SEBO VACUUM CLEANERS

[madaboutsebo]

Before I had my Felix and researching I called SEBO UK and one thing I was told they don't measure or use airwatts like most modern vacuum cleaners mention to gauge suction or performance. But I've learnt it's not all about that to measure performance!

Its interesting reading all these comments/posts on this thread and other threads in regards to performance, airflow etc... For example Dyson is always referred to having good suction but poor agitation, SEBO ok suction/airflow but good to excellent agitation, Miele great suction/airflow and agitation and so on. But the later 2 most of the time are the favoured ones for giving better cleaning performance (and from reviews I read which are subjectional!!!) but are not necessary the same like for like. I know suction and airflow are not directly related!

Be interesting to see these readings!!

 

[suckolux]

So many variables I am sure, even within the same brand! And results may very with user, of course.

 

[GM1982]

I have experienced many different uprights... at home and in commercial settings. Miele S7, Riccar Brilliance, Oreck XL, Sebo Felix, Sebo X4, Kirby, Royal and the Aerus Guardian Upright.

Out of all of them and in terms of suction(accessories/tools also), air flow and agitation, the Miele S7 cannot be beat. The Riccar a close second, but the tools seem to lack in suction power, same with the Sebo X4. The Sebo Felix has pretty good suction, agitation and air flow, but once the bags fills up, I noticed reduced performance. If no attachment are needed then the Kirby takes the lead followed by the Royal. The Aerus and Oreck are good surface cleaners. The Aerus lacks agitation and too soft bristles and the Oreck lacks suction.

1. Miele S7 & Kirby w/out tools
2. Riccar Brilliance & Royal w/out tools
3. Sebo (X4/Felix) (Comm. Windsor models)
4. Aerus Guardian Upright(comm. Proteam)
5. Oreck

 

[suckolux]

I did a service last week on a friends Windsor with the wide head on it. New filters and bag, ran it over my carpet edge and even left it sitting there, the cat litter was still on the floor, so I think the air flow was only ok? My dc 18 passes that test here.Dirty fan models have no issue for me.Not scientific at all of course, just what worked here.

 

[marcusprit]

Yes i did a test drive of the Miele S7 and i agree it does an awesome job! I just find it a bit heavy and bulky for most British homes, i wish they would make a more compact version with a 12" Floorhead.

I have heard build quality problems with the S7 though. Plastic bits breaking off after a short period of time but hopefully Miele will rectify these weaknesses.

 

[sebo_fan]

At the end of day, yes there isn't a perfect vacuum cleaner - but how far can one go to get agitation on a carpet without ruining it? Even before SEBO came along, the best upright in my mind was that of the Hoover classic uprights - the metal beaters, the bristle strips - beat the carpet and sucked out the grit. No more dirt on the floor.

Brands as well as Hoover cleverly pointed out "deep down grit" is the most damaging to carpets - but overly brushing a carpet also starts to remove the fibres of the actual carpet pile - which brands don't point out. The whole point of SEBO's X sensor and the brush roll design is to save the wear on the carpet as well as not being too abrasive to the point that it feels like you're ploughing along - which some conventional uprights with height adjusters show.

Also as an owner of both Miele and SEBO vacuums, although Wessel Werk floor heads are durable and well designed, some are not as perfect as the company make out - I adore the new Twister Parquet floor brush on my new Miele S8 Ecoline for example - but it still doesn't pick up fluff and threads the first time around to channel into the large suction channel if they are on a hard floor. Instead they get caught up on its castle cut brush design.

Oh yes it removes the majority of it, but even on hard floors I'm inclined to prefer a moving brush bar with no beaters that pulls in dirt due to additional suction channels (which SEBO are excellent for designing with both the Felix and the X in this respect) whilst the brush bar deals with the rough stuff that would ordinarily get caught up in fixed brushes. Do I have time to remove fluff manually from a floor head? No. Why should I?

 

[sebo_fan]

Interestingly enough Jon, have a look at a snapshot of an old SEBO C2.1 user manual. I also asked SEBO UK why they don't use air watts and got the same answer. However, it is clear that SEBO in Germany have done some testing with air flow/air watts is concerned.

This snap shot has been taken from SEBO's German website with their English user manual. However, mine states 425 air watts...I must remember to find it and scan it for here.

 

[madaboutsebo]

Thanks Ryan, interesting to see that on the C1 brochure! Like you say they must of done some testing to print that info on a brochure. Very high airwatts though!

Glad you mentioned you've asked SEBO UK the same regarding airwatts and got the same reply, thought it was just me!

 

[sebo_fan]

Just to say - it was the user manual that info is taken from, not a brochure,

 

[sebo_fan]

Marcus et al

Just uploaded a video showing my X4 versus Hoover Slalom. You may be a bit surprised.

 

[marcusprit]

Yes very impressive video!

 

[madaboutsebo]

Sorry Ryan meant to say manual, not brochure!

Great video of the SEBO X4 and the Hoover Slalom! I know which one I've choose and own!

 

[sebo_fan]

More to come - watch this space!

SEBO K1/K3 versus Miele S5211 With turbo brush.

post was last edited: 11/27/2013-18:31]

 

[sebo_fan]

SEBO Felix Vs Vax VCU02. I was quite surprised at this one as the Vax doesn't appear to vibrate the rice.

 

[madaboutsebo]

Great videos of the Felix and K1/K3 against the VAX and Miele respectively. Although I'm not one for canisters/cylinder I do like the K and D series SEBO's. Loved the power and suction on the Felix ET-1 power head and the agitation.

 

[adamthemieleman]

'Not enough airflow to clean carpets'

I would beg to differ. I went round with my S7 on Eco mode, thinking the carpet was clean. Put a piece of kitchen cloth over the hose of the Sebo and tried that. A few times the blockage light came on, the cloth was thick with dust.

No offence to the Miele, I guess it wasn't on full

 

[sebo_fan]

Slightly off topic - but what gets me about SEBO being semi-commercial, semi-domestic and Miele's S7 being a luxury, premium domestic product is the simple fact that Hoover Europe and Electrolux should be able to offer something that is just as modern. I wish Hoover & Electrolux could launch a bagged upright that has the same features of its Slalom, Globe or Turbo Power/Nimble/brush roll on/off, long hose, quality attachments. It wouldn't cost that much.

 

[madabouthoovers]

Yes sebo_fan so do I, but we know who we have to thank for this sorry state of affairs that the only bagged upright Hoover offer now is the 16 year old Purepower.


The UK is now bagless mad all because of 1 man - a certain Sir James Dyson.

 

[sebo_fan]

Well not quite. If Miele can design a proper upright vacuum cleaner with a bag, what's stopping Hoover? Nowt as far as I can see other than greed and producing cheaper Chinese built vacuums.

 

[oliveoiltinfoil]

Interesting reading through this thread, but I have to point out a couple of things.

70 inches of water lift is the industry average for suction. On sebo UK's website, they do not state air watts or water lift, but the D4 premium I had had incredible suction as did the felix. The felix was slightly down vs the d4 but by the narrowest of margins, and considering the air has to travel less distance on the felix versus the d4, I think they are both pretty much neck and neck in dirt pick up.

The felix is by far the deepest cleaning vacuum I have owned, and that includes me having an s7. The felix being the only cleaner i have had that picks up my thick heavy wool carpets I have in my hall way and living room.

In all my bedrooms, I have low pile carpeting and I have to turn down the suction on the felix to about half point because anything more than that, it slows down the head and it thinks something is jamming it, although you can keep full suction and set the brush height higher, I prefer setting the suction lower.

 

[sebo_fan]

Actually Ollie, SEBO's previous user manual and assembly pages clearly points out water lift data. The U.S manuals also had them in the early days. Showing older U.S data vs UK data now supplied: