was one mad sister!!!! They have such a neat "antique" look to them though... hopefully i can find an older one eventually. My aunt had one from the 80's that i don't recall being nearly as loud...

 

[williamr1248]

Screeming new machines

Hey I forgot about the new Royal. I too bought a new Royal upright about 3 years ago. Mine cleaned and looked great. I was so disapointed! It would drive you out of the room.
Mine is new in the box. How can anything that looks that good be so loud!

 

[danemodsandy]

Sign of the Times....

....Cost-containment and amperage aside, there is a growing number of consumers who think noise equates to power. We live in very un-subtle times, where people don't take the time to understand that a quiet machine might have design factors making it a better performer than the screamers.

If hushed motor sounds were popular, believe me, manufacturers would find ways to provide them, and at a Wal-Mart price point, too.

 

[electroluxxxx]

since I rebuilt my Kirby heritage It sounds soooo much quieter I think it is quiet enough to use in a library that is full of people. it is such a beautiful running machine