Which vacuum stands the test of time?

[dysonman1]

The motor is the heart of an electric cleaner. If it fails, the machine is useless. To that end, a Riccar or Simplicity vacuum would be an excellent choice. The motor in a Simplicity Symmetry is designed to last a minimum of 800 hours (about 20 years worth of vacuuming). You definitely want on-board tools. There's no joy in having to go back to the closet, and get the Kirby attachments out, hook them up, use them, then unhook them to clean the rug again.

A Simplicity or Riccar (Symmetry or Vibrance) has on-board tools, is made in the USA, and will give an average life of 20 or more years. Repair costs are minimal as everything is replaceable without having to buy an 'assembly'.

You can pick up an American Made Simplicity with on-board tools, for about $200. The bags are clean to replace and inexpensive. You cannot go wrong with a Simplicity (the Riccar is the same machine in a different color).

 

[lori_ann]

Simplicity for $200?

Just spoke with a rep and he said the lowest for a new machine they can go is $300 by the manufacturers ruling.

Here's what they told me they have...

a deluxe model with onboard tools and 4 yr warranty for $389.99

a freedom for $309 and this has no attachments, but they recommend the Sonitaire 7lb which they sell fo $129...

those models are new (I'm sure they have more higher end things, didn't ask).

they do have a nice canister SL36 model that someone traded up ... quoted me $300., so I told them to call me when they get it ready (needs hose, and cleaning).

of the three, anyone have recommendations?

thank you all!

Lori

 

[sptyks]

Lori, Here's why...

the Kirby Sentria on ebay is really a much better deal than the Heritage II on Craig's list:


 


The Heritage II was made approx. 30 years ago whereas the Sentria was made 3 -7 years ago. 


 


In photo #8 of the craig's list ad you can see how tarnished the machine is, which probably means it was stored outside on a porch or in a damp basement or garage for years. Also, it looks as if the electrical cord has been taped up. Who knows what condition the brushroll or motor brushes are in? Normally, I would have no problem buying a 30 year old Kirby if it showed signs that it was well cared for, but this machine shows signs that it has suffered years of neglect.


 


As you can see from the photo on ebay, the Sentria shines like brand new. This Sentria on ebay is a "Certified" machine which means it is in Brand New mint condition or you can return it and get your money back. <span style="font-size: medium;">Keep in mind the Sentria sells for well over $1,000 when purchased new from the Dealer.</span>


 


<span style="font-size: medium;">The policy on Craig's list is "Buyer Beware" and everything is sold "as is".</span>


<span style="font-size: 14px;">
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The Sentria is self propelled and is almost effortless to push and pull. The Heritage is not self propelled and will be much harder to move on carpet.


 


The Sentria has the new style brushroll with stiffer bristles which is much better at removing pet hair and grooming the nap of your carpet.


 


The Sentria has the new style carpet shampoo system which works wonders on stains and ground in dirt and is much better than the old Heritage style "Rug Renovator" which suffered poor performance due to design flaws.


 


Lori, I hope this helps you to understand the vast differences between these two Kirby home care systems.


 


-Stan

 

[sptyks]

Simpicity is a good machine, but consider that it is made primarily of plastic vs. the Kirby which is primarily made of Aircraft grade Aluminum.


 


The Kirby will last way more than 20 years.


 


The Kirby is also made in the USA.


 

 

[dysonman1]

Lori Ann

You can definitely get a Simplicity Symmetry with on-board tools for $200. Unlike a vacuum such as a Kirby, the belt is not exposed to dirt, dirt does NOT have to pass through the fan blades, and the replacement parts for inexpensive if you should ever need them. I sell the $200 model all day long. It's our best selling model due to the price point. Perhaps prices in New York are higher because from what I've heard (never been to New York) everything there costs more than it does in Missouri.

 

[dysonman1]

$199 Simplicity Symmetry

This is the ad for the $199 Simplicity, which we sell tons of.

 

[jaker15]

lori-ann...

I agree with Stan (sptyks). A nice, high-quality metal vacuum will last and last and last. Some of Kirby's earlier models are notably long-lived. For example, I have a 1954 Kirby model 514. Despite being 60 years old, it's still an absolutely incredible machine. It's lightweight, powerful, and not too terribly loud. Sure, it leaks a little dust, most older cleaners do, but if allergies aren't a concern, it's not a big deal. The best thing, however, is just how well it deep-cleans carpets. You will never, and I mean never, see a new, plastic, Wal-Mart vacuum lift the carpet off of the floor. That's just how much airflow the 514 has. As it lifts the carpet into the nozzle, it gently agitates the fibers and the HUGE fan whisks the deep-down grit away. This process is what Kirby called "Triple-Cushion Vibration". (see picture) Oh, and emptying the bag can be a bit of a chore if you dislike having some dust billow out of the emptor when you open it. LOL

Another great machine, if you have a lot of carpeting, is any canister that has a lot of airflow and a good power nozzle. One of the best canisters I've used is a Compact model C-4 that belongs to my grandma. Now, keep in mind that this machine does NOT have a power nozzle. The later Compacts, as well as my grandma's C-4, did have the option of using one, but hers didn't have the correct hose to accept a PN. What I used instead was a Vacu-Flo T-21 turbo nozzle that used the vacuum's suction power to spin a beater bar. Despite what some may say about turbine nozzles, this particular power head cleaned incredibly well. It was quieter than most electric power nozzles, and the Compact's suction was more than enough to spin it quick enough for deep-cleaning. The combination of the T-21's beater bar/bristle setup and the Compact's awesome airflow made it a very formidable carpet-cleaning machine.

Here is a picture describing how Kirby's Triple-Cushion Vibration works. They were very ahead of their time.

 

[ctvacman]

Lori Ann

Always remember to replace your brush roll or brush strips and make sure your belt is replaced often if your machine uses a flat belt. I find so many people complain about their vacs not picking up like they used to which makes sense, brushes wear out over time. If you say your eureka boss was reconditioned was the brush roll replaced?

 

[lori_ann]

What to do, what to do!???

OK, so thinking about this.. the Kirby.. Pros... it has the shampooer! It stands the test of time! Cons.. heavy, cumbersome attachments... the emptying of the bag for dust particles.. (yes, I've got allergies)...

The Simplicity, if I opt for this, the nearest dealer has these options:

the Deluxe.. for 389.99 4 yr warranty.

the Freedom (not sure which one) for $309 (site says this has 3 yr warranty)... But this one has no attachments. The guy told me he carries the sonitaire for 129.

Canisters they have new, but ....they have a trade in, He said it's an SL36 (though can't find one online to review... I do see Simplicity has an S36_... he can sell this to me for $300 (they sell new for a grand he says)....

(

 

[lori_ann]

I hope

the canister they have for trade in is the Simplicity S36! (though I like the convenience of the buttons on the handle of the S38)...


After reading more about canisters, I'm thinking my next vacuum just may end being one! According to this list," Canisters generally have more suction and greater airflow than uprights," I've been wondering about this!



http://www.simplicityvac.com/choosing-a-vacuum/?id=13

 

[lori_ann]

CTV...

The Eureka Boss NEVER picked up the dog hair! I was embarrassed last fall when I had my carpets professionally shampooed!

 

[ctvacman]

Lori Ann

Gotcha. Simplicity canisters are great, it boils down to how many features you want. Like you said I like having controls on the handle.

 

[lori_ann]

Stan...

Thank you! I almost bought the sentria, but with my allergies I'm thinking that the dust in those is not so good for me!????

 

[bikerray]

I have Kirby, Electrolux and Rexair / Rainbow. My 1949 Kirby will still outclean my Electrolux on carpet but my Electrolux will outclean my Kirby above the floor. Rainbow is great if you have allergies but you have to clean it up after every use, you can't just put it away wet.

Kirby's will last a lifetime if you take care of them. The older metal body Electrolux will also last a long time, the new plastic body will last a long time if the unit isn't dropped and the body cracked. I also have Rexairs from the '30's and '40's that still work wonderfully well and have already lasted a lifetime.

 

[vacu-finder]

Well for starters I don't spend much more than $15 to $20.00 on a used vacuum from say the thrift shop, garage sale or where ever. Secondly I'am very fluent in taking stuff apart and doing the reapirs and checking over the whole machine.
I have an older Panasonic McV5218 Upright or something like that. It is on its last legs now, but it has proved itself a very fine machine for over 12 years.

I prefer Bagged machines, never will buy a Bagless, the dust bin can build up with bacteria after a while and emptying it is a nuisance and the hepa filters need frequent changing.
Having said that Ricaar and Simplicity are very good Vacuums. I would not buy a miele they tend to have some quirks that can and will eventually haunt you returning to the vacuum shop for costly repairs.
Buy an Uprite with a Floor/Carpet selector on the power nozzle, that way you can also drag it outside to clean the car without the power brush churning away.
Its also a bonus to buy a machine with a metal brush roll as these have removable brush strips which are cheaper to replace than the whole brush roll. And do maintenance on the Brush roll portion of the machine every 6 to 12 months depending on how much you use it. And keep the motor pre-filter clean, this will increase the longevity of the motor. Its always better to change bags when 80% full so as not to cause over heating.

A quality machine if looked after will last over 20-30 years. Thats my 2 cents.

 

[suckolux]

and the belt on the Boss is new? They do not last long, can get hair under the hub and roll

 

[lori_ann]

It is!

The canister I can get is an S36 for 300 (refurbished, only needs new hose)>..

can anyone affirm if this is a decent machine?

 

[dysonman1]

The S36 is a very old machine. At least five years if not more. Good vacuum, but you have to drag a canister behind you.

 

[lori_ann]

hhhmn

So a 5 or 6 yr old S36 for 300, is that a good deal?

Or should I spend a little more and buy the Deluxe model?

Or should I go Kirby?

 

[dustin]

I would go for the Kirby Sentria out of those choices- It is the most versatile, and will last a lifetime (or several!) if you maintain it. You can buy high-filtration HEPA bags for it, and although the bags are a bit pricy, they hold a lot of dirt. It should be great on pet hair, you can even get a pet owner's brushroll with stiffer bristles. If, and I'm saying *IF* you should ever damage the fan (not likely), it is a fairly inexpensive repair.

 

[Miss Mercy]

I'd say go with Kirby because this is my grandmother's Kirby that she bought brand new on July 25, 1967. It was the last vacuum she ever had to buy and she was using all up until when she died last year at the age of 91. She was so proud of her Kirby!

 

[vinvac]

You can never go wrong with a Kirby! They are proven to stand the test of time and have a wonderful life time rebuild as well.

I am not a fan of any of the new uprights with onboard tools. Stretch hoses, the cheap tools, along with the added weight to the machine make it clumsy and awkward to use. Most of the clean air uprights draw suction or use a hose to one side of the machine. This reduces the air flow at the opposite side of the machine. Edge cleaning is weak on these machines.

Since a Kirby is a direct air machine and draws air from the center, edge cleaning and over all air flow is much better.

The other factor is that a Kirby is only around a 6 amp machine. Kirby has received awards for being an Eco Friendly product. Almost all of the materials in the machine are recyclable and can be repaired.

Some will claim the air flow for attachment usage is weak compared to a 12 amp machine, I don't find any truth to that. I have always felt that a Kirby is a great deep cleaning work horse that lasts for years.

Just my two cents... Royal metal uprights are also a good choice. (tool usage not as easy)

 

[sebo_fan]

Im interested - I've only seen one or two responses in regard to the Sanitaire/Electrolux metal uprights - aren't they are as durable as Kirby uprights? Surely they would be cheaper to buy?

 

[lori_ann]

I've put feelers out for two local Sentries. One she said her mother inlaw bought used once and said is too heavy... the other they have two units... the second is hundred cheaper (350 & 250)... both look brand new in pics supplied!

Both just responded to my texts... making plans to pick one up. Not sure yet which, as the first mentioned is willing to negotiate and is closer.

 

[citroenbx]

dyson dc04 and dc05

.

 

[lori_ann]

WOOT, picking one of the machines up tonight, like new (dude won one, he works for Kirby!)... for 200, he says (and the pics show) it looks like new!

should I be excited?

 

[citroenbx]

dyson

ok look at this one

found in snow

 

[dustin]

Yes, You should be excited! That sounds like a great deal if it is in good condition. Maybe post pics after you get it, and definitely let us know how you like it.

 

[lori_ann]

another decision

OK, so I can obtain a Sentria that is approx. 6 or 7 yrs old (probably refurbished, as it is a guy who sells Kirby's) for $200....

Or, I can obtain a Sentria that was purchased late last fall for (listed at $350).. this one I have a feeling is Sentri II and she has OBO on price.

I'm going to see if my son wants one, that will solve it... but if he doesn't, is it worth more for the newer model? I'm unfamiliar with the differences.

thank you all!

 

[sptyks]

Lori

That's a super low price for a new condition Sentria. Does that price include all the attachments? If it does, then you should congratulate yourself on a fantastic deal! Let us know how you made out, and if there's any questions you have about the machine or its use, besure to let us know.