What should I buy?

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Panofan- YES!!! That is the thread! Thank you so much.

At this point I'm heavily leaning toward a D4 or a Miele home care plus. I talked to an Aerus dealer and was told it'd be $2200 for the platinum so I think I can get the same quality cheaper through Miele, sebo or riccar.
 
SEBO D versus Miele S8

Well as the owner of both these vacuums, the SEBO hasn't lost any air on its top since the purchase of my machine in 2010. The rubberised, removable material filter at the top under the lid stops any air from leaking anyway whilst the natural flow of suction from the bag also has a natural vacuum seal.

Also the bags on the SEBO are a heck of a lot easier to drop in and pull out. The S8 has a tight bag chamber, particularly if the dust bags are full to the brim with dust and I've yet to find ANY of the HyClean/AirClean dust seals actually close over PROPERLY.

SEBO's argument in putting tools at the back is simply because most of their owners get the tool first before they put the machine on a stair. Whilst I agree to a point that the tools on the SEBO may be poorly located at the rear, at least the idea is simpler. The tool lid on the Miele S8 is vulnerable and thin in my opinion. Access can be tight.

Also the Spotlight on the handle is a good idea in theory - but the light cannot be switched off manually.

For a large home the SEBO D4 and suction only models are ideal. Miele's S8 may be the flagship of the Miele canister line, but in my opinion the cost of consumables such as bags and filters are more expensive in the long term versus SEBO who offer twice as many bags.

Photo screen shot Taken from Amazon.com - 4 bags from Miele in a single box compared to 8 bags in a single box with SEBO. You'd still make a saving if you buy the single box from SEBO versus 2 of Miele's boxes.

The 2 "free filters" you get from Miele are a cut to fit motor filter that sits behind the dust bag in the Miele dust bag chamber and a free Super air clean filter. But that's the basic "microfilter" that Miele include for free, which isn't as asorbing as the Active Air Clean filters or more expensive HEPA filters.

As for filters, well the HEPA filter on Amazon.com for Miele costs $48-00 for a year.
For SEBO, a box of filters costs on average $40 to $42-99

sebo_fan-2015052721345805940_1.png
 
You may want to consider a water filtration vacuum like the Rainbow or the Sirena. Many allergy sufferers get relief from these vacuums. Other than the water used, there are no bags or filters to buy. You can add scents to the water to make your house smell nice.
 
Does having a roller brush that's plastic cause static electricity in the carpet?

I'm loving the cord length on the Sebo. Is there a way to convert attachments so miele attachments work on the Sebo? The flexible crevice tool is the main one I want. The more I read, the more I think I want a Sebo.

Also, are there any computerized parts on the Sebo? Because it looks like the higher end Miele and Riccars both have computerized parts. The Lux Platinum definitely did and I want a vacuum I can repair myself (or cheaply).
 
The great thing about the Sebo is that the started as a commercial floorcare company. Their cleaners were all designed to be repaired locally by the user rather than having to send the machine away for repair to minimise the down time. All parts are available to buy from Sebo online and easy to replace. For example, the brushroll in the uprights and powernozzles doesn't require any unscrewing to remove and replace. It has a cap that pops off and the brushroll slides right out for replacement/cleaning.


 


The upright Sebo X series have computer controlled height adjustment. The Felix uprights and powernozzle canisters have a manual guided height adjustment. It alerts the users to the brushroll being at the incorrect height and automatically shuts down if the brushroll becomes jammed or blocked. Not as advanced as the computer control height adjustment, but still very effective. Many people prefer it as it gives the user complete height control.


 


I wouldn't worry about the computer control failing. It's a rare occurance. The first Sebo I ever got to use in 1998 is still going strong with no repairs and in daily use with a family friend. I still see Sebo's in use in commercial environments from 20 odd years ago. Of all the disputing that's possible with a Sebo, reliability certainly isn't one of them. They're built like tanks!
 
Most revolving brushes on vacuums today are made of plastic. Riccar and Simplicity use metal agitators and Panasonic/Kenmore power nozzles use wood.

Miele canister cleaners have a metal strip in their hose handles to deal with any static electricity build up.

The spotlight on my Miele's handle shuts off automatically after a minute, so there is no need to turn it off manually.

I still say tools hanging on the back of the D4 is rather unfortunate. I find that I often have to go back to get a tool I forgot I needed. You may start with the upholstery nozzle, but realize later you need the dusting brush for the sides of the stairs. No big deal really - I imagine D4 users get into the habit of pulling out all the tools before using the vac. You can definitel get a tool adapter to allow you to use a Miele tool on other cleaners. But chances are your local vac shop can find a generic version of the Flexi crevice tool that will fit directly on the Sebo.

I was more concerned about the potential for leaks in the air flow channel that is separated and opened up every time you open the bag compartment on the D4. Unless the cleaner uses a sealed hose between the main unit and the compartment cover, it seams that there may be - and I emphasize may be - a danger that the connection will develop a leak over the years.
 
The great thing is, SEBO STILL ARE a commercial vacuum cleaner company. Miele are not. SEBO still sell and produce both commercial and domestic vacuums.

SEBO brush rolls are designed to be static free and they groom carpets well without ripping carpet pile out. What I love about them the most is that the actual bristles can be washed! I also find that they last a long time and I have three SEBO uprights, two of which have the standard brush roll and my Felix has a soft delicate brush roll for my wool carpets. Hence the Felix is usually the daily driver of choice.

The parts and build are generally stronger. Miele and SEBO tools are not interchangeable, they have different sizes. A flexible crevice tool is not available as yet. SEBO looked at the design that Miele sell and apparently aren't happy with the design.

I have the flexible crevice tool. Its a good idea in theory - however the top of the crevice has a removable mouth. Mine has often come off when slid under my fridge freezer, simply because it gets stuck and when the whole of the flex tool is pulled out, the smaller removable mouth stays stuck under the freezer! Its annoying when sometimes the smaller slide off bit doesn't return even with the Miele's suction motor powered to the highest! Hence why SEBO don't normally offer a tool like that where something comes off during operation.

As with what Chris says, not all SEBO vacuums have computerised parts but the machines in general are easy to repair. Parts diagrams can be downloaded for free from SEBO in Germany (Provided you click the English language option!)

The D4 uses the ET-1 floor head power nozzle which is commercially based and designed. It is already sold with the Sebo Felix upright as well as a number of other SEBO vacuums and private labels such as commercial cleaning company Windsor who use the ET-1 on their Flexamatic (previous name) and current Axcess uprights. The power head has also been retro fitted to a number of central vac systems in the U.S - so it has had a lot of service.
 
The other thing is in time, you may not always need to use the power nozzle floor head. Other suction only or air driven floor tools are available with the SEBO that you could use for an even lighter experience. Mostly all of the floor tools are similar to Miele because they come from Wessel Werk, a company who produce premium floor heads to the industry. Sebo's DELUXE KOMBI floor tool is an exception - this is a SEBO designed suction only floor tool that mimics the action of the ET1 floor head in that you can clean flat to the floor without turning your hand left or right unlike conventional canister vacuums that don't feature a double joint swivel neck.

Potential nonsense regarding air leaks around the hose and lid is not actual. Sorry. But it isn't. My SEBO D doesn't leak air out the top and the hose mount is thickly made to ensure it stays locked in. Unlike Miele, its not just two lugs that hold the hose to the body, but rather two thick pins that ensure the hose is locked in, IN TANDEM. The suction and airflow is concentrated direct to the bag.
 
As for Air leaks - Miele

As for air leaks, well its an interesting one that has happened recently on my Miele S8.

The Active Air Clean filter that is housed in the machine required to be changed after yet another year.

I thought I would return to using the Super Air Clean filter that comes as standard with the Miele S8. But I also remember a black insulation felt pad that sits on the actual grid itself before the Super Air Clean cartridge is fitted.

It turns out that I have lost the felt pad. Miele have been contacted and they are sending out a free one, yet it isn't a part that is listed on their UK site.

The pad isn't just there for sound insulation as I found out when fitting my Super Air Clean filter grid back in but WITHOUT IT, it produces a whistle and air leaks when the machine is switched on.

The pad also has to be taken out when either HEPA or Active Air Clean filter is fitted.

Very annoying!!
 
Great video, very well done, complete summary. Not as stylized? as the Miele, but very industrial strong looking,and built. Nice sound. If I was shopping for a cannister, I would have stopped right there!
 
Oh I was wondering when Roger's videos would get a mention on here eventually, since you seem to constantly post video links to his channel. Do you not have any of your own, Eurekaprince?

However, have a look at my Miele S8. And also my SEBO D vacuum. Both openings to the lids are shown here. What do you see? Dust on the outer AND inner collar to the bag inside the lid of the Miele S8. A lot less on the SEBO D, virtually nothing inside it. either.

sebo_fan-2015052812411209326_1.png
 
I'm definitely buying a Sebo D4. Now, does anyone have any coupon codes or know where the cheapest place to purchase one is? (I'm in the USA)


Thank you all so much for the feedback, answering my question and for all of your help. I've greatly appreciated it.
 
If the Sebo doesn't work out for you, and you live anywhere near St James, Missouri, you can get a heckuva good deal at the Riccar/Simplicity outlet store. You can also visit the vacuum museum and try out a lot of different machines.

I have nothing against Sebo vacuums, and I really like some of the design features. However, I hope you're not making a decision based solely on the thread in which someone cleaned their filthy carpet with a new Sebo and filled the bag. Almost any modern vacuum would do the same thing. It's more a function of the filth in the rug than the vacuum. Since you have no idea how much dirt was in the rug to begin with, it's not all that informative of a test. There might be 5 or 6 more dirt bags full of dirt in that carpeting, but there's no way to know.

Consumer Reports has done some testing of Sebo canisters in the past if you want to see some token head to head tests. However, you'll have to decide if the test results are applicable to your situation.
 
Eeeerrrrr excuse me, Ralph. The "filthy carpet" you referred to is my partners and in the house I now live in. The carpet was regularly vacuumed with a Panasonic upright and twice yearly with a Kirby.

It is FAR from filthy. It was well looked after and regularly cleaned and in a house that, at the time, had 1 person living in it who works full time and no pets.

Only the first bag was filled. The bag I put in after I cut that one open for the purpose of detailing the performance of the cleaner filled up at the normal rate.

I've been a part of this site for 8 years, I've been collecting vacuums since I was 15 and I've been using them from the minute I could walk. I am more than qualified to judge how well someone is cleaning their carpets. Do you honestly think that, being the self confessed clean freak that I am, would go out with, commit myself to a serious relationship and move in with someone who had a filthy house?

Let's get a brand new vacuum on your carpets and see how "filthy" your home is, shall we??
 
Also Ralph if you cared to look at the responses on this thread, Danswifey is not going gunho by a machine being filled up from one use. Besides that was a SEBO X upright, not the D4.

Danswifey, whlist I think you are on the right lines of buying a SEBO D4, I will press again on Riccar and other U.S brands to check out. No vacuum cleaner is perfect. There are downsides to even the SEBO D series. I think you should go to an outlet who deals with SEBO. Go-Vacuum offer special deals but it depends on where you are in the U.S Check out SEBO's main U.S website and search for your nearest dealer.

There are also plenty of videos from sellers online based in the U.S who also sell SEBO. Some even mention that they do discounts such as Go-Vacuum and others.

http://www.sebo.us/retailer-locator/sebo_retailers.aspx
 

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