Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

However, today I decided to stop by an Oreck store and was very impressed with the Oreck Edge, which is the only Oreck that would work on my deep pile carpeting.  I am not convinced that it would do as well of a job and since it's a newer "edition" it doesn't appear yet on with a Seal of Approval on the Carpet and Rug Institute webpage (although many other Orecks do).  A Seal of Approval would be very important to me because I feel like they don't have a vested interest in what I buy.  (Consumer Reports doesn't seem to rate the higher end vacuums, which is disapointing).

Has anybody had experience with a deep cut-pile carpeting and what vacuum would work best? (I also glanced at a Riccar, but didn't fall in love). Anything you can do to sway me one was or the other would be helpful.  Please don't tell me the Kirby is heavy, I doubt the current version can be any heavier than the 1970s version I grew up pushing with no self propelling feature.

Hi MOLE:

I met her at the KIRBY plant on occasion many many years ago.  I was proudly told that when she takes vacations, the plant stops all new KIRBY production.  Why I asked.  Because she was THE ONE and ONLY who could balance the fans and makes sure they revolved in balance on the motors.  A problem [out of balance] which went away when KIRBY switched over to the lexan fans.

Carmine D.

You are right vacmanuk for Windsor at the Silver and Bronz levels.  No SEBO's approved by CRI.  Strange but always the case with CRI for its entire history.

http://www.carpet-rug.org/commercial-customers/cleaning-and-maintenance/seal-of-approval-products/soa-gl-vacuum-list.cfm?product_type=0&product_usage=0&manuf_id=11

Carmine D.

With that aside, I must say that to compare a Kirby to an Oreck, though both fine machines; is like comparing apples to turnips.

My suggestion is to get what you want, and what you will be most happy with.  Both machines you are looking at can be purchased at deep discounts on e-bay and Craig's list.  In these hard time is is not difficult to find someone that was talked into, or bought with their eyes wide open, and now face lay-off and job reductions where they can no longer afford their purchases.  Using this method you wouldn't have to choose, you could have both.

I know other's have made the suggestion as well, but look at the Riccar/Simplicity line of vacuums.  But before you do anything, make the decision what you want.  Deep cleaning, or frequent surface cleaning.  If you want deep cleaning, you may want to gravitate closer to the full-sized machines.  If you want quick, surface cleaning you may want to go towards lighter weight, less powerful machines.

Kirby's are very tough, and can handle most all household dirt.  Orecks and the Riccar Supralite have a more delicate fan you need to practice greater caution.

In nearly 50 years I have never had a problem with a Kirby fan (save the time I sucked up a rock in my Omega cleaning the car).  I use a shop vac for car duty now.

My main point on my previous post is:  Buy what you want and will be most happy with. 

ORECK has the most models with the CRI seal while some are made by others and badged with ORECK's name.  On the value of the seal, I have mixed feelings.  It proves that the brand and model passed the rigorous tests by the CRI for the seal.  A "CPA" [certified public accountanty] has a certification that he/she passed a very difficult professional industry test to attain the CPA certification.  Does that make the person an expert accountant in all facets of accounting?  Maybe, maybe not.  I've known excellent CPA's and I've known terrible CPA's.  Such are the constraints of any certification.  When you visit a doctor or lawyer and see the sheepskin on the wall it doesn't say that the person was first or last in the graduating class.  Just that he/she passed.

Carmine D.

Oh Carmine,

You are so full of old poo.  LOL

About direct air systems:

If we remember our vacuum, or more accurate the Bernoulli principal.  Direct air machines are more efficient and in moving large volumes of air, ie Kirby because the fan is so close to the work area.  In the case of the Kirby, the fan is approximately three inches to six inches from the carpet.  The air flow generated by the fan coupled with the Bernoulli effect in the bell shaped nozzle moves large volumes of  air through a narrowing nozzle  and thus generates the vacuum to pull the deeply embeded dirt from the carpet and allowing the tremendous air flow to wisk it away.    The dirt laden air is then pulled through the fan into and exhausted through the air horn into the bag system.  Here the dirt is deposited into the bag and the air pressure drops back to atmospheric pressure and the cycle continues.   All in all it is a short air path and an efficient system .  The effect of pushing the dirt into the bag, instead of having to pull the air through tiny pores reduces the effect of the clogging bag that Mr. Dyson likes to reference.

Now a clean air machine creates the vacuum within the fan case often some distance from the cleaning surface.  The air is pulled, not pushed through the filter material through a hose and finally the rug nozzle.  Basically a cannister standing upright. Though this system may be able to create vacuum, they suffer generating the air flow that direct air machines can generate. 

Riccar/Simplicity has a Tandium air two motor system that is supposed to give the best of both worlds.  My issues is a $,1600 plastic machine is a hard sell to me, especially when there is little weight savings over the Kirby that has been tried an proven for almost 100 years. 

Just, Shame on you...........

Simplicity/RICCAR would be my choice over the ORECK Edge and KIRBY Sentria too.  But sadly the poster ruled the brands out and posed only the two options for posters to sway. 

Nice to have you here again. 

Carmine D.