Sebo canister or Air-way

[air-waycharlie]

New Info RE: Air-Way

Okay, I just got off the phone with Air-Way and here it is direct from the factory:

The housing for the most current power nozzle is just like the one used when the Signature Series was introduced as modified by Tom Gasko.

The brushroll is a chevron design using the V belt and motor. It is considered a "Quiet Drive" series because of this. It still has the 4 height adjuster, headlight, quick connect/disconnect and "cord management" holder at the hose end for direct connect to the hose.

I will do pictures later.

 

[air-waycharlie]

P/N

Here is the complete power nozzle with wands.

 

[air-waycharlie]

Close up of the power nozzle only.

 

[air-waycharlie]

The underside showing the chevron brushroll with fairly stiff, nylon brushes.

 

[air-waycharlie]

Here you see the Cen-Tec labeling and note the last letters are QD for Quiet Drive.

 

[bimmer740]

New Air Way power nozzle

One of the things that stuck out in my mind was that the Air Way still had a beater bar on its power nozzle. I thought that it may be what the power nozzles on my other machines were missing to make them good and not excellent. Why would they change to a chevron brush with no bar? Is the beater bar power nozzle a better cleaner? Are their any canister that have a beater bar anymore?
Thanks
-Steven

 

[air-waycharlie]

This is my opinion ONLY.........I think to stay competative, Air-Way had to reduce the noise of their vacuums. The only way was to reduce the noise of the power nozzle as the main canister is not the loud.

Smooth belts and V belts are much less noisy than geared belts. The power nozzle with the beater bar used a geared belt. Not only did you have the vibration of the beater but the whiney noise of the geared belt. To me is was no big deal to others they would claim it was damaging their hearing.

If they had kept the beater bars with the V belt, it probably would have been too much drag/friction for that type belt making it stretch out too fast or even break. The beater bar was very effective and I'm sorry to see it go.

However, much of today's carpeting just really does not need a beater bar any longer. Royal discontinued using the beater bar nozzle as far as I know on their canisters and I'm not sure Kenmore is using it any longer. The brushes are so aggressive and well made, that in conjuction with the chevron design are quite effective.

I've used the new nozzle on my berber, which is one of the most difficult to get really clean, and it seems to work fine. Customers that have purchased the Air-Way with the new nozzle have had no complaints to me but only sing praises of their vacuums.

 

[normvac]

New Air Way

Charlie
I am a major fan of Air Way (I have your old 55 and 66). I have been watching for a decent 77 to collect. You just don't
see them here in the columbus, ohio area.
Can you post a picture of the new/current machine. I would
like to have a visual of the difference between then and now!
Thanks

 

[rexairman]

I am a big fan of both Air-Way and Rainbow, and sell them both. I still have trouble figuring out what makes any of the European canisters special, other than a protected profit for their dealers. This includes Miele, Bosch, Sebo, etc. I am constantly approached by these companies to sell their products, but have not done so. They are all very well built machines, but of very conventional technology. I love the Air-Way for the fact that it is built the way it always has been. Incredible, all metal, hand built quality. If a customer needs a vacuum that performs only the traditional functions of a vacuum cleaner, Air-Way is the way to go.
Now the Rainbow is a completely different situation. They have completely overcome the objection of being difficult to set up and use, with the new e2. The e2 is A.H.A.M. certified as an air cleaner, and designed to be used like any other air cleaner, running continuously around the clock 24/7. To accomplish this, a new motor, which has no carbon brushes (to produce emissions or limit motor life) has been developed. On low, air cleaning, speed, the machine is virtually silent. The user lets it run all the time, cleaning the air, which it does with better than HEPA results. When you want to vacuum, you simply connect the hose, and turn the switch on to high speed. When finished, pour the dirty water down the toilet, refill the basin with clean water, and turn the machine back on, on low speed, and let it run. I have talked to customers whose machines have run 24/7 for two and a half years, since this model was introduced. The machine also picks up water, enabling it to scrub the kitchen floor, and clean carpet. The new AquaMate II shampooer is very convenient, and does such a good job that there is no product I carry on which I have received as many compliments on the job it does. And these machines have a history of running for 40 or 50 years without problems. What is also amazing is that in the US, the Rainbow is the second largest selling canister cleaner on the market. Only the combined number of Kenmore and Panasonic (who build the Kenmores for Sears) is greater. And according to surveys conducted by Nordhaus and Associates of Southfield, MI, and The Schoenwald Group, of New York City, the Rainbow has the highest owner satisfaction rating of 98%.

 

[bimmer740]

Air-Way

I am still waiting for product material to arrive from Air-Way about their machines so can check them out. I dont think that there is a dealer in my area, since i had never heard of them since Tom G. told me about them when i joined the VCCC a while back. Is there any place online that has more detailed info, since the AirWay site has very limited info? I also noticed while checking out one members pictures online that they have the purple Centurion, and it has the newer style (kenmore like) centec power nozzle. Anyone know if that is what the Anniversary Edition power nozzle looks like? What is the price of these machines? All I know is that they are less than the $1200 that the Red Velvet lists for. Has anyone tried the new Windtunel? I bought a new self propelled one and then quickly returned it about 6 months ago because it was loud enough to make a person go deaf and it was sooo clumsy! It was however a pretty decent performer. Are the new ones any quieter and easier to steer?

-Steven

 

[ahzeks]

Riccar/Simplicity Cannisters?

How to the new Riccar/Simplicity cannisters compare to contemporary Miele, Aerus and Air-Way machines? Does anyone have any experience with them?

http://www.riccar.com/products/canisters/

 

[bimmer740]

Central Vacuum instead of AirWay

Ok, so I bought a new VacuFlo unit model 566Q instead of another canister. I have a large german sheppard and I just cant deal with how my machines smell after a few uses. My housekeeper cant stand it either! She also hates that my Miele Blue Moon and misses the Lux Epic 6500. Its not practical to change the bag after two or three uses and I will not buy a portable bagless vac. I figured this is the best way to go, no smell since its vented outside and constant power. I purchased the Hayden Superpack with the machine since my vac dealer said it has a much better hose than the Vacuflo. It has almost the same power nozzle as the Air Way. It should be completely installed tomorrow and i cant wait to see how it works. Does anyone have one of these units and are you satisfied with them?
Thanks
-Steve

 

[compactc9]

I don't have a Vacuflo, but I can say that from my reoair experiance, they are very reliable and well built. I do have a Riccar central vac. I really feel that the best vacuum anyone can get is a central vac, nothing comes close in power and cleaning ability.

 

[bimmer740]

Central Vac

Do you like the Riccar? My dealer sells Riccar and Simplicity vacuums and speaks highly of them. I have never used one, but they sell only the VacuFlo as their only central vac line. I was looking at the Riccar but I didnt want a filter or a bag to change. Do you like your system and its power nozzle? Did you install it yourself? I have a colonial splanch so it should be easy to install it myself. Only thing that may be a slight problem is wiring the direct connect valve. Ill know tomorrow if i bit off more than i can chew.

 

[ahzeks]

Congratulations on your Central Vac Purchase!

I bought and installed a Beam Serenity central vacuum system over five years ago and I love it. I actually wanted to go with a VacuFlo unit, but I didn't like the local dealer. His customer service skills were very poor and he came across as a real jerk. I wanted to do my own installation, but he insisted that installation in an existing home was too complicated for a layperson. The Beam dealer was totally the opposite. He was very encouraging and extremely helpful. He even stopped by my house before the purchase to go over my plan with me. He gave me all sorts of helpful hints and told me to call if I had any problems or concerns at all. He even lent me a "do-it-yourself" installation video to watch before I began.

Central vacuums are perfect for households with pets. I have an English Springer Spaniel and dog hair is a constant concern. She actually likes the central vauum and loves to be vacuumed/groomed with it. (I purchased the pet grooming brushes).

Installation went very smoothly in my 2-story townhouse. (I only installed the standard inlet valves, not the "direct connect" dual voltage electric valves. However, I am going to upgrade my valves this week to the direct connect "ElectraValves." I ordered a "fuse plug" hose end kit to convert my "pig tail" hose into a direct connect hose.) I had a lot of fun planning my installation and even doing the actual install. I'm sure you will too. It requires minimal technical and craftmanship skills and only very basic wiring skills (even for the 110-volt electric inlet valves).

When I purchased my system I bought the standard Beam Rugmaster Plus Power Team. I didn't like the "Eureka" power nozzle at all. It was effective and cleaned well, but it was VERY loud, INCREDIBLY rattly and didn't seem to be of the same quality as the other components in the system. So, after a very short time, I upgraded to a Lindhaus PB14 Electronic power nozzle, which I liked MUCH better. It was much quieter, cleaned just as well (if not better -- especially on throw rugs) and it was of much higher quality. Plus, it was adjustable and had a cogged drive belt. But, I found that the brush roll supports would become bound up with dog hair three or four times a year. So, this year I upgraded again, this time purchasing an entirely new attachment set (hose and all) with a Wessel-Werk EBK340LL power nozzle. So far I'm fairly impressed with this nozzle, but it isn't adjustable and is more difficult to use on certain throw rugs. It does have a telescopic wand, which I really like and it came with a large, European-style dusting brush, which is very handy.

I can't wait to hear about your experiences installing and using your new central vacuum system. Good luck and have fun!

 

[swingette]

nothing comes close in power and cleaning ability

...except a Hoover upright (on rugs)!

 

[compactc9]

I love my Riccar, the best part is the power nozzle with the 3 full rows of bristles and the all metal bottom. The unit wass also the most powerfull home unit on the market at the time, and probably still is. I also got the direct connect electric inlets, and would never have anything else.

 

[ahzeks]

I second that Swingette!

I have a Hoover 1060 that I used to use regularly to deep clean the carpets. But, unfortunately last year it developed motor problems. The motor starts and runs okay at first, but after 15-20 seconds of use is starts to slow down and comes almost to a stop. I've never repaired an electric motor before, so I wouldn't know where to start or even what to look for. So, I've been keeping my eyes open for a replacement. I should get it fixed as I really miss using that machine.

 

[seamusuk]

Michael....

It could be something or nothing- carbon brushes would be a good place to start looking .


Seamus

 

[ahzeks]

Direct Connect Inlet Valves

Yesterday I converted my central vacuum hose end to direct connect and upgraded my first floor invlet valve to an ElectraValve. What a difference! Getting rid of that 6-foot pig tail cord makes using the hose so much easier, especially when it comes to coiling it up for storage or moving it from one level to the next. (I was always worried about tripping over the pig tail when carrying the hose up or down the stairs as it was often a challange to keep the cord from dangling loose while carrying the whole hose from one location to another.) Plus, the hose connection is now made in one simple step.

The hose conversion was very simple. It took all of three minutes to complete and the only tool required was a flat screwdriver to release the hose cuff. The valve conversion took a about 45 minutes, most of which was spent in running the Romex a short distance through the wall and in order to tap into the nearest electrical circuit.

I plan to convert the second level inlet today. That one should be much easier as it is on a wall behind which is the attic space of the garage. I will be able to easily tap into the outlet circuit in the garage cieling/floor of the attic that serves the garage door opener.