I never thought I would love a machine this much. This Rainbow is absolutely great! I bought it because I have always wanted one and could finally afford it. Talk about clean and less dust! The house smells great. Anyone else have an E2 series..Let me know how you like it...
 
My other vacuum I have decided to keep for quick jobs is a Kenmore Canister Progressive. I like it too but the thing I hate most about it, is the hepa exaust filter gets dirty so quick. They are 14.99 a pop at Sears. It seems like it hasn't even been on there a month and you take it out and the bottom part of the filter is turning dark. My house is a year old...It's not very dirty, not alot of traffic...Is there a specific sign to look for when it's time to change the hepa exaust of just guess? I think they could make washable hepa's but don't on purpose!

I LOVE the motor on the E2 Rainbow.  The new 'whisper' motor just came out two months ago, and is wonderful.  I didn't care for the terrible noise level of the old "hurricane" motor.  Hated the start up sound.  But, the Rainbow does pull 85 inches of water lift, which is much better than the previous E series of 60 inches.  
 
I have the new Kenmore Progressive "Iradium", which is the best cleaning canister vacuum in my entire collection of 441 vacuums, bar none.  The Iradium has a washable hepa and pre-motor filter (it's a copy of the Dyson), excellent suction that never goes away (doesn't lose suction - just like a Dyson), and the best hose I've seen on a canister vacuum.  The power head is fantastic, easily better than the Rainbow E-2's.
 
The Hepa filter on your new Rainbow, while it claims to be washable, really isn't washable in a satisfactory manner.  One of Rainbow's chief engineers was visiting my shop one day, explaining the new S.R. motor, and I challenged him.  We took a filthy Hepa filter out of an E2 Rainbow, I asked him to wash it (which he did) according to the printed directions, then I cut it in half with a hack saw and you should have seen how dirty the filter still was.  Better to replace the Hepa on the Rainbow than to wash it.  
 
Being as how the Rainbow evaporates water from the pan, which in turn brings dirt through the motor's fans and into the Hepa, you should replace your Rainbow's hepa after the end of two years, to have good suction.
Also, the revolving fans will need to be changed after two years also, they are very thin and the dirt and filthy that is passed through the motor fans and on into the Hepa will throw the fans off balance. This is noted by the very shrill and loud sound of a Rainbow after several years of use, as well as an intense vibration as the fans turn 20,000 times per minutes, loaded with dirt from the water.
 
A customer once asked me why there was SOOOOOO much dirt in the Hepa on her Rainbow, to which I answered "It's CLEAN dirt, it's been through the water".
The rainbow evaporates dirty water ever minute it runs. Look at your Hepa after six months of use, you'll see the same dirt that the water was 'supposed' to catch.

Hi Mark,
 
Just for the record, any vacuum is wonderful if it's the vacuum you like.  Rainbow has it's set-backs as far as I'm concerned but if you're prepared to live them -- you eventually learn how to work with the machine.
 
That may mean figuring what jobs you should do first -- or when you should do them.  As an example, I have a Kirby G5 that's a pure-dee wonder when it comes to cleaning carpeting but proves an irritation when you use it for general cleaning because you must remove and re-attach the rug cleaning head when switching back and forth to use cleaning tools.
 
On the other hand, eading out into the hall with my Kenmore canister to do the same work I've used the Kirby for, I can clean as I go without interrupting myself.  I can zip over the area rug on the top landing with the power nozzle, then tap the wand release with my toe and make a quick attachment change and I'm working my way down the stairs.  One-two-three, I'm down in our vestibule and the rug down there is cleaned up in no time.  What I am trying to convey is that a what should be a simple five or ten minute but well-done job can be inordinately lengthened when your working with the wrong stuff.
 
My line of thinking is, if you find yourself more frequently inclined to use your broom instead of the vacuum you've invested in it usually means you've not made a good brand or style choice for your vacuum.
 
I used the Rainbow I have for good while but got really tired of the necessary but time consuming clean up after use as well as the extra weight to carry when doing stairs.
 
You should ring your dealer for bonafide facts regarding warranty and/or repair.  It is my guess that bringing in your Rainbow for maintenance (tune-ups, etc.) would require a fee.  Authorized warranties and service agreements, during their effective periods, usually involve only replacement of repair of broken or defective motor components, seals and the like.  
 
Venson

If you are happy w/ your Rainbow, do not worry about it.  They are very good vacuum cleaners.  They just require some work when putting it away.  
 
The water will gradually evaporate and anything dry will soak up water(crackers).  This means that there will be more dust to leave the water basin.  What you will want to do is change the water often during a regular vacuuming.  If you clean a whole house w/o changing the water once, you will probably end up w/ dirt pudding.  That is if you have animals.  
 
Your Kenmore is a good vacuum cleaner also.  What you are probably seeing is carbon dust on the final filter.  What vacuum bags are you using in the Kenmore?  You should be using the yellow "microlined" bags(8pk.) or the higher priced white "HEPA" or "Filtrete" bags(2pk.).

Hi, as long as your happy with your machine thats all that really matters, you already bought it so no matter what we say isn't going to change anything. Just have it looked at every 5 to 7 years. And remember after the sale it's the service that counts........
 
O.T.