Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

I started the thread about lead cleanup and the Eureka sealed-HEPA system...

I'm now looking at spending the extra dollars to purchase the Simplicity Synergy.  The price tag alone makes me worry that the Eureka sealed HEPA isn't as impressive as the marketing makes it sound.

Again, I know a vacuum cleaner alone isn't a solution to a lead-paint chipping problem but I am venturing to guess that the right vacuum cleaner (with a sealed HEPA system) will improve the situation while the wrong vacuum cleaner (an inexpensive Bissell or Eureka) may actually make the situation worse. 

I cringe to think that every time I'm vacuuming I'm just blowing more lead dust up into the air and making the environment more hazardous than it was to begin with.

The Simplicity salesman I spoke with told me that the Synergy air filtration was "hospital grade."  I also remember reading on here that "hospital grade" is not necessarily a good thing.  Can anyone elaborate on this?

Is $700 a reasonable price for a Synergy (this is marked down $200 with a trade-in). 

I've seen the Minuteman Lead HEPA for $625 here.  Any opinions on if the filtration of the Synergy would be equal to or better than this Minuteman Lead HEPA?

I also forgot to ask the Simplicity salesman about canister vacuums- would these be less expensive?

He did confirm that a bagless vacuum is not the way to go- I will not be purchasing one of these.

Thanks again,

Tech

Aren't bags great?  If the bag comes adrift in use like in this situation, the motor compartment is filled with dust, the brand new HEPA filter is filled with dust, not to mention the owner has to clean out the bag compartment and that compartment will still not be as clean as it was new!  If that bag was SEALED to where it could not come adrift, this would not have happened.  Or in a Dyson, where there is no wrong way to replace the bin after it is removed.  The cyclones can't come adrift. 

In this situation, a decent amount of fine dust already went past the pre-motor filter, through the fans of the motor, and into the post-motor HEPA filter.  The HEPA filter is no longer clean.  Had the bag not come adrift, there would be less dust in that HEPA filter after 6 months than there is right now. 

So why are bags best again?  Same reason a horse-drawn carriage is better than a car?!

-MH

Hi Tech,

Had you bought a Perfect which is the new name for the Electrolux, you would have gotten a metal-bodied vacuum with HEPA bags.  The bags are sealed, and they cannot come adrift.  There is no way that an Electrolux bag would leak dust under any circumstances unless it gets wet.  This machine uses the HEPA cloth bags which makes the filtration even better.  It's a classic design that will clean any home no matter where you live.  It's durable, powerful, and versatile.  It happens to be, in my opinion, one of the best values in a vacuum cleaner I've ever seen.  It really is perfect.  Not to mention the combination dusting brush/upholstery tool is the best in the world and has been since Electrolux invented it in 1965.  It has never been superseded. 

Would you want the bag to leak dust when you're picking up lead paint chips?  Of course not.  I would return the "Complexity" and ask for a Perfect (Electrolux).

-MH

Motorhead wrote:
Vacuumfreak recently purchased a used Dyson and had problems/  Now a new Synergy goes awry (to quote ) and it is just one of those things that happen.  Certainly no bias on this forum is there?

HARDSELL wrote:
Yes and just think, that "used and abused" Dyson didn't leak any dust! 

Hi guys,

I've been really happy with the bagged Miele S5980 I got as it's been proving itself to be more than just a name.  The GN IntensiveClean bags I'm using with it are not the biggest disposable bags made but you can pick up an awful lot of stuff and still clean well.  Once you fit one into the cleaner it appears that the corners of the bag stay clear and allow for a longer continuance of airflow.  On removing a bag I have found only a minute amount of dust in just one small spot below the bottom of the bag, directly below its inlet. This is not an unusual occurence in many bagged canisters but Miele has further accommodated by placing a perforated shield inside the disposable bag in that works at keeping dust from being blasted through the bag wall.

My best proof is that today, a few bag changes down the line, I decided to wipe out the bag chamber to see how clean it was.  I lightly dampened a paper towel with a little window cleaner, thoroughly wiped out the bag chamber and found no noticable dust.

That said, there's a very good bagless vacuum here at my place but it in no way matches up to the convenience of the Miele regarding dust disposal.  Yes of course, the Miele bags are a bit pricey but they offer near perfect dust containment and each have a built-in sealing device to cover the inlet on the bag.when removed. You really don't touch anything nasty.  This is a far cry from having to dump out bagless machine's collection and manually remove statically charged material, like pet hair and dust, that often clings to the inside of the plastic bin.

The best I can say for bagless vacuums is that a decent machine may well help the economy-minded and folks who think green but I feel there's definitely more of a challenge when it comes to maintenance.  Empty bag to full, this Miele has provided good cleaning ability with a little fussing about.

Venson

HARDSELL wrote:
I stand by my statement that this was done on purpose,How come techs picture did not show the whole bag coupling [take a look], then M.H. tries to appease me by promoting the perfect lux and its vitrues,and what a great machine it is,[HE THINKS HES MY BUDDY],

Now H.S. thinks its another dyson thread.

Is that the best you guys can do.........................


MOLE

Hi Venson:

Please, don't forget to post a review on the Miele Capricorn under the review section here.  There is none on here and your review may be of assistance to a potential Miele buyer.

The Miele's dirt bag capacity on the Capricorn is over 4.7 quarts.  Over one gallon.  Pretty substantial.  

Sounds like the Miele, which you were never very keen on, has made a true believer and convert of you.  I'm not the least bit surprised you are impressed by it.

Carmine D.

mole wrote:

Hi MOLE:

This has had me perplexed too.  Even tho Tech's pic is cropped and not the best view of the Verve bag, there is no bag holder coupling to be seen anywhere on the Verve.  As Mike W. points out and the Verve User Manual says, the Verve bag compartment cover will not close if there is no bag installed/if the bag is installed incorrectly.  If there were a hole(s) in the Verve bag [also Mike's point], Tech would have seen it when he looked in.  Could be the hole is on the underside of the bag? Then, the fail safe switch would have shut-off the motor [your point MOLE]. 

None of these safety features worked and/or happened?  Bag installed before.  Verve is pristine inside before using.  Bag compartment cover closed properly.  Appears to be no holes in the bag [at least so far according to David Tech].  Fail safe switch did not engage. 

Something most definitely is awry!  I can't put my finger on it right now but once David Tech and the store owner/operator have a mutual meeting of the minds about the Verve, and Tech reports back here [Tuesday], we should know more.

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:
Hi Carmine,the bag coupling or bag bracket,was removed i have seen this done by dealers to make the competitions vacuum look bad.And yes the lid will close when the brackets not there.

I said i smell a RAT,and i stand behind my statement.TECHS more than likely a MY-ELLIE dealer,or worse has a beef with tacony.........

MOLE

mole wrote:

Hi MOLE:

I have heard of instances of this happening too: Tampering with the bag holder bracket so dirt spews into the vacuum's bag compartment.  The seller, trying to push another brand, says the dirt leakage will toast the motor in time.

The facts and the truth will eventually come out.  They always do!

Carmine D.