Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

I'm set on purchasing a Miele canister. Need some insight with real differences between the two lines - S2 and S5. Looking at straight comparison up on web I don't see significant differences in the unit itself. For e.g. http://www.allergybuyersclub.com/vacoverview.html For the most part it looks like main difference is in the bundled attachments, such as, power head, brush. Motor is the same, suction & air-flow supposedly is similar. Does it mean that if you throw higher end power head, floor brush that is bundled with Callisto over to a Delphi then Delphi becomes pretty much similar to Callisto ignoring cosmetics such as ergo handle etc.?

chirkut123 wrote: Carmine D.

chirkut123 wrote:
Oh well. Seems like Miele USA are obviously out to trap their customers into thinking that by putting a HEPA filter in, it automatically seals the "system" from leaking dust. A Sealed suction system doesn't mean that - it points to the actual sealing around the bag unit so that dust doesn't escape and "protection" strips or whatever built around the hose fixing. Even Miele's old and heavier S500 have sealed areas where the dust bag and filter is.

vacmanuk wrote:

Hello vacmanuk:  In defense of MIELE, HEPA advantages and hype, real and imagined, are IMHO, a vacuum industry push and pitch for HEPA bags and filters that's not just limited to MIELE.  To its defense, Consumer Reports long ago called out the HEPA for its hype in vacuums using them.  CR has toned down wrt HEPA recognizing that it is a consumer friendly feature that's here to stay in the industry. 

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:
Well the story is different in Europe. Most buyers know what a sealed suction unit is and it isnt down to the HEPA or whatever filter is on board.

vacmanuk wrote:

Folks - I misunderstood the salesperson's explanation of Delphi - I think he said it is sealed just as higher end units but w/o a HEPA that can be added as an option. So I mistakenly tied the two together. But your generalization across all US is stretching too far. I wouldn't consider myself being mislead by Miele in this regard. Good for you that you understand vacuums well. Keep sharing your knowledge!

To MIELE's defense, its USA product literature refers to its vacuums as: "The Original Sealed System [TM] Vacuum Cleaner."  With the following description:  "Only vacuums that are true sealed and have unique dustbag containment area can guarantee that what you vacuum up actually stays in the vacuum and is not returned to the air through the machine housing or during disposal.  MIELE delivers on both counts.  The MIELE filtration system utilizes electrostatically charged materials to ensure that dust particles are securely trapped inside the machine.  MIELE offers three advanced filters depending on your specific needs." 

Note in describing the sealed system, MIELE makes no mention of the HEPA, which is just one of the 3 filter options offered.

Carmine D. 

WRT to Consumer Reports and its caveats with HEPA:  Excerpted from a July 1999 C R vacuum article:  "The less you come into contact with dirt, the better.  Allergy sufferers in particular want a machine with a clean exhaust, but a pricey HEPA filter isn't the only answer."  And more from the CR article:  "Bring back the bag.  Some models, like the Eureka Whirlwind, do away with the dirt bag.  But the plastic bin is really messy to empty."

Carmine D.

PS: Highlighted part for emphasis.

And more from the same C R article in describing the top 3 uprights rated [HOOVER WT, Kenmore Progessive, Sharp EC]:  "None of the top 3 rated uprights have a HEPA filter, but all have a very clean exhaust and would be a good choice for a home that has someone with allergies."

CarmineD wrote:
And yet Carmine, in the UK website, or rather from the Miele website where "optimum hygiene," is concerned, Miele say:

"...Thanks to the filter bag system and an airtight body, Miele vacuum cleaners were the first to comply, as a complete system, with the requirements of the new European standard for air hygiene when fitted with an Active HEPA filter. They have been awarded seals of approval by the DMT, an independent institute in Germany, in recognition of the fact that they can reduce an individual’s exposure to airborne particles such as house dust mite and cat allergens. Indeed, all our cleaners perform to the same high standards when used with the Active HEPA filter..."

Lets not get carried away with a sealed suction system and filtration.

vacmanuk wrote:

Same is true with MIELE's USA product literature, vacmanuk.  MIELE says, and I paraphrase and excerpt the salient point, it attributes its success in the awarding of the DMT certification to the combination of the Sealed System and HEPA working together.

It makes sense, if filtration is one of the mainstay MIELE fortes [as I believe we all agree it is and always has been for its 80 plus years of vacuum production], that the two features would be emphasized by MIELE as working in tandem to achieve the maximum  protection for indoor air quality.  From reading the interpretation of the MIELE Delphi buyer above, the dealer/seller makes the same point in the sales pitch for adding the HEPA bags/filter cartridge.

Carmine D.

The s2 is not a sealed system as the s5 is, as well airflo is similar but s5 has a heavier duty motor, i have had 3 s2 motor fail already