Sebo X4 Premium Pet

[vacmaster]

After many years hearing only good things about the Sebo automatic x4 series I finally got one to try for myself, and so far I really like it. I think the overall design was very well thought through and it is a very sleek and stylish machine. Mine came with the extension hose and turbo nozzle and I also have the service box aswell as the Sebo fresh tabs which add a pleasant scent to the air. Tell me about your experience with the Sebo automatic X Series.

 

[turbo500]

Well, where to start.

Sebo really were pioneers, introducting the first ever clutch controlled brushroll and the first upright ever to feature an on-board hose. Both features that are fairly common today.

I've been a huge fan of Sebo ever since my friend from school's parents got one way back. I was only about 8 or 9. It was the later white X1. They had a full working farm at the time and their Turbomaster had packed up.

I remember trying out the Sebo on their hallway and was immediately impressed. And ever since, they continue to wow me with their perfect balance between cleaning and ease of use. They really reach all the middle grounds, which makes for a fantastic all-round and versatile vacuum IMO.



That same X1 that I got to use way back in 98 or so is still in use today, although now relegated to the upstairs cleaner - they've since bought an X4 pet for downstairs. But that goes to show you how reliable they are - not many cleaners would last that long by todays standards.

 

[vacmaster]

Beautiful Picture!

 

[alexhoovers94]

Quite a fetching red colour.

 

[sebo_fan]

I was a classic vintage Hoover fan for many years - it was my parents who owned a SEBO X1 from new and I didn't really know the brand other than being commercially based and didn't really use it much because they gave me all their old Hoover vacs and where I got into collecting them.

Our old X1 is just about 21, 22 years old and has had one drive belt replacement due to my error when my parents eventually allowed me to use it. It just keeps going on and on without any major problem. I have a Felix myself which I prefer (its 8 years old). They just seem to outlast a lot of everything else I have owned.

 

[calipilot227]

I picked up a Windsor XP12 from the curb a few months back. Took it apart, cleaned it, stuck a new filter and brushroll in it, and it's been my daily driver...

Until yesterday, when I picked up a blue Sebo X4 Automatic. $140usd on Craigslist was too good to pass up. It's a little less beat up than the Windsor (even came with the original box!), so I will be re-homing the XP12 soon.

Best vacuum I've ever owned, hands down. Even when they're old and beat up, they still work great. Powerful suction, automatic height adjustment works perfectly, the hose wand is easy to grab quickly, and despite it all the machine is still lightweight and maneuverable. They haven't changed the design in over a decade, simply because they haven't needed to. Sebo really knocked it out of the park with this model, and I wouldn't be surprised if they're still the king of uprights 10 years from now.

 

[sebo4me]

Pleased to hear your views of Sebo Ryan.I recently purchased an X4 Pet and it does a fantastic job. Couldn't be more pleased with it

 

[sptyks]

Sebo still the king of uprights 10 years from now.

Well I guess that is a matter of opinion.

 

[durango159]

Well the color is gorgeous!!

Congratulations and I want to wish you the very best of luck with it. I hope that it continues to perform to your expectation.

I have tried numerous Sebos myself and with exception of a recent trial of a Felix, I had awful experiences with the others.

Many collectors I've spoken to and myself have noticed that the automated height adjustment done by the machine doesn't reach close enough to fully clean certain carpets. A manual height setting tends to work better over time as you'll notice you can set it just slightly lower and achieve a better seal to the rug and better carpet grooming.

While the handle for the accessories is positioned nicely and a comfortable handle, I also found it awkward to use and under-powered compared to many other uprights.

Some features that are really nice on the Sebo are the quick removable brush roll for easy cleaning, good filtration and quiet sound.

My negative experience with the machines is based off of the following experiences:

1. Working as a Culinary Office Assistant for Penn State hotels and using around 12 different machines of the Windsor Sensor series between 2 locations on days to assist with banquet and restaurant setup and assist housekeeping. The machines struggled to get up some basic dirt and deep down dirt. The carpets always had a very dusty hue to them. It was not an issue of improper carpet steaming either!!

2. At a vacuum mini meet a few collectors and myself ran around 20 vacuums all of which in excellent mechanical and cosmetic condition, in one night to include various Hoovers, Kirby Sentria, Electrolux Central vac, Meile Silver Moon, Sebo Automatic X5 and other machines. It was a unanimous vote that the Sebo performed the poorest out of all of them. Absolutely the poorest carpet grooming marks and overall clean just fair!

3. A cleaning client of mine purchased a brand new Sebo D4 Premium with ET-1 power head. I set the suction power to max and still found in adequate for many of the tasks I was trying to accomplish in a general house cleaning. The power nozzle groomed terrible and shut off on many of her rugs. I brought in my Hoover Decade 80 upright and Riccar 1700 canisters at different times to get the carpets cleaned that the Sebo couldn't handle!!

4. A recent experience in a New York City hotel had me waking up with bad allergy attacks. The next morning I saw the Windsor Sensors on the maid carts and understood why my allergies were so awful!!


Sorry to be the burst of the bubble here! I hope you find your experience far different than mine!! Best of luck!

 

[sebo4me]

Durango Sebo have introduced a new model the X4 Pet Boost. As the name suggests it has a Boost button which lowers the floorhead deeper into the carpet and it cleans extremely well
The best bagged upright I've ever owned. And I've owned a Kirby and Miele S7 I've also used a Riccar Brilliance.
You can keep running down Sebo as much as you like but here in Europe they are loved

 

[vacerator]

Allergies

Tell me about it Rob. I've always had hay fever, an dust allergies.
Miele is the best for filtering, next to a central vac.
The Sebo D4 canister might be good. It has a large round exhaust filter accessed on the underside.
However, those old Eureka's I have are triple filter. I made new foam filters for them from a window air conditioner filter. I use them in my basement with no wheezing or sneezing.
The Oxygen is the best though. Sealed hepa system like Miele, and ultra quiet.
Best buy was the last to sell that style.

 

[sebo4me]

The Sebo D4 was tested with a particle scanner by Govacuum. It went down to Zero.
It's approved by the British Allergy Foundation.

 

[vacerator]

Turbo500,

Nice colors, nice kitchen, and I don't knock anything German made. For the most part, their ethic is do it properly or don't bother.

 

[sebo4me]

Check this video out.

http://https//youtu.be/h0LeCtQmI1Y

 

[sebo_fan]

The bubble hasn't been burst...but my what a lot of rot.

Id like to enlighten some of the content that Durango has shared in his opinion.

1) The Americans have had SEBO uprights in the U.S under Windsor branding for several years making do with older bodies and basic filters that are also available for SEBO domestic vacs. However Windsor generally dont sell the higher priced charcoal filled filter which is better for pets and allergy owners. The company make do with the more basic microfilter, which coupled with the more hygienic synthetic disposable dust bags offers better air quality.

Given that the U.S only got the synthetic dust bags some months ago, it is easy to disqualify any finding from previous experience.

2) A deeper cleaning action can be had when using the delicate softer brush roll for closer contact. SEBO has never advertised their X series as being a deep cleaning vacuum anyway which is why the delicate brush roller is an optional purchase, but a vacuum that gently cleans, protects the carpet as well as the X series being designed to reduce brush wear.

3) Grooming marks do not indicate a better cleaning action. Unless of course you’re into destroying the top surface of your carpets continually but won’t notice the pile getting thinner because of the natural direction in which the pile settles and flows. After all, not all carpet texture is the same, but it can be destroyed the same with aggressive vacuuming.

My Vax VCU02 grooms carpets rather well, but it can also destroy carpet rapidly if used all of the time - it is based on the U.S Hoover Signature upright, or an Oreck clone.

4) The ET1 already has a 175 watt motor and coupled with the U.S market’s 1250 motor in the D4, high suction is NOT required at all times on rugs. Even the user manual suggests that the ET-1 should be shut off using suction only for delicate rugs.

5) Allergies from waking up will not be caused by a vacuum cleaner alone. Unless you have slept in a room with the machine left on during the night to cause enough “allergen” seeping into a room, blaming a commercial upright for impending allergies is fool hardy. Check your bedsheets in the room or even the air con system. Or even the carpets! Dust rises and with an air con system it simply spreads around.

 

[poconovacman]

Ignore Mr. Durango.....he has a long history of being ill informed on what a truly good vacuum cleaner is, preferring to think of machines as a collector and not as a consumer.

I have had my SEBO Automatic X1 for just over a year and I can safely say that I will never again be without a SEBO vacuum cleaner. I'm currently saving up for the D4 Premium canister in black, would buy a Felix in a heartbeat if I found the right deal, and may even eventually buy a brand new X4 to give my X1 a much deserved rest.

They're user friendly, they're easy to push, they have BY FAR the longest cord available on ANY domestic vacuum cleaner. They're indestructible, the bags are massive, the optional HEPA filters are excellent.

I have noticed a VAST improvement in the air quality since I've been using my SEBO as the daily driver, and my rugs look wonderful, even the snow white ones upstairs.

So consider this my upvote for SEBO.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Matt!

Glad you're still alive... long time..


  Are you still interested in that Eureka upright at my place?


  Talk soon.

 

[durango159]

Thanks for the support Matt!!

I may cherish my collection.

However:
When I'm on a job site working I don't care about if a machine is a collection piece!! I'm looking for equipment and supplies that accomplish a task quickly and efficiently!!!

I'm sorry that when cleaning a 12,000 square foot Bed and Breakfast that a Riccar 1700 kept on working on the carpets and the D4 power nozzle had shut off numerous times because the height setting and brush roll wouldn't adjust better for the plush rugs and surprisingly the rubber bottom door mats too, cleaned terribly with it!! I'm also sorry that the Riccar and customers Kenmore Intuition canister was wizzing up dirt off the bare floors SIGNIFICANTLY faster allowing me to accomplish my job quicker which the client appreciates due to our hourly billing arrangement for that property. I actually ended up using the customers Dyson DC41 on several occasions. Definitely not a very favorite machine of mine overall but for this application is was more efficient than the Sebo.

I'm also sorry if the carpets in 2 hotels owned by The Pennsylvania State University weren't up to par cleanliness wise after running the automatic adjusting Sebos. This was experienced by myself and other staff who work hard as a team, rushing around to be set up on time and having the facility look pristine for upscale banquets and $26/ person Friday night Seafood special buffets, etc. As part of my job title and certification of the Guest Pride program at the hotels we need to ensure full customer satisfaction in a timely, efficient manner. The General Manager of the hotel actually requested my presence for several of his biweekly full hotel walk throughs because he became aware of my keen eye for detail.

I'm a very serious person on the job site and am passionate about customer service with excellent end results. As former manager of several businesses, I feel confident in discussing how crucial it is choose the proper equipment on a job site to ensure employees can accomplish tasks in an efficient, safe manner with consistent results and little if any down time with that piece of equipment.

Again none of this is my opinion or any sort of hate based remark or what I'm seeking as a collection piece. This is on the job site experience.

Sebo Fan the information you provided about the varying filtration, bags, and brush rolls, etc. was very very interesting and enlightening!! Thank you very much for the information on that. I know that all of the machines at the Penn State hotels and my former clients D4 machine all had a fairly stiff blue nylon bristled brush roll.

I did try a Sebo Felix in the beginning of January 2016 and was impressed by first impression and use of the machine. I was quite amazed of the experience because it too, like the D4 had an ET-1 head. I hope this is a sign Sebos are getting much better in performance as I have no complaints on their durability and construction with exception of a few design things like the wire connection to top hose handle on the D4 that unplugged a lot.

 

[eurekaprince]

I know many Vacuumlanders are dismissive of Consumer Reports test results, but for what it's worth, here are a few notes on the tested Sebo X5 Automatic upright: it achieved only a "Good" rating for deep carpet cleaning, whereas the Miele S7 Cat and Dog achieved an "Excellent" rating (so did the old cheap tried-and-true Eureka SmartVac!). As far as airflow through the hose for tool use, the X5 only rated an anemic "Fair" rating, while Miele Cat and Dog was rated "Very Good" in this category. Even the emissions control was better on the Miele and several Kenmores. For a $700 machine, the X5 Automatic seems like it is not worth the money, considering there were at least 20 other bagged uprights that acheived better test results - including all the Miele S7's, the Sebo Felix, all the Kenmores, many Hoovers and two of the new Tacony Maytags.