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Tips on Purchasing a Vacuum
There are a
wide variety of choices in styles and features of new and reconditioned vacuum cleaners. Most brands and models are
solidly built and will last several years without maintenance problems. The
choice in models comes down to your specific needs and tastes.
Major
attributes to consider include:
1.
Type
- Make sure you consider what types of surfaces you’ll be cleaning. Take in to
account any pets, allergies, children or brand preference as your choice of the
type of vacuum cleaner will depend on it.
2.
Filtration
- We live surrounded in filth. It's a fact. All humans shed about 5-10 grams of dead skin each
week. About 80% of the material seen floating in a sunbeam is actually
flakes of skin.
- What do house dust mites eat? Human
and animal skin flakes (Dermatophagoides - "skin eater").
- Dust mites are too
small to be seen but are the most common cause of year-round allergy and
asthma.
- Dust mites live in
mattresses, pillows, carpets, furniture, bedcovers, clothes - anywhere
they can feed on dead flakes of human skin.
- We have a wide
range of products to attack dust mites in your home.
- HEPA
Vacuum Cleaners trap the dust mite allergen inside the bag instead
of exhausting it into the air. HEPA vacuum cleaners are sealed tight and won't
allow your dust mites to filter through your vacuum back into your air.
3.
Attachments
- Make sure it has the attachments you need, but don’t pay for those you don’t
.For convenience, you might want on-board attachments. Natural bristle brushes
are superior as they tend not to scratch delicate surfaces.
4.
Noise – Some
people place a great deal of importance on noise considerations. To respond to
this, some models have insulated materials around the motors.
Types:
-
Upright versus Canister
– Uprights are quick and easy to store but are not as effective. Canister are
more versatile.
-
Central
- Extremely convenient however the hose can be difficult to control. Some
homes can not have a central vacuum.
-
Stick/Broom Vacuum
– Stick vacuums look like stream-lined uprights. They usually have less power
than uprights and canisters and are ideal for people in small apartments and
quick pick ups.
-
Handhelds
– Handhelds are very small vacuums (usually battery operated) for use in
cleaning up specific spots that may be difficult to reach with other vacuums.
Other
attributes to consider are listed below.
Attributes:
-
Motor Power
(amps) – Measures the amount of current used by the motor. Higher amps doesn’t
necessarily mean more cleaning power. Airflow and suction power are a truer
test of effectiveness.
-
Air Flow
– Usually measured in cfm (cubic feet per minute)
-
Suction Power
is measured in inches of water column or water lift. This does not mean you
can suck up water though.
-
Filtration System
– The level of filtration varies from none (use a bag to collect dust) to
sophisticated (filter out pollen and particles less than 1 micron). Units
with filtration systems generally cost more, but can be effective in reducing
allergen in the home. HEPA filters claim to capture 99.97% of all particles at
.3 micron. A HEPA filter most be independently certified be cautious as not
all HEPA filters are tested.
-
Dust Collector
– Can be a bag (thick paper) or bagless with a plastic container. Bagless
still have a filter which requires changing from time to time. There is a new
product called randomly spun nylon fibre bags. These are superior quality and
capture 94.5% of all particles at .3 micron
-
Construction
– Can be plastic or metal. Metal vacuum cleaners are usually more durable but
are heavier. There are 2 types of plastic. ABS plastic is more durable and
handles more abuse. Solid rubber wheels are superior to plastic as they tend
not to scratch delicate surfaces.
-
Cord length
– Make sure that the cord is long enough for you to effectively clean one area
of you home without having to change outlets.
-
Brush Agitator or Power Head (roller brush)
– The roller with bristles under the machine that spins when the machine is
on. It increases the cleaning effectiveness on carpets. All brush is preferred
as the other kind may damage the carpet over time.
-
Edge Cleaner
– Some models have vacuum areas that extend to the edge of the bottom of the
machine for cleaning tight edges if you don’t have this a crevice tool would
be required
-
Other Tools
– Detachable hose, extensions, upholstery brushes, corner cleaners. Some units
have caddies to hold all the tools.
Still need more help?:
Try our Which Vacuum for
me? form.
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