Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Hi all,

This is a heads-up regarding the top-selling Dirt Devil "Kone" rechargeable hand vacuum.  The model in question bears "L" in the code on both the machine and its box.  It seems Consumer Reports has discovered that this particular model may spew sand or broken glass toward the user's face.  TTI the maker of the Kone, did tests itself and acknowledged the problem.  Another Kone bearing "J" in its code does not have this flaw. 

Though claiming that no complaints have been reported, the company will provide replacement filter adapters free of charge to Kone L owners to eliminate the problem.

Shoppers interested in purchasing a Kone may want to check the code on the box before buying.  See the following link for a complete article and video.

http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20080908/BC_olsen_vacuum_warning_080908/20080908?hub=BritishColumbiaHome

Best,

Venson

Venson, Severus:

Thanks for the Kone information and the Web Sites.  Yes, MOLE you're right!  This makes strike 2.  Do we have a 3 strike rule in the vacuum industry?  Maybe we should?

Interestingly, much to Dirt Devil-TTI's surprise, 'blow by' poses risks to the motor and hence the operation and longevity of the vacuum.  Sand is particularly troublesome to motors because of its granularity.  The sand catches in all the nooks and crannies causing motor overheating and burn out.  Why?  The granules get embeded between the carbon brushes and the commutator segments causing the carbon brushes to fail and the armature to burn out.

I don't know what the warranty is on the Kone: Whether it is one/two years.  On its sister, the Kruz, a stick vacuum version of the Kone, the warranty is 2 years.  Having used the Kruz and scoping out the filter before becoming aware of the Consumer Reports info, mine did not have the same problem as the Kone with 'blow by' and contaminated exhaust air.  The Kruz filter [flat], which doesn't resemble the Kone's cup shaped filter and gasket, appears to work better for preventing blow by and bad exhaust.

BTW, my 2 grand daughters [2 and 4 years old] use the Kruz to assist their Mom with the vacuuming.  They all [Mother too] like it. 

Carmine D. 

mole wrote:

Hi Mole,

You're right.  Vacuum cleaner safety is a real issue of concern. However, kids of a reasonable age can use vacuums sensibly and safely -- they just need to be taught how to.  

A few years back, I came across an article regarding a child, a toddler I believe, who had stuck the working end of a running vacuuming cleaner's hose into his mouth and suffered permanent lung damage because of it.  And to this day, I've never forgotten the time I stuck the end of a detachable Electrolux cord in my mouth at about age four.

Due to carelessness, there is potential danger by way of revolving brushes, detachable cords, sharp exposed metal edges and any number of other things for both children and unwary adults.  However, most vacuum manufacturers now provide instruction manuals with all sorts of warnings but it seems easier to sell a vacuum than to motivate a new machine's owner to at least skim his user guide.  I'd suppose, having read all sorts of current user manuals, that there are enough warnings and disclaimers included to cover a manufacturer's butt in the legal sense but . . .

Vacuum cleaners could be definitely made safer by a mandate for a lighted display to alert you that a machine is plugged in.  Only a few companies provide the like.  A "dead man" switch (something like the idea used for lawn mowers) on upright vacuums' andles or canister vacs' hose ends would also be of benefit.  Pror to its G series, Kirby provided hose ends and wands that bore large perforationsat their male ends that kept full suction from being delivered unless a tool was attached.  Kenmore canisters -- we're going back a while -- had a similar set up for a time.  Maybe they stopped using that particular design because no one seemed to notice.

To be fair, as much as consumers rant and rave when makers of appliances miss the mark, maybe we should just as vociferous when they hit the bull's eye dead on. 

Best,

Venson

The local Las Vegas evening news covered this story from Consumer Reports yesterday.  The newsreporter used the CR vacuum expert [Mr. Markovich] and the CR video with the DD Kone spewing the blow by.  Well done IMHO.

Carmine D.